While Wet West Film Festival directors are working on the programme for the inaugural Festival in January, they are happy to announce the judging panel is now confirmed.

7 – 9 January will see Hokitika in a splash of swirling excitement as the Wet West Film Festival is screened at Hokitika’s Regent Theatre. With water as its theme, mixed liberally with the outdoors and stirred by adventure, the Festival can be explored at www.wetwestfilmfest.com

A panel of four judges will screen the films the same weekend as the public viewings, but at a secret location in Hokitika, separated from the public. “It’s important for the judges to be able to move through the myriad of movies at their pace, and to stop and start them, as well as intersperse them with banter and lively debate,” said Festival Director Jo Kearns.

The judging panel comprises four New Zealand specialists, each with their field of expertise: Bill de Fries, director of Raconteur Film and Television Production Company, lecturer a Ilam School of Fine Arts Film Dept, Canterbury University; director and producer Richard Bell; Paul Caffyn, rated number one living sea kayaker in the world; and Mick Hopkinson part owner of the New Zealand Kayak School. While Paul and Mick are water specialists, both have experience with film-making and bring a wealth of knowledge around the particular challenges faced by using the medium of water in film.

Weekend passes are now on sale through the Hokitika Information Centre and can be phone ordered on 03 755 6166 for $25.