As part of their nationwide Big Forking Tour, the team behind The Weed Eaters are holding an advanced screening of film accompanied by a Q&A session at the Geraldine Cinema on Sunday at 6.30pm.
The film, which had a budget of only $20,000, debuted at the New Zealand International Film Festival last year and has since gone on to pick up several awards including the Best Feature at the 2025 SXSW Sydney Screen Festival.
Set in rural North Canterbury, the film follows four ‘‘friends’’ who — while on a New Year’s trip — stumble on some ancient weed and end up getting the worst case of the munchies, perhaps ever.
Actor, producer and art director Annabel Kean said the film was created through sheer will, naivety and the joy of collaboration and creativity.
‘‘There’s a core six of us in the team who were there for the whole shoot period, and we’ve all been in bands and come from music backgrounds. We all believe in DIY, getting on with it and just giving things a go.
‘‘We’re all in our late 20s, early 30s, getting odd jobs as actors, video makers, writers and we all felt we were ready to level up and knew that the best way to learn was by doing.
‘‘I don’t know if we necessarily were so sure that we’d actually get the job done and end up with a watchable film, but we did. It kind of just worked out, it’s almost like it shouldn’t have worked.’’
She said it had been surreal to see the level of acclaim the film had received.
‘‘It’s just above and beyond what we could have hoped for. We were aiming to just stay sane, finish the work together and learn a lot from it.
‘‘The fact that people are really into it and enjoying it, I think is a reflection of my collaborators’ incredible skills. I guess people must just be hungry for real kind of down-to-earth film-making or art in general.
‘‘I don’t know if it’s a response to the CGI heavy Hollywood films or the star-studded cast era of film we’re in but maybe people are just sick of things being super slick, perfect and big budget, so they’ve got time for us.’’
It was exciting to be taking the film to Geraldine as part of the tour, she said.
‘‘Alice May Connolly, who’s the lead character, and also a co-writer and producer, her dad lives in Geraldine. She’s been hyping up that he’s going to buy everyone there an ice cream.
‘‘I don’t know if we can actually promise that but we’ll be doing a Q&A, we’ve been doing scream competitions and there will be the opportunity to get a photo with a six foot fork. You can pretend you’re eating your friends with it.
‘‘There’s something really magical about watching a film, especially a comedy in a cinema full of people. It’s life affirming and so joyous.’’
Kean said attendees should just expect to laugh.
‘‘It’s so funny, I’ve watched it maybe 15 times and I’m still laughing at some of the dialogue and the physical humour.
‘‘It’s a bit gross out in points, it’s technically a horror film but it’s pretty tame in the world of horror films, it’s R13. It’s the kind of thing you want to get a few friends to come along with you to because it’s a very silly and a very naughty film.
‘‘Expect a really refreshing, a very 2020s millennial twist on New Zealand film-making.’’
She said it was cool to be a part of what seemed like a new era of film-making in New Zealand.
‘‘There’s a lot of really cool stuff being made at the moment. There’s the Jane Campion Film School, which has produced a lot of cool creators and at the last Sundance Film Festival there was three different New Zealand films that premiered there.
‘‘There’s a bit of a moment happening and I think people should just get on board and embrace this exciting wave of New Zealand film making.’’
Tickets for the special Geraldine showing of The Weed Eaters can be purchased by going to the Geraldine Cinema section on flicks.co.nz.
Connor Haley
