Film festival fun a community boost

PAULA HULBURT

The silver screen is set to help boost community coffers in Renwick thanks to a film festival with a Marlborough focus.

Veteran filmmaker Paul Davidson has again curated The Renwick Winter Film Festival, which gets starts screening on June 14.

Running every Thursday for three weeks, the series of short films and a feature will raise funds for various community activities and the work of the Christian Missionary Society.

Paul says the festival will be “thoroughly enjoyable” for local audiences.

“Every film is either about Marlborough, or is made by Marlborough filmmakers” says Paul, “and I can guarantee an entertaining couple of hours every Thursday evening through June.”

The festival starts with a 40th anniversary screening of classic Marlborough comedy Carry Me Back. Three Seddon farmers head to the Capital in support of the Red Devil’s shield challenge – and things don’t go as planned. The film’s producer, Graeme

Cowley, has given permission for this special screening and will be at the festival to introduce his film and explain the background.

Renwick Anglican vicar Joe Keighley says it is great to see the church used by the community for such a special occasion.

“It’s good to see our church being used for community events all week and not just a Sunday thing” says Joe. He says audiences can look forward to a warm cosy hall, a cheery cuppa and an evening’s entertainment.

“It’s just the thing to brighten up a dark winter’s night”.

The Festival starts at 7pm on Thursday 15 June and on the following two Thursdays. Door sales only, just $10 cash each evening, including refreshments. The Renwick Winter Film Festival will run again over three weeks in June, when each Thursday evening a series of short films plus a feature will screen in the Renwick Church Hall on High Street.

The Festival kicks off of June 15 with

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