We are gearing up for the DVD release as you know and nearly finished the slick.  We have a pre release planned as part of Arts Week and in conjunction with the Wallace Arts Trust who will be screening Russian Snark as a fund raiser for the gallery.  Watch this space for a link to the Arts Week info.

If you are looking for a respite from the Rugby World Cup, a screening of Russian Snark with a Q & A including Stephen Sinclair, Liz DiFiore, Stephen Papps, Elena Stejko and Stephanie Tauevihi followed by delicious wines and snacks and a chance to meet and greet the creatives behind this fantastic art film might be just the ticket! Keep October 14th free!

Well, I’ve started my tiki-tour of the North Island with Russian Snark. The journey hardly began auspiciously:  driving through the King Country I hit the heaviest downpour I can remember – raining so hard I could barely see the car in front even with the windscreen wipers going full speed. And the road became a stream bed, the cars sending up high rooster tails of water into the air. So much for a pleasant cruise through the countryside.

But the Q and A at the Arthouse Cinema in New Plymouth went well – with a warm response to the film and some incisive questions. Francois, who runs the cinema, has created a warm intimate space in the upstairs auditorium of an old theatre. And in these challenging times, when most art movie buffs would rather watch films at home on dvd, he has managed to create a loyal audience willing to make the trip to town on a cold winter’s night.

Tonight’s Q and A is at the Paramount Theatre in Welly. I’ll keep you posted!

Arrived in Wairoa after dark, and met the festival organiser Leo Kozoil at the Nuhaka Marae.  He kindly offered to show me where I was staying back about 10 klms along the road at the Morere Hot Springs.  Thankfully I followed him, and despite trepidation about the possible rising waters in the creek took my little car up the sandy track to a lovely paddock where a number of stand alone cabins had been constructed.  Very cosy. I went back to the marae that evening and met lots of new people, had a kai, watched some fantastic short films in the spacious and beautiful Nuhaka marae, voted on said films and drove myself back to the whareiti for a good nights sleep. In the morning, I crossed the stream on the very exciting swing bridge to the roadside cafe, had a bite and headed to the Marae for our Russian Snark screening.

The screening of Russian Snark went really well with good attendance and the Q & A had lots of really interesting questions and perspectives shared afterwards.  The crowd really seemed to enjoy  our film and the ideas it communicated.  Some of the audience have since recommended the film to theaters in their areas which is really cool.

More kai, and more films that day and then a drive around the incredibly wild and beautiful Mahia Peninsula, coming back to watch Katie Wolfe’s thought provoking films This is Her and  Nights in the Gardens of Spain.  Awards ceremonies followed with much aroha and some lovely awards bestowed on the filmmakers at our table, and of course some great kai!.  The kareoke was choice as well!

Sunday morning it was a trip to the Morere Hot Pools for a fantastic walk through the bush, lots of beautiful native birds, oxygen and a soothing hot soak in the pools.  Heaven! Then back to the marae for a kai and a chance to see Hook, Line and Sinker, and another film I produced - Hugh and Heke. Lots of laughter and  support for this film too, which stars Pete Smith and Geoff Dolan. More kai – (what a festival – everything is so close and intimate and you will never go hungry)  the ladies in the whare kai never stopped getting the next meal prepared…great work ladies!  And my last meal with them was one of my personal marae cuisine favourites – mutton birds…Yum – what a treat!

Back to my whareiti for a moemoe before getting up super early to drive back to Gisborne for my 6:40am flight to Auckland.  Leo had selcted Hugh and Heke for the Matariki Festival film screenings so if you want to see it, the free programme is here:

Matariki Festival Marae Film programme:

Makaurau Marae, 8 Ruaiti Road, Ihumatao, Mangere, Manukau City

• Friday 24 June, 7pm Rangatahi Shorts 2011, 8.30pm Matariki
• Saturday 25 June, 6pm Rangatahi Shorts 2011, 7.30pm Hugh and Heke

Te Mahurehure Marae, Premier Avenue, Pt Chevalier, Auckland

• Friday 1 July, 7pm Rangatahi Shorts 2011, 8.30pm Matariki

Awataha Marae, 58 Akoranga Drive, Northcote, North Shore City

• Saturday 18 June, 6pm Rangatahi Shorts 2011, 7.30pm Hugh and Heke

Writer/director Stephen Sinclair, Stephen Papps, Elena Stejko & Stephanie Tauevihi will be on stage to take questions after the screening.  MC Tarun Mohanbhai one of Those Indian Guys will be MCing on the night.  It will be a great night!