Intro | Incredibly Strange

Our 15th Anniversary

Here we go again.

Since 1994 only one organization has been dedicated in bringing you provocative, bizarre, challenging, surreal, offbeat and totally wild cinema to the big screen in New Zealand.

This year our section has been reduced (boo hoo) which has meant that we've had to focus and be discerning. That Jenna Jameson flick didn't make the cut, is what we really mean.

At first glance the line-up looks to be somewhat dark and horror orientated but don't be fooled. Even though many of the films contains scenes of outrageous sex and violence, there is more than enough humour present to make fans of nihilistic cinema run for the doors, with tears ruining their emo makeup.

The bottom line is this: This years line-up is a whole batch of FUN.

Yes FUN.

Remember that word? Remember a time before bills and swine flu? That's what this year is all about. having some well deserved FUN.

This year I am so happy to present Troll 2 and its award winning doc offshoot BEST WORST MOVIE. If you don't know about the cult of Troll 2 and the documentary its spawned then you need to get schooled quickly. This is going to turn out to be one of the most crowd pleasing docs ever to screen in NZ.. and the special one-off Troll 2 screening will be memorable. If you call yourself a cult movie fan and don't get a ticket to these shows, then frankly, you make me sick.

You want zombies? You want Nazi zombies? Well we got em. You want the first ever screening of a Coffin Joe film in NZ's history? We got him. You want the first horror movie from Sam Raimi since the Evil Dead films? We got it. You want an incredibly true tale of an underground sensation? We got it. You want the toughest low-fi ball-bustin' indie seen in ages. We got it. Want to see a outrageously unPC, sexy, drama, 4hr epic comedy from Japan? We got it.

What I'm basically saying is if you're a fan of Incredibly Strange, then you'll know what we do. We've brought every seminal cult/fantastic film to NZ in the past 15yrs... it's what we do. From Russ Meyer to Takashi Miike. To battling censors and fundamentalists. We've done the hard yards to bring you offbeat entertainment from around the globe.

SPECIAL GUESTS

BEN STEINBAUER

Winnebago Man is Ben's feature directing debut; he also shared screenwriting and producing tasks. A recipient of the 2007 Princess Grace Award for filmmaking, Ben's short films have played at South by Southwest and been broadcast on PBS. He teaches film at the University of Texas, Austin. Without you the audience along for the ride, programming films is a rather pointless exercise. These films demand to be seen with an audience and all of them scream to be seen on a large screen. So don't wait for that dvd you will never likely see for rent - just get your asses along to the big screen and get ready to be served at 24 frames per second.

MICHAEL PAUL STEPHENSON

Best Worst Movie is Michael Paul Stephenson's feature directing debut. His career in the entertainment industry began early at the age of 10, being cast as the child star of the worst-movie-ever-made: Troll 2. But, starring in the worst movie ever made didn't ruin him or his desire to work in the industry. He continued acting into his early twenties and has worked with outstanding directors such as Academy Award nominee Taika Waititi, and Robert Redford.

As a cinematographer Michael has worked on numerous projects, most recently with Oscar nominee Mel Stuart. He has written, produced and edited various projects for clients such as GRB TV, Shape Magazine, GE, ABC and more. As a writer, Michael was a recipient of the prestigious American Gem Screenplay Award for his screenplay, Orange. Michael is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and resides in Los Angeles with his producing-partner and wife, Lindsay Rowles Stephenson.