NZ movie heads for Texas

A documentary by New Zealand film-maker Paul Davidson has been chosen among 170 films to be shown at a top film festival in Austin, Texas.

Mr Davidson's documentary, Giving It All Away: The Life and Times of Sir Roy McKenzie, was chosen for the South by Southwest Festival out of thousands of films entered.

Chronicling the life of Kiwi philanthropist Sir Roy McKenzie, it is the only New Zealand film to screen at the festival, which opens next week.

"It's pleasing that a documentary film is showing rather than a feature film," Mr Davidson said.

"It's a story about real New Zealand and real New Zealanders, and I would like to see more of that."

The film was made with the help of a Roy W. Dean Foundation grant. The United States-based foundation supports documentary makers who have problems getting their films funded by mainstream media worldwide.

TV3 and TVNZ have declined to buy the documentary, but Mr Davidson remains confident it will be broadcast on New Zealand television.

- NZPA