Karearea: The Pine Falcon

by Sandy Chrichton

New Zealand, 2008
Digital Betacam, DV-Cam, Mini DV
Colour
Length: 49’
Language: English

Italian premiere

A curious colony of falcons has settled in and adapted to life within a commercial pine farm in the mountains of New Zealand. Conceived as a denouncement of the constant threats to deforest the area, the documentary tells above all the story of these falcons and their struggle to maintain their natural habitat and their right to survival. The animals attack those who attempt to fell the trees, and to thus destroy their nests, as well as anyone who tries to approach them, including the filmmakers whom the animals perceive as a threat. The naturalist photographer George Schance, who followed and studied these birds in the 1970s and ‘80s, shows the photographs he took over the years. Now George is elderly and his health is failing. He is losing his sight. The images captured for this documentary, filmed over four years of rocambolesque shoots, complete the research that George began thirty years ago.

Sandy Chrichton
Born in Scotland in 1968, he took a degree in Science, Ecology, and Conservation. He has worked for the Natural History unit of the BBC. After moving to New Zealand, he earned a diploma in Natural History Filmmaking at the University of Otago and began work as a writer and director for the Natural History channel in New Zealand.

Director: Sandy Crichton
Screenplay: Sandy Crichton
Photography: Sandy Crichton
Editing: Tim Woodhouse
Sound: Lloyd Canham
Music: Nick Marsh
Producer: Sandy Crichton
Production Company: Catskill Films

Catskill Films
c/o Biz Solution LTD
Level 1, 46 Stanley Street
Auckland
New Zealand
T. + 44 7767 861947
catskillfilms@gmail.com