The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) received an allocation of $9,587,500 in 2007/2008 to encourage and participate in the development, production, marketing and distribution of films made in New Zealand by New Zealanders.
There was a further windfall allocation of $2.44 million, which the NZFC allocated entirely to the production of new films. A total of $927,500 was allocated to the New Zealand Film Archive for the collection and conservation of New Zealand’s film heritage.
With more than 180,000 people watching Paul Murphy’s first feature Second Hand Wedding when it was released in May 2008. It was the most popular New Zealand feature of the year.
Second Hand Wedding is an independently produced film shot mainly on the idyllically beautiful Kapiti Coast of New Zealand. The story centres on the Rose Family and the ripples their personal lives have on a small community.
Second Hand Wedding director Paul Murphy has already been described as an actor’s director and the rich characters in the story gave him ample room to practice his talent.
Second in popularity in 2008 was Taika Waititi’s first feature Eagle vs Shark, which was seen by more than 84,000 people. Four other NZFC-financed features were also released in New Zealand cinemas during the year.
