Film in Berlin, baby in Wellington

Dunedin film-maker Robert Sarkies is hoping for a successful double bill today.

Sarkies and his partner, Vicky, are expecting their first child to be born in Wellington Hospital today, the same day his latest movie, Two Little Boys, has its world premiere on the other side of the world, at the Berlin Film Festival.

"I'm about to have one little boy," Sarkies (44) quipped from Wellington yesterday.

"It's a bit sad in some ways, because I've never missed the premiere of one of my films before. But we're hoping for good reviews for the film and good health for the baby," he said.

"Having a child is a wee bit like the premiere of a film. They're both delivered to the world and you hope the world loves them."

A name had been chosen for his son, although Sarkies declined to reveal it "because it's not good luck".

However, he said he was unconcerned whether his son followed in his film-making footsteps.

"Although, he has already got a yellow toy Super-8 camera sitting in the nursery ..."

Two Little Boys was based on the 2008 debut novel of Mr Sarkies' younger brother, Duncan, who was to attend the Berlin premiere in his stead, Sarkies said.

"It's nice that Duncan will be there, as the film is all about our family holidays on the Catlins coast when we were kids."

The three screenings at the Berlin Film Festival of the film, which was shot in the Catlins early last year, have already sold out.

The Sarkies brothers previously collaborated on Scarfies, the 1999 black comedy about Dunedin university students which became New Zealand's sixth-highest-grossing film.

Sarkies also directed the movie about the 1990 Aramoana tragedy, Out Of The Blue.

Two Little Boys stars The Flight of the Conchords actor Bret McKenzie, Australian actor Hamish Blake and Dunedin actor and musician Maaka Pohatu.

It was hoped the film would be screened in New Zealand later this year, although no date had yet been scheduled, Sarkies said.