On-screen explosion

Wellington director Taika Waititi’s film The Volcano, a follow-up to his 2007 feature Eagle vs Shark, will be distributed by Australian company Transmission Films. The Volcano is inspired by Waititi’s Oscar-nominated short film Two Cars One Night and goes into production in March. It focuses on how 11-year-old Darcy must reconcile his memories and fantasies with reality after his father returns home after seven years, then find his own potential. “Having long admired Taika’s work we are thrilled to have secured what will undoubtedly be an extraordinary new film from one of New Zealand’s youngest and brightest voices. To be handling The Volcano in its home territory is an absolute honour,” said Richard Payten and Andrew Mackie of Transmission Films. Volcano producers are actor Cliff Curtis and Ainsley Gardiner. Transmission Films will also distribute Tracker, a New Zealand/UK film set at the turn of the century and to star Ray Winstone and Temuera Morrison.