New Zealand film and entertainment lawyer honoured by Shanghai International Film Festival

Michael Stephens, a leading New Zealand film and entertainment lawyer and founder of Wellington law firm Stephens Lawyers, has been appointed as New Zealand’s International Delegate of the Shanghai International Film Festival by the Organising Committee of the Shanghai International Film Festival.

The appointment for a two-year term, acknowledges Michael’s support and long association with the Chinese film industry and that country’s leading Film Festival.

Michael, in accepting the appointment, said, “While this is a honour personally, it also is a great acknowledgement of the growing reputation of the New Zealand film industry overseas, and in Asia in particular which is of increasing importance to us.”

The Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) is one of the largest film festivals in Asia. First held in 1993, the SIFF was held biennially until 2001 and now runs annually. This year’s festival runs from 12 – 20 June and over 200,000 people are expected to attend this year’s SIFF, which will screen around 250 films over the nine day festival.

New Zealand films have been well received at past Festivals, including winning the SIFF Jin Jue (“Golden Chalice”) highest awards. The New Zealand films included in this year’s SIFF Official Selection are:

HOME BY CHRISTMAS Directed by Gaylene Preston
http://www.flicks.co.nz/trailer/home-by-christmas/1944/
THE VINTNER’S LUCK Directed by Niki Caro
http://www.thevintnersluck.com/
I’M NOT HARRY JENSON Directed by James Marshall Napier
http://www.imnotharryjenson.com/

“These films are first class examples of the great diversity of quality independent New Zealand films, and all the filmmakers involved are to be congratulated for this great international recognition of their craft,” said Michael.