Orphans & Kingdoms is now into its local theatrical release, following its gala screening last week at Auckland’s Civic.
Last week the award-winning directorial debut from Kiwi actor/director Paolo Rotondo (Stickmen, The Ugly) and producer Fraser Brown had a good night out at the Civic, where the film received a great response from the audience.
The film was shot on Waiheke Island and has been receiving 4-star reviews. Colin Moy (In My Father’s Den, The Most Fun You Can Have Dying) leads as Jeremy, a lonely man who comes face-to-face with three unpredictable teenagers in his home. By dawn an unexpected bond has grown between them and they find themselves on the run, together.
The film features powerful performances from three young newcomers: Hanelle Harris, Jesse James Rehu-Pickery (Shortland Street, Meathead) and Calae Hignett-Morgan (The Dark Horse).
The final project supported under the NZFC’s Escalator micro-budget scheme, Orphans & Kingdoms continues to play international film festivals almost two years on from its NZIFF premiere. On its travels it has picked up awards for cinematography, editing and score, as well as “Best Feature Film” at the Anchorage International Film Festival.
This month it plays three US festivals (Boston, Manhattan and Newport Beach), as well as playing in the biennial NZ Film Festival China.
Screening details for its NZ run are here.