Daffodils, a soon-to-be produced New Zealand musical feature film won the annual Vista Film Marketing competition. The prize, which was awarded at the final session of the Vista marketing programme, contributes $75,000 to the film’s marketing budget. Last year’s winner was quirky flockumentary, Pecking Order and the inaugural prize went to Chasing Great: Richie McCaw.
The Vista Film Marketing programme is a series of workshops for New Zealand producers and filmmakers with films currently in development and production with the New Zealand Film Commission. The competition was the culmination of a programme of workshops, seminars and discussions scheduled over three weekends. The New Zealand Film Commission runs the workshops in partnership with the Vista Foundation.
Seven teams of filmmakers took part in the programme this year. As part of their pitch, teams were asked to present a comprehensive marketing strategy for their film to a panel of industry experts, Elizabeth Trotman (StudioCanal), Simon Werry (Lighthouse Cinemas), Phil Bremner (Vendetta Films) and Anna Dean (Double Denim). New Zealand Film Commission CEO, Dave Gibson, chaired the panel.
“We are really thrilled to win the Vista Marketing Grant,” says Daffodils producer, Richard Fletcher. “It’s a huge boost to the project as we head into production in the New Year. Our distribution partner Transmission Films is equally excited as it will enable them to deliver a truly innovative and wide-reaching campaign. We look forward to Daffodils becoming a firm favourite with New Zealand cinema goers.”
In Daffodils, a young couple's love and marriage is celebrated and tested in a heart-aching drama featuring beautiful re-imaginings of iconic New Zealand songs. The film, written by Rochelle Bright, is produced by Richard Fletcher and will be directed by David Stubbs.
Daffodils will start production in February 2018 and will be released in New Zealand and Australia by Transmission Films in 2019.