N.Z. films for overseas TV

Press, 14 May 1981, Page 14

N.Z. films for overseas TV

New Zealand films for cinema screening are not the only ones making a major impact on the overseas market.

The National Film Unit's sales have reached an alltime record during the past year with films especially made for television. Sales have been steadily building up since the unit's first attendance at the Marche International. Des Programmes in 1977, a television programme trade fair held annually in Cannes before the much publicised film festival.

Mr Doug Eckhoff. manager of the N.F.U.. was in Cannes last month to attend this fair, sell films to existing client channels, tap new markets and look at new development in documentary making, film techniques, and also investigate investment possibilities.

The unit’s former marketing officer, Miss Diana Winn, said that the trade fair provided New Zealand with contacts, lessons in negotiation, and information on buying preferences and channels of distribution. "The unit now sells more than 100 films a vear to 30

different countries,” she said. “Each sale represents two or more screenings, so millions of people are being exposed to documentary films about New Zealand. It also represents a significant return to the revenue being ■earned by the N.F.U.” The two most reputable countries in the film business. France and Germany, are among countries buying N.F.U. productions. "They have been difficult to sell in the past as they have their own production units and tend to favour screening local productions,” Miss Winn said. “The French television channels have been very interested in a slow motion rugby film, called ‘Score,’ and in wildlife material produced by the N.F.U. “A large contract has also just been signed with a French home-video company who plan to put ‘Score’ and other productions on tape and sell it with video equipment.” Singapore and Malaysia have also proved to be good markets for New Zealand films. In the past three years, they have televised more

than 50 N.F.U. productions each year. Canada has been a good market in the past, although severe money cuts has forced it to steer away from films made outside of its own country. Italy, Switzerland, the United States,Britain, Austria, the Netherlands and Scandinavia are among other countries screening New Zealand films on their television channels. “Some of the exposure these films are obtaining is quite outstanding. Those going to top television networks are being viewed by millions of people," she said. Miss Winn said that the N.F.U. has taken the approach that any overseas channels expressing interest in New Zealand films should be well serviced. “Because they know they get good attention, they tend to favour us to other countries that may have better quality films but a slaphappy service.” ‘ Those films that ha’ve gained the most attention are productions on an international jet boat race, skiing, and a series on "Land of The Birds.”