A suburban picture palace on the brink of extinction, strangers dancing in the dark, a ‘headcase’ turned world leader, a woman who talks to animals, a freestyling busker and a kiwi pro wrestler - these are some of the characters Kiwis will be introduced to thanks to the outstanding selection of Loading Docs documentaries set to be made in 2015.
After a selection process with an unprecedented high calibre of entries the Loading Docs team is pleased to announce the line-up of ten 3-minute documentary shorts to be produced and released in 2015 under the ground-breaking New Zealand film initiative.
Loading Docs Project Manager Nia Phipps says, “The range of films selected couldn’t be more diverse, but each explores aspects of ‘connect’, the theme for Loading Docs 2015.”
The filmmakers behind the selected ten comprise an outstanding line-up of filmmaking talent, some of whom have already produced award-winning short films.
“Although the films are only three-minutes long, that’s enough to spark the audience’s imagination and to provoke a powerful response... but it really pushes a filmmaker’s skills to the limit,” says Loading Docs EP Anna Jackson.
Executive Producers Julia Parnell and Anna Jackson set up Loading Docs to fill a gap for audiences hungry for quality local documentaries and to offer filmmakers a unique creative challenge.
Filmmakers are provided with mentoring from industry leaders to further their skills in development, crowdfunding, marketing and online distribution. The initiative is designed to support filmmakers to take their filmmaking craft to the next level and promote creative documentary making of the highest standard both locally and internationally.
Loading Docs launched in May 2014. The first series of films (all freely available to view and share online here: www.loadingdocs.net/2014films ) were an immediate success, featuring on high profile local and international websites, screening on Air New Zealand’s inflight entertainment and New Zealand Television (3News, Seven Sharp, 20/20, Te Kaea, Iti Pounamu, the Rialto Channel) and selected for local and international film festivals (Show Me Shorts (NZ), Out Takes (NZ), ImagineNATIVE (Canada), New Zealand Short Film Festival (Aus) and the 2015 Banff World Tour (US).
“Loading Docs has touched audiences all over the world with an outstanding selection of unique New Zealand stories. Given the success of our inaugural round of films last year, we are looking forward to supporting another talented group through the process” says Loading Docs EP Julia Parnell.
The project is supported by the New Zealand Film Commission and NZ On Air’s Ignite Digital Media Fund. Each documentary will crowd fund via the website Boosted http://www.boosted.org.nz to raise $2000, which is then matched by Loading Docs. The crowd funding phase will take place from the first week of March 2015 when the filmmakers have a month to raise the cash and reach out to audiences before production begins.
LOADING DOCS 2015: THE FILMS: www.loadingdocs.net/2015films
Reaction from this year's successful applicants on being involved with Loading Docs:
Justin Hawkes & Ian Hart LOADING DOCS Filmmakers 2015 (The Pet Whisperer)
'Being selected for Loading Docs is not only an amazing chance to explore the craft we love, but it's also an opportunity to film with a telepathic pet communicator - we can't think of anything else we would rather be doing'
Rowena Baines LOADING DOCS Filmmaker 2015 (Dance Like Nobody’s Watching)
"Loading Docs is a fantastic initiative that provides a supportive environment for filmmakers to create work, then promote and showcase it. I'm excited to see the many different interpretations of the common theme 'connect' and to have the opportunity participate in the creation of the new collection."
Loading Docs is a Notable Pictures initiative, produced by Julia Parnell and Anna Jackson with the support of the New Zealand Film Commission and NZ On Air’s Ignite Digital Media Fund.
Press images and filmmaker bios may be downloaded from:
Loading Docs 2014 films may be viewed at:
For more information visit: www.loadingdocs.net