Two Otago films selected for festival

A natural history film telling the "dramatic tale" of a 40-year relationship between a pair of elderly tuataras is one of two University of Otago student films to make the finals of an international film festival.

The films by the Masters students were selected for the "newcomers award" by the natural history film festival WildScreen, which is held in Bristol in the United Kingdom.

Love in Cold Blood, produced by natural history film-making students Jane Adcroft and Carla Braun-Elwert, tells the story of the "on-again off-again" courtship between elderly tuataras, Henry, aged 111, and Mildred, aged 80.

Carving the Future, the other film to be selected, was produced by science communication students Nick Holmes and Guy Ryan.

The documentary profiles three "passionate" young New Zealanders as they lead projects "driving positive social change".

Otago University director of science communication Prof Lloyd Spencer Davis said he was delighted two student films were chosen for the festival.

"To have one of our student films as a finalist in each of the last three biennial WildScreen competitions is terrific, and to have two films as finalists simultaneously is almost unbelievable," Prof Davis said.