A live cinema programme curated by Phil Dadson and Sam Hamilton, “fps” was the first of its kind to be shown at the Telecom New Zealand International Film Festivals. Night One of the programme drew a mixed crowd to the legendary Civic Winter Garden. From the usual art-house types through to those daring to stray off the well-trodden road, the large group had organisers scrambling to provide additional last-minute seating.

“Live art” would be an appropriate term to describe the performances on display. A combination of visual shorts with acoustical accompaniment, it created a feast for both the visual and aural senses. Though for the inexperienced like myself, the shorts at times bordered on obscure. They make one question as to what exactly the maker(s) are trying to convey. Granted, that may just have been what the producer intended.

Eyes were drawn to the vivid and often thought-provoking pieces and audio accompaniment. The acoustics itself could have been a performance in its own right. Sun Tests was a slow, dreamy piece, reminding one of memories passed in using the re-workings of archival footage; ?Sonic Pixel and the Blockbuster? looked into the top grossing films from 1956 and 2006, creating a film playing on layers; Pink and White Terraces was a lovely little piece engaging with the urbanscape of domestic Auckland; and Celluloid Orchestra utilised multiple projectors and screens to produce an interestingly orchestrated piece of art.

Distinctively different from the “conventional” films showing in mainstream cinema houses, “fps” showcases an area of New Zealand film which the general public may be unaware or have little understanding of. The unmarked seating and mellow atmosphere of the event allowed for an appropriately laidback and unpretentious viewing. Although there were points of organisation which needed to be addressed, the overall event provided a wonderful evening of insight into this relatively unknown area of New Zealand film and a good night’s entertainment.—Mei-Lam Wong