The short film "Letter For Hope" has been selected to screen at three US international film festivals and received an Honorable Mention award from a 4th festival.
The film was completed in January 2014 by two Wellington WIFT members - Writer/Actress April Phillips and Director Raquel Roderick.
"Letter For Hope" is a contemporary tear-jerker with an ultimately uplifting conclusion and stars writer April Phillips, and veteran actors Don Langridge and Lorae Parry. In April the film screened at the Sarasota Film Festival in Florida, the River Bend Film Festival in Indiana, and the Bare Bones Film Festival in Oklahoma. Executive Producer Craig Hutchison will travel to Los Angeles to receive the Honorable Mention prize at the Sunset Film Festival next month.
Phillips is particularly proud of the Sarasota selection because the film screened in a special UN Women section of the festival celebrating stories told by women about women. "Letter For Hope" was written and directed by women about the loss of a baby, something experienced by many women and that is profoundly affecting.
The Artistic Director of the Sarasota Film Festival, Ann Fries, said "Letter for Hope is just a beautiful film! I CRIED watching your film. It really got to me�"
Hutchison's Christchurch based theatre and film production company CAS'n'OVA Productions funded the film with a budget in excess of $50,000 having produced many of Phillips' theatre works. He later teamed up with Phillips' company GODIVA Productions to make the Colonial drama "Utu Pihikete" and they are crossing fingers for more festival success for both films. The Director of Photography on both films was Matt Sharp ("Eternity", "When Night Falls", "Broken Glass").
They are currently in pre-production for a feature film based on Phillips' acclaimed stage play "Motel".
If you would like more information please contact April Phillips at 04 472 5361 or email at info@aprilphillips.com.