The first Emergency Care Foundation (ECF) Outdoor Film Series, with the creative support from CPIT, will screen next month in an effort to raise community awareness for innovations in medical research.

From Sunday February 15 until Thursday February 19, a season of delightful Art House films will run in the Arts Centre Quad, with proceeds from the event going to support the work of the ECF. The first Emergency Care Foundation (ECF) Outdoor Film Series, with the creative support from CPIT, will screen next month in an effort to raise community awareness for innovations in medical research.

From Sunday February 15 until Thursday February 19, a season of delightful Art House films will run in the Arts Centre Quad, with proceeds from the event going to support the work of the ECF. The ECF's focus is on helping to improve the quality of knowledge and practice of emergency medicine through new research. ECF supports the work of key Christchurch medical specialists such as Professor Mike Ardagh and Dr. Martin Than, who believe that research is what will lead to improved diagnostic accuracy and better decision-making in emergency care. Their research looks into a range of conditions that can be difficult to diagnose, including heart disease, blood clots in the legs and lungs, and infections such as meningitis.

This level and quality of research cannot be supported through government-funding alone. The ECF aims to raise public awareness of the work these medical specialists do, as well as financial support for their research. The Outdoor Film Series is a great way to hit both of these targets, not only because the Series will assist in fundraising, but it will also feature a short film that highlights the efforts of medical staff who work in emergency medicine.

This is where CPIT Creative Industries Faculty stepped in. Over the summer, key staff from the Faculty worked hard to create an edgy and exciting short film for the ECF to show at each screening of the Outdoor Film Series.

"We are so pleased to have sponsored this short film for ECF." says Dr. Jane Gregg, Dean of CPIT's Creative Industries Faculty.

"My team have worked with co-sponsors, NOVO, on concept development, and have taken care of all production, filming and post-production. We passionately believe in the importance of ECF's work and are so pleased to make this commitment to them. What's really nice is that they believe in us and what we do. So it's a mutually wonderful partnership we've formed here," she says.

Many CPIT Creative Industries' staff have been part of this project, including Richard Bell, of the Broadcasting School who worked with NOVO to develop the film script, , as well as directing, shooting and editing the film. In addition, David Saunders, of the School of Performing Arts composed the original soundtrack and Masen Ma of the Broadcasting School provided all the post-production work.

"We are incredibly proud of the work that's been done on the ECF film and, personally, I'm blown away at the huge level of professional commitment shown by my team to make this happen," says Jane.

"At the same time as raising awareness of the ECF, we are also raising awareness of CPIT's Creative Industries at the beating heart of the city. When art and commerce come together to support our colleagues in medicine who are seeking to build a healthier community, , then we're all better off."

For more information on ECF and the Outdoor Film Series see www.emergencycare.org.nz

12/02/09