Doctor Who Meets Gay Berlin at Film Showcase

MEDIA RELEASE – NUMBER 8 FILMS TRUST
July 23, 2011
Doctor Who Meets Gay Berlin at Film Showcase

Local film-making charity Number 8 Films is proud to present the New Zealand premiere of “Christopher And His Kind” as the August film in its monthly gay film showcases, which are moving across town to the Rialto Cinemas in Newmarket.

“Christopher And His Kind” stars Doctor Who’s Matt Smith as Christopher Isherwood, gay literary icon and author of the award-winning book and film ‘A Single Man’, immersing himself in the thriving gay culture of 1930s Berlin just as the Nazis come to power.

“This is a daring, witty and moving slice of life biopic that doesn’t shy away from depicting the gay couplings that were commonplace in 1930s Berlin before fascism took hold,” says Christopher Banks, Creative Director at Number 8 Films. “We thank the BBC and their international distributor ITV Global Entertainment for allowing us to bring this great film to a New Zealand audience for the first time.”

Based on the true story of Isherwood’s years in Berlin, capturing the years before Isherwood met his life partner Don Bachardy, the heart of the story follows Isherwood’s relationship with Heinz Neddermayer, a working class street sweeper whose straight brother is drawn inexorably toward the clutches of the Nazi Party.

“When the book burnings start and Jewish friends start to disappear, Isherwood is confronted head on with a choice: does he have the courage to stand up to the evil that threatens to wipe out his kind?” Banks says. “Kudos to Matt Smith for taking on such a strong and pivotal gay role while in a high profile show like Doctor Who, and for the BBC for supporting him in that as well as making the film.”

The premiere of “Christopher And His Kind” coincides with a venue change for Number 8 Films’ popular monthly gay film showcases, from Galatos in Newton to the Rialto Cinemas in Newmarket.

“With Galatos up for sale, the future of our film nights at that venue were uncertain,” says Andy Jalfon, Number 8 Films co-trustee. “Rialto Cinemas gave us such wonderful support for the New Zealand premiere of our film ‘The Colonel’s Outing’ in July, and they’ve now come to the party with a great offer which will allow us to continue bringing great new gay cinema to Auckland audiences right through until 2012.”

With the venue change also comes an increase in the number of spot prizes available, which will be randomly inserted into goodie bags for audience members provided by Get It On!, one of the key sponsors of the film nights.

“Spot prizes have been generously provided by our community sponsors, and include a bar tab from Urge, dinner at Caluzzi, and limited edition Get It On underwear; we also will have gift cards from JB Hifi, iTunes and Westfield,” Jalfon says.

“Christopher And His Kind” screens at Rialto Cinemas on Thursday 18 August at 6:30pm. Tickets are $20 and can be booked online through the Rialto website at http://tiny.cc/73vrq or at the cinema itself on Broadway.

For more information, visit http://www.number8films.com

ENDS

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