The Magma Short Film Festival returns on April 29 to the Shambles Theatre Rotorua. From over 150 films submitted from 15 countries 50 films will screen covering issues as diverse as immigration, love and divorce, cellular phones, murder and even laundry.

The Magma Short Film Festival returns on April 29 to the Shambles Theatre Rotorua. From over 150 films submitted from 15 countries 50 films will screen covering issues as diverse as immigration, love and divorce, cellular phones, murder and even laundry.

Founded in 2006, with RDC arts officer Kiri Jarden and Juliet Boone directing, the festival was a way to bring and share original cinema with the Rotorua audience.

“At that stage Juliet had just created the Vegas Film Club and reignited the Basement Cinema, a small digital theatre still operating today. Outside of this theatre, Rotorua audiences needed to leave town to see foreign, arthouse and original cinema” says Ms. Jarden.

In 2009 Lara Northcroft and Nicola Smith of Velvet Stone Productions and Jill Walker community artist joined the volunteer team.

“Lara brought with her a host of great contacts, especially Nga Aho Whakaari and Script To Screen. Our relationship with these organisations is well established; with Simon Marler from Script to Screen coordinating workshops for Magma in 2010,” adds Ms. Jarden

Screenwriter Nick Ward has confirmed a workshop titled "Great Characters make Great Stories"-How to write unforgettable characters. Ward is the writer behind characters from "Stickmen", the Rose family and friends from "Second-Hand Wedding" and characters such as Aurora and Aaron Spiller from Outrageous Fortune.

“Nick will reveal his secrets for crafting characters that will make your screenplay come alive,” says Ms. Jarden, “Nick is very entertaining and engaging. This is a workshop that will give writers the tools and inspiration to take their writing to the next level.”

Writer and film developer Hone Kouka from the NZ film Commission will be also be presenting a workshop introducing filmmakers to the NZ Film Commission and film making landscape, as well as the main principals of screen writing.

“Workshops in tandem with industry guests make the festival rich and rewarding for attending film makers. We have a great festival line up,” says Ms. Jarden.

Magma starts Thursday April 29 at The Shambles Theatre at 8 Amohau St (next to Pak’n Save). Local musician Rosanna Dedman will be entertaining ahead of the evening programme.

The programme is available on line at www.magmafilm.org.nz, and hard copies can be collected from McLeod’s Booksellers, the Rotorua Library and City Focus.

Still image from Mokopuna, written and directed by Ainsley Gardiner (courtesy of the NZ Film Commission).