Hollywood giant snaps up rights to NZ movie

Taika Waititi

Director Taika Waititi's debut feature film has been picked up by a major United States production and distribution company.

Miramax, the company behind Pulp Fiction, Shakespeare in Love, Finding Neverland, Scary Movie and its three sequels, has acquired the North American distribution rights to Eagle Vs Shark.

The off-beat comedy, starring Loren Horsley and Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) as two misfits searching for revenge and acceptance, was shot on location in and around Wellington, and is currently in post-production.

Making the announcement from Cannes yesterday, Miramax president Daniel Battsek said he had been an admirer of Waititi's work since seeing his Oscar-nominated short film, Two Cars One Night. Waititi also received the special jury prize at the Berlin Film Festival for his short film Tama tu.

"As a fan of Taika Waititi's short film prior to Cannes, I was eager to see what he would come up with next," Mr Battsek said.

Waititi's partner Horsley helped develop the story and plays shy misfit Lily, who hooks up with Clement's Jarrod in a search for acceptance. The film is produced by Ainsley Gardiner and Cliff Curtis of Whenua Films.

- NZPA