Film blue caught in time

Press, 7 March 1978, Page 6

Film blue caught in time

The .Arts Festival almost lost its “Alternative Cinema” — three programmes of short films by local professional filmmakers. The Arts Festival irganisers yesterday eceived a telegram “out of he blue” from the Departnent of Internal Affairs, hreatening prosecution if hey screened the three shows planned for this week. Audiences were partly

booked, and the first screening was only 48 hours away, so the festival, office sent an urgent inquiry to the Censor of Private Films in Wellington, asking why the show was in breach of the law. The problem was three words: “exempted from examination.” These had been omitted from advertising, and under the legislation the show became illegal.

However, they received grace. Provided that this week's shows carry an advertisement in the foyer saying that the films are exempted from examination, they can go ahead. The Government wanted to foster local professional film-making, but things had got tangled up in red tape, said the festival director (Mrs Helen Holmes). She thought the mail had been delayed, preventing clearance of all permits in time.