Festival boost for NZ feature

By RUSSELL BAILIE

New Zealand feature In My Father's Den has been selected by two of the Northern Hemisphere festivals that helped bring Whale Rider international attention.

The film has been programmed this month to show at the 29th Toronto festival in Canada and the 52nd San Sebastian festival in Spain.

Both events in 2002 launched Whale Rider in North America and Europe, respectively, winning the People's Choice award in Toronto and a standing ovation in San Sebastian.

In My Father's Den - adapted by Brad McGann from Maurice Gee's novel - has also been selected for the 9th Pusan Film Festival in Korea.

First-time director McGann is up for the $167,000 new director's award in San Sebastian, one of Europe's top festivals.

All three festivals will offer the film exposure to international film media and distributors hoping to release the film in their home territories.

The film had its world premiere on the opening night at the Sydney Film Festival in June, before screening at New Zealand film festivals in July.

It goes on commercial release here next month.

Meanwhile Boy, a short film by AUT Associate Professor Welby Ings, which has just shown at the Montreal festival, has also been accepted by the New York festival where it will screen early next month. The 15-minute silent film tells the story of a youth who witnesses a hit-and-run.