Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Make your big screen debut
Promising filmmakers are being given the chance to shine on the silver screen.
Organisers behind the Top of the South Film Festival are taking entries from the public for this year’s event.
And for the first time, organisers have introduced a new feature film category.
Film festival director Phil McKinnon says anyone can enter and they welcome new talent.
‘‘It doesn’t matter to us how much experience someone has, as long as the film they enter hasn’t been screened publicly or online.
‘‘People can put submissions in now, including any members of the public out there who want to give it a go.
‘‘You don’t have to be a member of a film society to take part.’’
In its third year, the annual festival was started by Phil alongside fellow filmmaker Aaron Falvey, also from Blenheim, who wanted to create a platform to showcase their work.
The event aims to give promising filmmakers a public arena for their work while inspiring others to take part.
Phil says it is also a great way for budding actors and actresses to get their foot in the door.
‘‘There are a lot of actors and actresses out there, especially at the colleges who have been involved and we even had one boy who went on to study acting so it was obviously something he was really interested in.’’
All proceeds from the festival go back into the Top of the South Film Production Society to help members work on their films.
Phil says members can also access up to $900 to help with costs of putting their movie together. ‘‘We’re all about being inclusive and want to help as many people as possible to help with their films.
‘‘I think we’re the only ones that do this in New Zealand which is quite a milestone; we’re trailblazing here.’’
For further information about the festival in November and how to submit an entry visit the website topofthesouth.org
The festival will take place in Nelson on October 28 and in Blenheim on November 11 at the ASB Theatre Marlborough.