The New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF) has turned to Boosted as part of its efforts to raise $210,000 to fit out Christchurch’s Isaac Theatre Royal for film screenings.
The $280,000 overall target received a commitment from Christchurch City Council of $70,000, subject to the NZIFF raising the remaining $210,000 by 5 July.
Other grants committed have come from The Trust Community Foundation ($15,000) and The Southern Trust ($30,000), for a total of $115,000 before the Boosted campaign is complete. The Boosted campaign aims to add another $40,000 to that figure and runs until late June.
As with Kickstarter and PledgeMe campaigns, Boosted operates an “all or nothing” model, so unless the NZIFF achieves its $40,000 target it will receive nothing. As of this morning, it had achieved just over $3,250 in pledges.
The proposed rebuild of the venue is planned for completion next year, returning to Christchurch a cinema venue suitable for large events. The last Gala Premiere hosted in the city was Peter Jackson’s Heavenly Creatures in 1994.
A number of local industry members have voiced support for the campaign including actor Mark Hadlow (The Hobbit), Gerard Smythe (When A City Falls),
Peter Young (The Last Ocean) and Gillian Ashurst (Snakeskin).
This year’s NZIFF kicks off in Auckland on 18 July, concluding its run in New Plymouth on 6 September. Fill programme announcements will begin in Auckland on 24 June.
