“All films must refer to the Festival theme of water, but can add imagination to that, using it in any of its forms, we’d even get the link with a desert film! It’s not so much about limiting story types, as focussing the story telling,” says Jo Kearns, co festival director. Competing films enter into the categories of Adventure and Expedition, Culture and Environment, Best Adrenaline Film, Best Short Film and Best Amateur Film. Also, the audience votes for the People’s Choice Award, while the panel of judges decide on the Judge’s Choice. All winners receive a unique, sculpted trophy by award winner carver James Washer, using local materials such as pounamu, native timber and ardulite.

Festival judge, Christchurch film maker Richard Bell sees the Wet West Film Festival as relevant and providing something new to film makers, he says, “the Festival proves that these film makers, local and foreign, do not have to work in isolation without peer and audience review. With excellent audience attendance and great prizes the Festival has set a mark in the sand that it should be very proud of.” Entries are welcome from now until 31 October with all details and entry forms available on the website.

The four days of screening runs from 4th- 7th January, with between 40 and 50 films hitting two big screens in Hokitika, one at the grand old Regent Theatre (seating 350) and the other the wonderful leather lounge style DVD theatre the Crooked Mile (seating an intimate 30).