Hawke’s Bay Black Barn OpenAir Cinema Film Festival

Black Barn OpenAir Cinema – A Festival of Film under the Stars

Hawke’s Bay is gearing up for its 14th OpenAir Cinema season starting on 26 December at the Black Barn Amphitheatre in Havelock North. Doris and Urs Blum, the festival organisers, have again chosen a variety of movies to satisfy a broad range of film appetites.

The festival kicks off on Boxing Day with a gem of a local film about NZ’s unofficial anthem: Poi E. With humour, energy and emotion the movie portrays the story of how that iconic song gave – and still does - pride to generations of New Zealanders.

Music is also the main topic of Whitney: Can I Be Me. A raw and uncensored look at Whitney Houston, exploring the impact her life and death had on the people around her and the entire world of music.

Rachel Weisz and Sam Claflin are the main protagonists in the best-selling novel by Daphne Du Maurier, My Cousin Rachel. The dark and layered Romance-Mystery lays down an interesting premise about love, greed, and murder amid the landscape of Cornwall.

Brad Pitt stars in two of the movies this season. In the Coen brothers’ Burn After Reading he joins an all-star cast of Frances McDormand, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, and John Malkovich. Empire (UK) describes the movie as “If No Country For Old Men was vintage port, Burn After Reading is a shot of tequila: eye watering and hard to swallow, but the after-effect is terrific.”

The Romance-Drama Allied sees Pitt’s character team up with Marion Cotillard, a French Resistance fighter, on a deadly mission behind enemy lines in 1942 North Africa. When they reunite in London, the pressures of war test their relationship.

It is little wonder that Lion - the true story of a life lost and found - has collected quite a few audience awards as well as six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Dev Patel), and Best Supporting Actress (Nicole Kidman). If you are human, there is no way that Lion will not move you.

Whom do you trust when you cannot trust yourself? Based on Paula Hawkins' bestselling novel, the Thriller-Mystery The Girl On The Train, sees a divorcee become entangled in a missing person’s investigation that promises to send shockwaves throughout her life.

Five Oscars, six Golden Globes, and many more awards are testament to one of the most successful movies of 2017: La La Land. It tells the story of an aspiring actress (Emma Stone) and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a dedicated jazz musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a LA, which is known for crushing hopes and breaking hearts.

On the final night, Victoria & Abdul showcases the extraordinary true story of an unexpected friendship in the later years of Queen Victoria's remarkable rule. It is a joy to experience Dame Judi Dench still at the top of her game.

The season will run over nine nights from 26 – 30 December and from 2 – 5 January.

“Hawke’s Bay is climatically perfectly suited for movies under the stars. The past seasons have been extremely successful. Everybody loves the experience of watching movies on a big screen nestled in the picturesque vineyard setting of the amphitheatre”, Urs Blum states. "It has perfect acoustics, great sight lines, the best of technology installed, and it offers views to die for."

Moviegoers can relax on grassed terraces, sip a glass of wine with friends, enjoy a nibble from the onsite caterers or bring their own picnic, and watch the sun set over Hawke’s Bay. It is the ultimate outdoor experience: great films, great technology, great sound, great food, and great company under the stars.

Admission:

General tickets: Adult $ 20 / Child (5-12 yrs): $10

Gift tickets (available until 24 December only) are valid for any movie (ideal Christmas presents)

The full programme, trailers, the print-your-own-ticket facility (booking fee applies) as well as movie and venue details are available on the Black Barn website (www.blackbarn.com).

Other selected ticketing outlets are:

Black Barn Vineyards, Black Barn Road, Havelock North, 877 79 85

ENDS

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