Here’s a catch up on NZ box office figures from the last few weeks — click on the links to view. Onfilm’s regular distribution of NZ box office information will resume this week….

A story of cultural clash along the Whanganui River has won the Documentary Edge Festival 2011’s top New Zealand documentary award. Mark McNeill and Italian co-director Luigi Cutore’s I Am The River tells of the 2001 chance discovery of previously unknown photographs of 19th century Whanganui Maori. It received the festival’s Best New Zealand Feature award at last night’s gala, held at The Studio in Auckland…

Paul Murphy’s Love Birds, the feature story of February's Onfilm (out now)  opened yesterday. Rhys Darby stars as a man who’s “too scared to fly, with a duck that can’t” alongside Sally Hawkins from Made in Dagenham.

So far the reviews are mixed, with the NZ Herald’s Russell Baillie and the Otago Daily Times giving it four stars. TV3’s Kate Rodger wasn't so keen, calling the story and humour "laboured". We'll report back on how it does at the box office next week, although nationwide attendance will undoubtedly be affected by the Christchurch earthquake.

Click through to see the trailer for Love Birds

Onfilm would like to express our sympathy for all those affected by the Christchurch earthquake – the families and friends who are grieving for lost loved ones, the injured, those who have lost their homes, businesses or property, and for the traumatised survivors of this awful tragedy.

We would also like to express our sorrow for the loss of life within the CTV building in Madras Street, Christchurch. Since 1991, the independently owned Canterbury Television has been a source of regional pride to Cantabrians. The station had been producing and screening over 20 hours of locally produced television each week and supplying programming to a range of other broadcasters, including the Auckland-based Stratos Television, who have suspended the broadcast of all CTV programmes out of respect.

Among those confirmed missing at CTV are managing director Murray Wood, presenter/producer Donna Manning, journalist Samuel Gibb, programme scheduler Matty Beaumont, Jo Giles and Andrew Bishop. Our hearts go out to their loved ones.

Film lovers around the country will be heading to the cinema as the Film Society’s 2011 season begins. A richly eclectic programme of special screenings, classic features, documentaries and contemporary cinema from home and abroad begins in March at film societies across New Zealand…

PRESS RELEASE

NZ Short film wins at Berlinale

The 61st Berlin International Film Festival has awarded a top prize to New Zealand film Manurewa.

Manurewa, directed by Sam Peacocke, was awarded a Crystal Bear in the Generation 14plus Youth Section of the competition…

MEDIA RELEASE

BBC KNOWLEDGE AND SPADA CELEBRATE NEW ZEALAND’S YOUNG PRODUCTION TALENT WITH AN EXCITING NEW INITIATIVE

BBC Worldwide and the Screen Production & Development Association (SPADA) will launch a production initiative to support and develop young New Zealand filmmakers.

New Zealand producers under 30 years are invited to submit written applications for five grants of NZ$5,000 each. The resulting short-form documentaries will premiere on BBC Knowledge New Zealand later this year, with a screening in Australia to follow [...]

NEWS RELEASE 16 February 2011  Fujifilm Motion Picture has announced the release of Fujicolor ETERNA Vivid 250D, a new high contrast, high saturation daylight balanced colour negative camera film stock. This new addition to Fujifilm's range of motion picture stock offers punchy vivid colours, fine grain, crisp deep blacks and excellent skin tones. ETERNA Vivid [...]

The Data Book Listings: Last Chance

LISTINGS CLOSE 28 February 2011

By moving the release date of the next issue of The Data Book back to April, we've been able to extend the time you've got available to place your listings in The Data Book and websites at www.databook.co.nz and m.databook.co.nz.

So if you haven't already done so, now's your last chance to secure your place. And because your directory should be as broad as possible to be of maximum benefit to the whole industry, why not also pass this message on to someone who might otherwise miss out. And while you're at it, remind them that FREE listings are available – and our websites are now fully open to all users – no more locked access and passwords.

All you need to do is visit www.databook.co.nz and follow the Add/Update my listings link, or email your requirements to listings@databook.co.nz.

And if you've got any questions, just give us a call on 0-9-845 5114. We look forward to hearing from you.

Regards
The Data Book Team

The popularity of free-to-air digital television and radio service, Freeview, continues to increase following the biggest month of Freeview sales since the company began in 2007. Sales figures show 34,928 Freeview receivers were sold across the country during December. The majority of these were TVs with Freeview|HD® built-in, and sales of MyFreeview Digital Television Recorders [...]

MEDIA STATEMENT
13 February 2011

Actor Frank Whitten died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday morning. He was aged 68.

Whitten has been a very familiar face on New Zealand and Australian television and cinema screens for the past three decades* although he is probably best remembered for his most recent onscreen role as Grandpa Ted West in Outrageous Fortune…

Talented Kiwi filmmakers have been showcasing the beauty of New Zealand this week, at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival (4 – 12 February 2011).

In its 33rd year, the festival chose New Zealand as the country to spotlight, and viewers were taken on a uniquely New Zealand experience.

Nearly 50 15-minute films screened, representing the extraordinary depth and breadth of short films made in New Zealand since 1970.

In 2010, New Zealanders spent more time than ever watching Television, with the average person tuning in for 3 hours and 22 minutes every day. The amount of Television viewed in New Zealand continued its pattern of growth with Kiwis now watching 20% more than they did in 2007. Rick Friesen, Chief Executive of ThinkTV [...]

By Tourism New Zealand Award winning New Zealand director Sir Peter Jackson’s much awaited movie The Hobbit will begin shooting in Middle-earth – New Zealand next month (March 2011). Jackson’s production company 3Foot7 Ltd has announced The Hobbit’s first day of filming will be 21 March, following considerations of the filming schedule requirements, actor availability and [...]

Contrary to the story that ran in last week’s Sunday Star Times, Auckland Film Studios is NOT for sale. Indeed it’s business as usual. Whilst it’s true that there are currently no offshore productions shooting at the studio, Auckland Film Studios has still been busy hosting many television commercial productions…

Last night’s premiere of Outrageous Fortune successor The Almighty Johnsons was big on ratings “Norse-power”.

The South Pacific Pictures comedy/drama about four brothers who are the living incarnations of Norse Gods easily won its 9.30pm time slot opposite TV One’s Castle and TV2’s Brothers and Sisters.