Kiwi Filmmaker selection on International Women's Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW ZEALAND FILM-MAKER REPRESENTED ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Wellington, March 8, 2017 – New Zealand fantasy/horror film “REM” has been selected to screen in the Women In Film & Television International (WIFTI) Short Film Showcase. Founded in 2004, the Showcase presents selected films from WIFT Chapters around the world and is described as a powerful demonstration of members’ creativity, vision, and artistry. Screenings take place on or around International Women’s Day 8th March. Some recent Showcase films have been nominated for Academy Awards, received distribution deals and garnered recognition globally. WIFTI encourages unique points of view and storytelling that focuses on subjects/issues that concern women.

Writer/Director/Producer April Phillips is thrilled with the selection and is proud of the talented and diverse cast and crew who worked on the film, over half of which were women film practitioners.

“Having been a WIFT NZ member for several years as a writer and actress, I’m really chuffed that my directorial debut has been so well received and that my film has added a Kiwi presence in the international line up.”

“REM”, a story about a homeless man with a tragic gift for predicting the future in his dreams, is also screening this month at the Horror Hound Film Festival in Cincinnati, the largest horror convention in the United States. It has won several international film awards including two Awards for Excellence, Best Foreign Horror and Best Sound Design (Tane Upjohn-Beatson) at the Los Angeles Independent Film Awards, Best Foreign Short at the Hollywood Boulevard Film Festival, and a nomination for Best Director at the Ouchy Film Festival in Switzerland. The film is also a REMI Award Winner at the WorldFest Film Festival in Houston this month. The film stars Chris Ryan, April Phillips and Tracey Savage.

In a month of celebration of women in the arts, Phillips is also reuniting with some legends of New Zealand theatre in a revival of acclaimed comedy show “Hen’s Teeth” as part of the WTF! (Women’s Theatre Festival) at Circa Theatre, Wellington. “Hen’s Teeth” was founded in 1988 by producer Kate Jason-Smith and over 20 years featured a line-up of well-known and much-loved female performers including Lee Hatherly, Dame Kate Harcourt, Lorae Parry, Carmel McGlone, Pinky Agnew, Helen Moulder, Prue Langbein and many more. Phillips is excited to be back in the coop.

“Hen’s Teeth” was the first show I saw when I arrived in Wellington in 1993 at the old Circa Theatre and I remember thinking “I’d love to be in that show one day”. Two years later I was on tour with them. The chooks are inspirational women and have definitely influenced my career.”

Phillips takes to the stage this time with one of her besties, Tracey Savage, who also makes an appearance in the film “REM”. The reunion season is strictly limited from 14th to 25th March and each night features a different line up of comediennes with returning “old broilers” and introducing some “new chicks”.

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