Cannes beckons for Kit and Maynie film

PEACE ACTIVISTS: Kit (Kara)Nelson and Maynie Thompson take tea with Peter Davis, husband of Helen Clark, at their film premiere at the Rialto

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Cannes is beckoning for a home-grown Waiheke film that has already won accolades, with interest from an international distributor wanting to show it to the world.

The 47-minute film, “Kit and Maynie. Tea, Scones and Nuclear Disarmament”, was made last year by Claudia Pond Eyley and island resident Susi Newborn.

It had its premiere at the Documentary Edge Festival this month, which showcases international talent and attracts hundreds of entries.

The film is about peace activists Kit (now known as Kara) Nelson and Maynie Thompson who met selling tea and scones at the Ostend Saturday market and live on the island.

It was nominated for best New Zealand documentary at the festival, with film-makers Claudia Pond Eyley and Susi Newborn also nominated for Best New Zealand Director.

Ms Newborn says they failed to get awards in either category but the film was the most popular with audiences and is now heading for the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in May.

“While we did not win the award for best NZ documentary (short), we were definitely the people’s choice among the competing documentaries, judging by the audience reaction to the nominations.

“The film’s ‘world premiere’ was sold out, with people being turned away, and making it to the top of the ‘What’s Hot’ list in the Sunday Star Times’ magazine was a wonderful surprise.

“So was the nomination for Best New Zealand Director, on the gala night of the awards - a huge accolade and one we were not expecting.

But Ms Newborn says there are currently no arrangements for the islanders to go to Cannes itself.

“I wish,” she says.

- Waiheke Marketplace