Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Theatrical Release DISCOUNT tickets

"There Once was an Island" is opening in New Zealand theatres Thursday this week! It's a film that we think is best served up on the big screen, so this is your chance to enjoy it at its most fetching.

DISCOUNTED TICKETS! Email takuufilm.
For those of you able to attend the Thursday 6pm screening at Rialto Newmarket, Lyn is doing a Q&A and we also have 20 discounted tickets available. Adults are $13.50 and kids/seniors $8.50. If you want to take advantage of this pricing please email takuufilm and we'll put you down. Tickets can be collected at the theatre on the night, and you will need to pay cash. This is a first come first served offer.

If you're not in Auckland or you want to go but can't make that session, here is a list of the cinemas and locations the film is also screening at. Have a look online for confirmed screening times:

June 11 – 29
Arthouse Cinema, NEW PLYMOUTH. To book, call (06) 757 3650

From June 23
Rialto Newmarket, AUCKLAND. To book, call (09) 369 2417

Waiheke Island Community Cinema, WAIHEKE. To book, call (09) 372-4240

Paramount Cinemas, WELLINGTON. To book, call (04) 384 4080

Gecko Theatre, NELSON. To book, call (03) 528 9996

Rialto DUNEDIN. To book, call (03) 474 2200

We hope to have some more special offers later on.

Monday, June 06, 2011

Thank you Cinemambiente

We're now at liberty to share the news that Cinemambiente has awarded "There Once was an Island" the jury prize for Best International Documentary. The Jury was headed by director Michael Cimino (The Deer Hunter). It's all getting a bit overwhelming. But is nevertheless very appreciated.

Sunday, June 05, 2011

Theatrical Release!!!


Well - we've been hoping to be able to bring TOWAI to the big screen in New Zealand once more, and have finally managed to get it to happen.

Our limited nation-wide theatrical release begins on June 23, with two earlier screenings at Arthouse Cinema in New Plymouth on June 11 and 18.

If you're a teacher and would like to bring a class to a screening, we're giving two free posters per class which you can pick up at the theatre. Different special offers for groups apply at the different cinemas - for more details check the website for the cinema in your area or give them a call - details below.

Cinema contacts:

Auckland
Rialto Cinema, Newmarket
To book, call (09) 369 2417. Special rates are given for groups of 10 or more, and for group bookings before 5pm.
www.rialto.co.nz

Waiheke
Waiheke Cinema
To book, call (09) 372-4240
www.wicc.co.nz

New Plymouth
Arthouse Cinema
To book, call (06) 757 3650
www.arthousecinema.co.nz

Wellington
Paramount Cinema
To book, call (04) 384 4080
www.paramount.co.nz

Nelson
Gecko Theatre Motueka
To book, call (03) 528 9996
www.geckotheatre.co.nz

Dunedin
Rialto Cinema, Newmarket
To book, call (03) 474 2200. Special rates are given for groups of 10 or more, and for group bookings before 5pm.
www.rialto.co.nz

Feel free to slip this link to everyone you know (!) and let them know we'd love for them to see the film on the big screen!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

There Once was an Island on Rialto Channel 8.30 TONIGHT!

It caught us by surprise but There Once was an Island is screening on New Zealand's Rialto Channel at 8.30pm tonight and there are more dates and times this month and next. Check us out for free if you're a Sky subscriber!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Wild and Scenic

A quick post - anyone in Nevada City this weekend might want to hop along to There Once was an Island at Wild and Scenic Film Festival. Quick reference details:

Wild and Scenic 2011
NEVADA CITY, USA
Saturday 15 January — 11:00am
Miners Foundry Stone Hall
325 Spring Street, Nevada City, CA 95959

Sunday 16 January — 3:25pm

Nevada City Elementary

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

A New Year's Reflection

Having There Once was an Island in distribution has been - well - not different than expected necessarily, but busier and more intense. This is my first time as key producer for post and distribution and despite having managed aspects of both on another feature doc, the growth of new ways to self-distribute documentary has been so fast that I find myself constantly learning - I think this is something all independent filmmakers find.

Many times I've found myself lost in a sea of possibilities - post-production workflows and facilities, technical delivery options, distributors, festivals, distribution platforms and approaches - it's a multifarious list and I'm blessed with so many work commitments that it's next to impossible to be fully informed about a decision before making it. I'm really lucky to work with a second producer (and also the film's director - Briar) who is able to bring so much new information to the table, but even so, the process of choosing an option from the plethora on offer, knowing that it will foreclose an unknown number of others, is often nerve-wracking, as is taking responsibility for ensuring that technical parameters are met to the satisfaction of all parties involved in any screening of the film.

We are now almost a year into our festival run and have enjoyed success in the form of invitations to prestigious festivals like IDFA and Dok Leipzig, prizes and honours - including the Jury Grand Prix at FIFO (Tahiti) and Best Documentary at both Cinefest (Miskolc, Hungary) and Raindance (London), the Filmpreis Leipzinger Ring and the Qantas Film and Television Award for Best Editing, Documentary/Factual. We have also been broadcast in Sweden, Germany, France, in Africa and across the Asia-Pacific region on ABC. It all seems a million miles away from the hot, sweaty experience of shooting on Takuu, the welcome of the community there and the hard reality of their largely pre-industrial life-style and incipient environmental problems. It's also a long way from the time spent in endless applications for funding - a two-year process which prepared me for the myriad difficulties of distribution if only because being told "no" became commonplace.

I've learned countless things from making this film, but if I had to distill out the most important it would be this: if you really want to achieve something and you refuse to give in, you will eventually attain your goal. Briar has always believed this, and thanks to working on There Once was an Island with her, I find I now do too. Be careful what you wish for - it's out there and coming your way....