FILM FEST IS BACK
The team behind the 48 Hour Film Festival in Taranaki has had a switch up.
Karlos Drinkwater has left the team, in order to go behind the camera and participate in the festival, making way for new coordinator Tony Bennett.
Bennett joins regional manager Anand Rose who has been with the film festival since it started in Taranaki 10 years ago when there was only one team that entered; he’s been hooked ever since.
‘‘This year the goal is to get over 30 teams, we’ve never broken 30,’’ Rose said.
The theme for the teams will be released when the festival, which runs May 11 to 13, launches at 7pm on the Friday.
Teams tend to get given a prop, a line, a character, and a camera shot they have to include in the film.
Rose, whose favourite film of all time is The Snapper, set in working class Dublin, said he was excited to see the entries from the younger teams.
‘‘Last year the standard of filmmaking with our youths increased significantly.
‘‘It’s very encouraging to see the next generation of film-makers coming through.’’
Rose said the aim of the festival was to bring the film community together with a competitive edge and a place where people could hone their skills.
‘‘If you’re good at script writing, find someone with a camera.
‘‘If you think it’s too much or a bit beyond you but you’re still interested, ask more questions and just give it a go.’’
Bennett, originally from Leicester, England, came to Taranaki almost three years ago and is in the process of writing his first feature film.
‘‘I left a full time job at TSB to focus on film-making so this comes at the perfect time, especially because writing a feature film doesn’t always come quickly.’’
Bennett, whose favourite movie of all time is Jaws, which stopped him from swimming until he was in his 20s, said when it came to the 48 Hour Film Festival ‘‘the story is king’’. ‘‘You don’t need to make Avatar, you’ve got two days, you just need to get a solid simple story.’’
Registrations are now open.