Movie filmed in Auckland premieres in Belgium

Movie filmed in Auckland premieres in Belgium

11 April 2007
Source: NZ Herald

The latest offering from the director of Sione's Wedding makes its world premiere today -- in Belgium.

Horror flick The Ferryman, directed by Wellingtonian Chris Graham, will premiere at the Brussels International Festival of Fantastic Film.

The Ferryman, described by promoters as a "mythically charged horror", is a dramatic departure from last year's feel-good comedy Sione's Wedding, which smashed New Zealand records with the biggest opening weekend at the box office of any local film, drawing $630,000.

The Ferryman tells the story of a group of young tourists who charter a yacht for the trip of a lifetime, before stumbling upon an ancient evil that demands vengeance at any cost.

With joint funding from both the New Zealand and British film industries, The Ferryman features an international cast, including John Rhys Davies (The Lord Of The Rings); Kerry Fox (An Angel At My Table); Julian Arahanga (Once Were Warriors); and Lawrence Makoare (The Lord Of The Rings).

Distributors have snapped up rights to release the film in North America, Germany, New Zealand and Australia, with a United Kingdom deal under negotiation.

The film will be released in the US at the Seattle Film Festival in May, and in New Zealand later this year.

Chris De Burgh's classic 1980s track, Don't Pay the Ferryman, will feature, with a cover version performed by Auckland band Cobra Khan.

The Ferryman was filmed in Auckland and Waiheke early last year, and was written by Nick Ward, the author of Stickmen.