Seminars with Acclaimed Filmmaker Rolf de Heer

Rolf de Heer on Conceiving and Crafting Cinema on a Modest Budget: A half-day seminar for writers, directors and producers

Script to Screen in association with The NZ Film Commission The NZ Broadcasting School and Screen Dunedin and present two South Island seminars with acclaimed writer/director Rolf de Heer.

Internationally acclaimed Australian filmmaker Rolf de Heer (Bad Boy Bubby, The Tracker, Dance Me to My Song, Ten Canoes), in New Zealand courtesy of the New Zealand Film Commission, will hold half-day seminars for screenwriters, directors, and producers in Christchurch and Dunedin. Using his own work as case studies Rolf will share his filmmaking philosophy, from the writing process to delivery to an audience, with particular focus on the relationship between budget level and story ideas and the crafting of low budget cinema for the international marketplace.

“His films consistently challenge moral conventions and push the boundaries of the filmmaker’s art.” - International Film Festival of India Rolf de Heer Retrospective

“de Heer is now regarded as one of Australia’s foremost and esteemed filmmakers due to the strength, diversity and calibre of his films.” – AFTRS Website (Australian Film Television & Radio School)

Rolf de Heer has consistently produced feature films which have been recognised internationally for their cinematic excellence (he has won the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes, the Jury Prize for Un Certain Regard at Cannes and the International Film Critics Prize at Venice). The key to his ability to regularly write, direct, and co-produce feature films has been his decision to conceive and write scripts that can be produced on a modest budget (from $500,000 – 2.5 million), combined with an ongoing process of defining his own cinematic voice.

Interview with Rolf de Heer on the relationship between budget and cinematic approach

Rolf de Heer Selected Filmography

Bad Boy Bubby (1993), Won the Special Grand Jury Prize and the International Film Critics Prize at Venice.

The Quiet Room (1996), in competition at Cannes

Dance Me To My Song (1998), in competition at Cannes

The Tracker (2002), premiered to critical acclaim at Venice

Alexandra’s Project (2003), in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival

Ten Canoes (2006), won the Special Jury Prize for Un Certain Regard at Cannes

Dr. Plonk (2007), Toronto International Film Festival

Courtesy of the New Zealand Film Commission

Thanks to the Otago Polytechnic Design Department for supporting southern film