Robert Catto, Photographer

Against the backdrop of New Zealand's first A1 Grand Prix at Taupo came the announcement that one of the country's greatest Formula One drivers, Bruce McLaren, would have a feature film made of his life's story. Supported by a group of his driving peers (including World Champions Sir Jack Brabham, Emerson Fittipaldi and John Surtees, McLaren driver John Watson, and fellow Kiwi and Lemans winner Chris Amon), the project will also feature Barrie Osborne (producer of The Matrix and The Lord Of The Rings) and production designer Dan Hennah (Lord Of The Rings, King Kong). For more information on the film, see http://www.thebrucemclarenmovie.com.

Miramar's 1928 Capitol Cinema has been sitting empty for many years, having been converted to shops sometime in the sixties; but the recent purchase by members of the Wellington film community (including Oscar-winning editor Jamie Selkirk and other crew from the Lord Of The Rings trilogy) has led to a massive overhaul of the building. What started out looking like a renovation rapidly became a complete replacement of the structure, with only the original facade retained; plans are said to include two 1930s-styled cinemas, a cafe, and a cocktail bar, and planned to open in March 2011 as the newly renamed Roxy Cinema. An image of the original interior can be seen at http://mp.natlib.govt.nz/detail/?id=29514&l=en and more information on the new cinema is at http://roxycinema.co.nz

Wellington's historic Embassy Theatre underwent a total renovation in 2003 for the world premiere of Peter Jackson's Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King.

Film commissioners from around the world gathered in New Zealand for the AFCI Cineposium 2008, hosted by Film Wellington.

As a fundraiser for their feature film project, producer Bonnie Slater and director Sam Kelly put on an evening with Guillermo del Toro, hosted by New Zealand director Jonathan King, at the Paramount Theatre in Wellington.

Stars and crew arrive at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington for the premiere of Peter Jackson's King Kong, in New Zealand.

Over three years (2001-2003), Wellington played host to a series of premieres for the Lord Of The Rings films, culminating in the World Premiere of the Return Of The King on Dec 1, 2003. Peter Jackson and the stars are seen here on the red carpet, and at associated events surrounding these premieres.

The New Zealand premiere of Robert Sarkies' film Out Of The Blue, at the Embassy Theatre, Wellington.

Wellingtonians, filmmakers and artists assembled in Wellington's Civic Square as part of a nationwide series of rallies to show their support for keeping the production of The Hobbit, directed by Peter Jackson, in New Zealand. Speakers included Sir Richard Taylor of Weta Workshop, Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, artist Gino Acevedo, casting director Liz Mullane, and others from the industry in Wellington. Production of the films had been threatened by a worldwide boycott started by New Zealand Actors' Equity and an Australian union, the MEAA.

The city of Wanganui put on a street parade and festivities to celebrate the premiere of Vincent Ward's film River Queen. The film was shot on the Whanganui River, which cuts through the town on New Zealand's North Island.

Cast and crew joined together to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the classic New Zealand film Sleeping Dogs, at the Film Archive in Wellington.

Spada Conference 2005: Small Country, Big Picture at the Intercontinental Hotel, Wellington, New Zealand.

The 14th annual SPADA Conference was held over three days (16-18 Nov 06), and attracts over 370 national and international delegates. It's the biggest screen industry event in New Zealand. Topics include opportunities for growth such as developing and understanding the craft of television and film, including the emergence of new genres and creating formats; investigating the business of independent filmmaking, the opportunities and the barriers; the impact of new terms of trade for film and television; new marketing and distribution platforms; international investment; innovative technology and new media; animation, and more.

Members of the cast and crew of The Lovely Bones gathered for a press conference prior to the New Zealand premiere at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington. Present were writer/producer/director Peter Jackson, writer/producer Phillippa Boyens, senior visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri, and cast members Saoirse Ronan, Susan Sarandon, Rose McIvor and Carolyn Dando.

Images from the Toronto International Film Festival 2006.

On Oct 20 2010 a group of film technicians, artisans, actors and production crew including Weta Workshop founder Sir Richard Taylor (as a concerned member of the Wellington Film community), actors including Jed Brophy, artists such as Gino Acevedo and John Howe, directors Jonathan King and Peter Briggs, Hobbit writer and producer Philippa Boyens and many more met to discuss the industrial action surrounding production of The Hobbit in Wellington. A meeting of New Zealand Actors' Equity / Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance was scheduled for later the same evening; the decision was made for technicians to travel from Stone St Studio in Miramar to central Wellington to protest the worldwide boycott called by the MEAA against the production, which resulted in a march on Parliament grounds.