NZIFF 2021 Q&A Signed, Theo Schoon director Luit Bieringa

How's your 2021 been?

Enervating as well as frustrating in the sense of not having had the opportunity to farewell some major players in the NZ cultural scene such as Paratene Matchitt, Billy Apple, Marilyn Webb and the main “actor” in our film , John Perry.

Give us the elevator pitch for your film in 10 words.

Traversing a large cultural canvas through an outspoken individual’s words

The one moment of your film that stands out

Theo “disappearing “ in the sulphuric clouds of his beloved Waiotapu

The one moment of your film that you wish you could have changed

It would have been great to have exposed the full text of his hand drawn last will.

The one moment of your film that you think audiences will connect to

The beauty of the lime shelter country or Theo talking about TRUTH

The one moment of production during a Covid world that saw you enraged by the pandemic

The cancellation of last year’s Festival in the theatrical experience sense

The one moment of production during a Covid world that really saw you seize your film's concept and refuse to give up

There NEVER was a moment, regardless of Covid, that we were going to relent

What's next for you?

A non-film project (a secret)

The one film from the 2021 New Zealand International film Festival that everyone should see - apart from yours

Tis pure guesswork since I won' t have seen it yet!

Bit like choosing a sole winner when the real winner is the NZIFF who in the face of adversity has produced a stunning list of prospects. But hey The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant or Jane’s The Power of the Dog aren’t a bad duo!!!