NZ Movie Gets Dual Digital and Theatrical Debut

The NZ Film Commission is becoming one of the country’s most innovative deliverers of digital content.

This weekend it announced the simultaneous launch of New Zealand movie Everything We Loved on video-on-demand and in cinemas (as well as airlines).

The traditional theatrical release model means films are normally not made available on other platforms for around 60 days from their cinema run.

But Everything We Loved’s July 28 theatrical premiere, with same-time New Zealand International Film Festival screenings in Auckland and Wellington, also is when it will go live on the NZFC’s Films on Demand platform.

“We are very keen to support pioneering distribution and marketing models with a fresh approach that will help films find the widest possible audience in cinemas and additional platforms such as our new Films on Demand platform,” NZFC CEO Dave Gibson says.

Festival director Bill Gosden says the NZIFF has always enjoyed an impressive regional reach.

“But thanks to latest technology, that reach now extends from Cape Reinga to Bluff.  No matter where they are in New Zealand, fans of the festival will be able to share the excitement of this haunting film’s premiere.’’

Written and directed by Max Currie, Everything We Loved follows a stage magician’s struggle to mend his wife’s broken heart with his greatest and most dangerous illusion – a little boy.

Sia Trokenheim (Step Dave), Brett Stewart and five-year-old newcomer Ben Clarkson star in what The Hollywood Reporter dubbed a “high-end drama that convinces on an emotional level [and] conjures up a world of pain that allows the protagonists to do things no sane person would ever think of doing.”

Tom Hern (The Dark Horse, I’m Not Harry Jensen), Luke Robinson and Michael Eldred produced for Four Knights Film.

“While nothing beats the gala atmosphere and buzz of a sold-out festival opening on a giant screen at the NZIFF, not everyone can get to a screening in Auckland or Wellington, so now they can buy a ticket for our Premiere At Your Place pack,” Hern says. 

“Premiere At Your Place ticket holders can watch the film the moment the curtain goes up in theatres.”

After premiere night, Everything We Loved will also become immediately available on Vimeo’s On-Demand platform.

Vimeo has been active in increasing their stake in the emerging NZ/Australian territory, where VOD is still taking off.

“While VOD adoption rates have lagged in Australia and New Zealand, we are confident that Vimeo’s quality player experience and ease of access will capture consumers’ imagination,” the vice president of Content Acquisitions for Vimeo, Sam Toles, says.

“Everything We Loved is the kind of quality production that we are honoured to bring to our platform.”