NZ Film perfectly timed for World Environment Day

Media Release:  21 May 2009

New NZ film perfectly timed for World Environment Day

On 5 June, New Zealand and the global community will celebrate World Environment Day.

As if in perfect harmony, Christchurch filmmaker Kathleen Gallagher’s new full feature documentary, Earth Whisperers Papatuanuku will be launched at Rialto Cinemas in Auckland (Thursday, June 4) and Christchurch (Friday, June 5), Dunedin (Metro Cinema, Monday, June 1), Wellington (Paramount, June 10) as well as in other major centres and towns during the month.

This film is, in Kathleen’s own words: “a unique Number Eight Wire/Kiwi-style approach to Al Gore’s ‘An Inconvenient Truth.’”

Environmental scientists take a back seat in Earth Whisperers/Papatuanuku as 10 visionary New Zealanders in a compelling and often humorous way, demonstrate how they are 'walking the walk' by living  in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.

The film features well-known environmentalists (and hard case Kiwi characters) including:

Craig Potton, photographer and environmentalist; Prof Alan Mark, botanist and guardian of Lake Manapouri; Charles Royal, Maori food expert and chef; Hugh Wilson, bird and tree farmer; Kay Baxter, heritage seed saver; Rita Tupe, Tuhoe healer; Isla Burgess, herbalist

Gerry Findlay, bird caller; Jim O’Gorman, organic farmer and Makere Ruka, Waitaha kuia.

Shot at stunning locations around New Zealand by Alun Bollinger and Mike Single, this movie doesn’t just rock the boat – it rocks the earth! Audiences that queued to see the Christchurch launch in Sumner came out saying the film was inspiring and made them proud to be a Kiwi. (You will never look at stinging nettle in your garden quite the same way again!)

Kathleen describes the cast as being ‘big picture’ visionaries.

“They saved heritage seeds, regenerated forests, harvested and protected wild herbs, left the car forever to ride a bicycle, and saved huge swathes of old forest. These people are a delightful and powerful example that even a person living in the centre of a city can protect and enjoy native forest, ride a bike, or grow a garden,” she says.

Earth Whisperers Papatuanuku recently screened at the Reel Earth Film Festival in Palmerston North to a standing ovation and critical acclaim.

Confirmed New Zealand theatre screenings include: 

Akaroa Cinecafe, Sunday 24 May @ 2.00pm
Metro Cinema Dunedin, Monday 1 June @ 3pm
Oamaru Movie3 World Cinema, Sunday 14 June @ 2.00pm
Rialto Auckland, Thursday 4 June @ 6.30pm
Rialto Christchurch, Friday 5 June

Rialto Dunedin, Friday 5 June
Downtown Cinema, Palmerston North, Friday 5 June
State Cinema, Nelson, Friday 5 June
Wellington Paramount Cinema, Wednesday 10 June
Odeon Cinema, Gisborne, Thursday 11 June
Kaiwaka Walker Community Theatre, Wednesday 24 June, 7.00pm
Rotorua Saturday 4 July

Ends.

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