A feature documentary on the 2007 ‘anti-terror’ raids will have its world premiere at the World Cinema Showcase in Wellington. Operation 8, produced by CutCutCut Films, is the only New Zealand film screening in the Showcase line-up. It will premiere on Sunday 17 April, 2.45pm at the Paramount.  

Three and a half years have passed since the police raids of October 15, 2007. The accused were released on bail and eighteen defendants face charges under the Arms Act – five of which are charged with ‘participating in a criminal group’. The Court of Appeal recently upheld a high court decision that denied the accused a trial by jury. They are currently facing a three to four-month long judge-only trial in Auckland.  

Operation 8 features interviews with defendants, lawyers, Ruatoki residents and experts well versed in the case. The film gives a first hand account of what occurred during the raids, while exploring the political, historical and social contexts of how and why they took place. The documentary has been over three years in the making, with producer and co-director Errol Wright filming the unfolding saga of the defendants as they go through the New Zealand court system. Operation 8 is the third feature documentary from independent filmmakers Errol Wright and Abi King-Jones.  

The World Cinema Showcase this year screens in Auckland (April 1 – 18), Wellington (April 14 – 30) and Dunedin (May 5 – 18).  

Errol Wright & Abi King-Jones on making Operation 8: “In terms of ‘Operation 8’, discovering what connects George W. Bush to an early 20^th century Maori prophet or a teenage Animal Rights campaigner is as revealing as a mother describing what it was like for her to have her children searched and locked in a shed at gunpoint.”   “Making a film that has, for example, John Minto (prominent Springbok Tour campaigner) and Ross Meurant (former head of the Red Squad) sharing views on a politically contentious event, has been an extraordinary experience.  With interviews from te Urewera locals, to academic heavyweights and ex-undercover police officers – the process of bringing this story to the big screen has been engaging and rewarding from the start. There are some funny bits in there as well…”  

www.cutcutcut.com

www.worldcinemashowcase.co.nz/titles11/operation8.html  

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The films trailer is on youtube and can be embedded into any site.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvsNbaukAVY    

To contact the filmmakers for interviews and/or stills from the film: Contact@cutcutcut.com     

For further information about the World Cinema Showcase contact Rebecca McMillan 027 4555 061 rebecca@nzff.co.nz