N.Z. film [selected for competition at Cannes
The feature film, "The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey," directed by Vincent Ward, has been selected for the Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Announcing the selection in Wellington, the chairman of the New Zealand Film Commission, Mr David Gascoigne, said: "It is always an honour for a film to be selected, but an unprecedented event for two films in a row from the same director and producer team to represent their country." Ward's first feature. "Vigil," was the first NewZealand film to be selected for the prestigious annual event in 1984. "The Navigator" is Ward's second feature film, and will be NewZealand’s second feature ever chosen for the competition.
Only 20 films — the pick of the year’s films
worldwide — are chosen each year for the competitive (festival, which is regarded as the most important "event in the film industry's year. “The : Navigator." the first official co-production between New Zealand and Australia, was shot in Auckland last vear.
Ward, who wrote the script from his original idea with the American writer, Kely L.von. and the Auckland writer, Geoff Chapple, had been developing the project with the producer. John Maynard, since the completion of "Vigil" in 1984.
The story involves a group of medieval miners who follow the vision of a nine-year-old boy (played by an Auckland schoolboy. Hamish McFarlane), to help save their village from the plague. Their quest for salvation takes thep through the earth, to emerge in Auckland in
1987. The film's production was postponed for a year after the funding structure collapsed in 1986. John Maynard took the project to Australia, where it was restructured as an official co-produc-tion between the two countries, and filming commenced at locations in Auckland and the South Island in July 1987. The New Zealand Film Commission is one of the major investors. "Every film is a labour of love." says ; Ward. "and this film is no exception. Being selected for competition makes the struggle to make this film worthwhile." Mr Maynard describes initial interest in "The Navigator." as extremelypromising. with record prices for an Australasian film already finalised for several European . countries. H
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Press, 26 April 1988, Page 47
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361N.Z. film [selected for competition at Cannes Press, 26 April 1988, Page 47
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