Indulge in films galore at fest

Some gentle lobbying and local pride has ensured Masterton audiences will get to see How To Meet Girls From a Distance on the film writer's home turf.

The New Zealand International Film Festival opens in Masterton on October 17, and includes 20 films and documentaries, plus NZ short films.

Tickets are on sale now, but Regent 3 owner Brent Goodwin could not say whether the event was likely to sell out fast.

"Some shows do and some shows don't, we'll wait with bated breath to see which ones," Mr Goodwin said.

He is grateful the festival still comes to Masterton when it has been lost from other smaller towns and credits our sophisticated audience.

"A lot of provincial towns are isolated and not exposed to Wellington like our place is, in that regard Masterton is almost a suburb of Wellington. It's a huge strength, there's a level of sophistication to sustain certain cultural events like this, you need to have that audience," he said.

Mr Goodwin's festival picks include Bernie, the story of a well-mannered murderer starring Jack Black, music documentary Searching for Sugar Man, and Italian film Caesar Must Die.

Both Mr Goodwin and Wairarapa College old boy Richard Falkner lobbied the festival trust to include How to Meets Girls From a Distance. Mr Falkner, one of the writers and lead actor in the Kiwi romcom, is hoping to attend at least one Masterton screening of the film.

"People should come to see it not just to support a local but because they like entertaining, funny New Zealand films," Mr Falkner said.

He said although it's nerve-wracking to see how the hometown audience receives it, the response in other parts of the country had been positive.

NZ International Film Festival in Masterton, October 17 to 31, tickets and programmes from Regent 3 Cinemas, Queen St, Masterton