Susi and Nia from the WIFT NZ office spent two whirlwind days in Wellington last week, catching up with members and colleagues in Guilds, the film industry in general and checking out venues where we can hold WIFT NZ workshops and networking events. The weather was fabulous, the coffee much better than Auckland and the creative energy that is apparent everywhere is what makes this capital city one of the best places in the world to visit!
The networking event on Monday night was extremely special in that Janine Morrell-Gunn was able to attend and give us a very moving account of what it was like to be in Christchurch on 22 February. We urge all members to support her initiative of adopting a Christchurch family. (Details can be found at http://www.adoptachristchurchfamily.com) The event was also very special in that it brought together matriarchs of the film industry in New Zealand and emerging film-makers.
This year, keep an eye out for a Film-Craft Series at Toi Whakaari, some networking at Film New Zealand and the Film Archives, a Distribution Workshop with Ewa Bigio in June, a day's workshop with the fabulous Sian Jaquet (check out her programme The Big Stuff every Saturday morning on TV3 at 7.00am)�and many others events in the pipeline.
Susi and Nia would like to thank the members of the WIFT NZ Board in Wellington - Catherine Fitzgerald, Glenis Giles and Debra Kelleher - for making us feel so welcome. And a special thanks to Susan Gibson of Heritage Hotels for sponsoring our accommodation.