New Zealand filmmakers on show at Sundance

MEDIA RELEASE
From the New Zealand Film Commission Wednesday, 5 December 2012

New Zealand filmmakers on show at Sundance

Congratulations to the line-up of fantastic New Zealand screen projects heading to Sundance.

Hot on the heels of the news Shopping (pictured), the debut feature film from Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland, has been selected to premiere in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition, Zia Mandviwalla’s Night Shift has been selected to play in the short film section of the festival.

These filmmakers are making a real name for themselves at prestigious festivals – all three have had shorts play at Cannes with Night Shift screening at the 2012 festival and Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland’s shorts The Six Dollar Fifty Man and Run receiving Special Distinction honours in 2009 and 2007 respectively.

In addition to these NZFC supported films, we’d like to congratulate independent filmmaker David White, whose three minute documentary will screen as part of Morgan Spurlock’s FocusForwardFilms project.

The Oscar and Palme d’Or winning director Jane Campion’s significant BBC production Top of the Lake will screen in a special presentation at Sundance. The television drama series was made in Central Otago and is the first time Jane Campion has returned to shoot in New Zealand since the filming of The Piano. Jane Campion co-directed Top of the Lake with Garth Davis and co-wrote the project with Gerard Lee. Top of the Lake is accessing the New Zealand Government’s Screen Production Incentive Fund, which is also administered by the New Zealand Film Commission.

“I’d like to congratulate each of the fantastic New Zealand projects selected for Sundance." says NZFC Chief Executive Graeme Mason. "I’m thrilled with both the individual achievements and that together the feature film, short, three minute doco and television project show-off the incredible range of work, capability and talent within the New Zealand screen industry.”

Each year Sundance selects approximately 200 films from 12,000 submissions and exhibits them to around 50,000 people. It is widely regarded the premiere US showcase for American and international independent film.

Sundance 2013 will run from the 17th to the 27th of January.

ENDS

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