Celebrating 40 years of NZ film: Vigil (1984)

Vigil (1984).

To mark the 40th anniversary of the New Zealand Film Commission, NZ On Screen brings us the stories behind some of our most notable local films.

Released in 1984, Vigil was director Vincent Ward's debut feature, and became the first New Zealand film to be selected for competition at Cannes.

Ward spent five years making the film, channelling childhood memories of life on a Wairarapa farm to create a unique and powerful drama. Upon release, LA Times' critic Kevin Thomas lauded it as "a work of awesome beauty".

Here Ward speaks about his entry into filmmaking, and how his early DIY approach saw him take some occasional turns in front of the camera.

Embed Vincent Ward ScreenTalk excerpt:

You can watch the original trailer for Vigil here:

See more great New Zealand film moments here, in NZ On Screen's Film Commission Collection.