Aotearoa Environmental Film Festival

You have entered the site for a previous year's festival.

Venue:
The Globe Theatre
Main Street West
Palmerston North

Over 400 arm-chair critics cast votes in the People’s Choice Awards at the Aotearoa Environmental Film Festival. The annual Festival, based in the Globe Theatre, screened 31 short and feature-length films, from 7 countries.

The People’s choice for Best International Film was Faith Morgan’s 2006 release ‘The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil.’ Beating out 16 other films, Morgan gives the viewer a concise perspective on the post-Soviet energy crisis in Cuba; which shows how communities pulled together, created solutions, and ultimately thrive in their decreased dependence on the black gold. “The Cuba film was at once fascinating and empowering, easily capturing the audience vote” says Festival co-founder Jason Blair.

First runner up was ‘Buyer Be Fair’; a 2006 release by Seattle-based independent filmmakers John de Graaf and Hana Jindrova. The film explores fair trade, when a consumer chooses products that provide an adequate wage to the producer, and look after the land. “Again, the movie empowers the viewer” says Blair; “it was a well-made film, and while it did focus heavily on market-based solutions to global inequity; it did it in a way that meets the modern consumer where they are.”

Competition among our 14 entries for the Best New Zealand Film was fierce, with material from Otago University Natural History Filmmaking Course leading the pack. Dunedin-based producers Bill Morris and Kate Bradbury came away with the top award for their 2006 release ‘Mad Mac and the Flat Ugly Snail’. “Our audience loved it” says Blair. “A great story told well, it easily captured the vote”. Morris and Bradbury trace the history of the paua industry through the life story of Mad Mac, one of the industry’s most colourful founders. At 22 minutes, the film covers a vast territory, exploring Mac’s personal life and career; and features stunningly beautiful footage of the southern coast.

A close second in the awards was another Otago-based production, ‘Longfin’; produced by Lindsey Davidson and Melissa Salpietra. “An amazing foray into the life of our longfin eel; on the big screen it was natural history at it’s finest” says Blair “who ever knew there was such a story about eels?”

Honourable mentions were made for two New Zealand films; ‘Disarm’ and ‘Under Their Skin’. Produced by Wellington director Mary Wareham, Disarm is an in-your-face look at the global use and abuse of anti-personnel landmines. “At 67 minutes, Wareham’s movie was this year’s longest film, and one of the most challenging” says Blair. ‘Under Their Skin’ is a marked contrast, making a well-balanced and at times amusing investigation into South Islander’s attitudes about possums. “While neither film got top vote, they both deserve honourable mention” says Blair.

Screenings: (different content at each screening)

Thursday 14 September, show starts 7pm, doors open 6 pm
Friday 15 September, show starts 7pm, doors open 6 pm
Saturday 16 September, show starts 7pm, doors open 6 pm (catered)
Sunday 17 September, show starts 2pm, doors open 1 pm (matinee)

Ticket Sales

Prices: (booking fees may apply)
Student/unwaged/senior/child $10 per session; two session concession $15
Adult $15 per session; two session concession $25

Available through TicketDirect from the following locations:

Regent on Broadway, 6 Broadway Ave, PN, Mon-Fri 9-5.30pm, Sat 10-2pm

Main entrance B & M Centre, Pascal St, PN, Mon-Fri 9-5.30pm

Wanganui Opera House, 69 St Hills St, Wanganui, Mon-Fri 9-5.30pm, Sat 10-noon

Feilding Information Centre, Manchester Square, Feilding, Mon-Fri 9-4.30pm, Sat 10-2pm

Dannevirke Information Centre, High Street, Dannevirke, Mon-Fri 9.30-5.30pm, Sat 10-2pm