Standing ovation for NZ film at Sundance Film Festival

Toa Fraser's film 'No.2' stars actress Ruby Dee (right).

Fresh from its success at the United States Sundance Film Festival last night, New Zealander Toa Fraser's debut movie No 2 has been invited to compete at the Berlin Film Festival in February.

The movie tells the story of a Fijian matriarch who, inspired by a dream of her childhood back in Fiji, demands her grandchildren put on a big feast at which she will name her successor.

The New Zealand Film Commission said the film was met with a standing ovation at its premiere at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in Utah, and the invitation to be screened at the Berlin festival would mark the movie's European premiere.

The film will be released in New Zealand cinemas on February 16.

Meanwhile The World's Fastest Indian -- starring Anthony Hopkins as legendary Southland motorcycle speedster Burt Munro -- crossed the box office mark of $6 million placing the film in the top 20 new Zealand films of all time.

The film seemed on course to become the number one film of all time, overtaking Whale Rider and Once Were Warriors, the commission said.

The film had performed well over the holiday season with an increase in box office sales of over 50 per cent in the past two weeks.

- NZPA