The colonel’s premiere

A 17-minute New Zealand short film about two gay men finding love in their twilight years, The Colonel’s Outing, will have its New Zealand premiere next month, after a successful run at film festivals. The synopsis is: “Two old war veterans find love in a rest home—but why is Matron so disturbed by their blossoming relationship?”

Christopher Banks, who I first heard of when he produced a dance version of an Air Supply song many years ago, directed the film. This was the first film I'd heard of that used "crowdfunding", or turning to the Internet to raise funds directly.

The cast, director Christopher Banks and producer Andy Jalfon will be at the premiere. In addition to the film itself, the programme contains behind-the-scenes clips from the making of the film interspersed with a Q&A, and an opportunity to discuss some of the issues raised and the challenges involved with bringing this story to the screen.

The 70-minute programme, including the premiere of The Colonel's Outing, will be July 14, 2011 at the Rialto Newmarket, 167-169 Broadway, Newmarket, Auckland, beginning at 7pm.