Scratching The Celluloid To Uncover Truths

With over 500 documentaries submitted for consideration for the premiere international documentary film festival in Australasia, the DOCNZ Trust looks to formally announce their programming for the DOCNZ International Documentary Film Festival 2010.

The launch will take place on January 27th 2010 in Auckland; the documentaries chosen show a broad range in topics and themes, some will delve into subject matter that is controversial and political while others focus on pop culture and entertainment. 2010 sees an emphasis on New Zealand made productions – there is now a “local” specific award.

The Academy Award long-list nominee Sergio details the life of a Brazilian UN diplomat Sergio Vieira de Mello, acclaimed around the world for his efforts in UN sanctioned humanitarian and political programs in some of the most hostile of countries. On the brink of finally settling down with the woman he loves, Sergio becomes the representative of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq. The date of his assignment? August 19th 2003, at the Canal Hotel…

A controversial documentary with all the hallmarks of an international political thriller, Stolen has been stalked by protests and international politics at each festival it has shown. Filmmakers Violeta Ayala and Daniel Fallshaw started off making a different film in North Africa but as they uncovered modern day slavery suffered by the Black Saharawis in the Polisario governed refugee camps in Western Sahara, they become enmeshed in the most perilous episode of their lives as their lives and those of their subjects become at risk and prey to the most sinister political and cultural forces.

The award winning, yet rocky relationship of songwriting team Robert and Richard Sherman is brought to light with The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story. highlighting the brother aptitiude for writing hits such as ‘I Wanna Be Like You’ and ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’, the documentary also demonstrates the completely different outlooks both had on life and sometimes clashing personalities – both being interviewed, both with shared memories but at times completely different perceptions.

New Zealand also offers its fair share of powerful documentaries; Shirley Horrocks’ Dance of the Instant combines original footage of pioneering 1940’s modern dancers, The New Dance Group, with interviews from surviving members of the group alongside re-enactments of the new forms of dance crafted from minimal resources, while John Di Stefano chronicles the trajectory of living in New Zealand, to his native Canada, through to his ancestral home in Italy with the autobiographical You are Here.

DOCNZ 2010 will be held at Rialto Newmarket in Auckland from the 27 of February through to the 14th of March 2010. DOCNZ 2010 in Wellington will be held at Angelica at Reading Cinemas (Courtenay Place) from the 13th to the 28th of March 2010.

For full synopsises of the mentioned films and media inquires, contact
Michelle Lafferty at Elephant Publicity
Phone: +64 9 368 4180
Email: elephantpublicity@paradise.net.nz