JAMES & ISEY

Runtime: 90'

Expected release: January 2021

Budget: €214,284 (86% in place)

Looking for: International sales agent, pre-sales, funding in the form of grants, festivals

Synopsis:

99 year old Isey lives with her adult son James on their small farm in Kawakawa, New Zealand. They are descendents of Ngāti Manu – the Bird People. Isey is turning 100 in a week. In their unique relationship, James has devoted the last 20 years to looking after his mum. He is a tohunga (shaman) and brings the spirit world onboard to get her over 100. A joyous celebration of the sacred and everyday aroha (love).

Director’s profile:

Florian Habicht was born in Berlin and lives in New Zealand. He studied filmmaking at the Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland and Binger Filmlab, Amsterdam. He is an innovative and prolific filmmaker. His films have been distributed in over 18 countries. When his NYC romance Love Story screened at the London Film Festival in 2012, Jarvis Cocker of British group Pulp invited Florian to make a music film about Pulp and their last concert in hometown Sheffield. Pulp: a Film about Life, Death & Supermarkets premiered at SXSW and opened Sheffield Doc/Fest in 2014. It won Best Music Film at the NME Awards in 2015. Florian’s film Kaikohe Demolition, a portrait of a small struggling town with a big heart, is one of New Zealand’s most entertaining and loved documentaries. Other career highlights include winning the Best Decorated Bicycle Award at Paihia Primary School in 1982.