It was a cold Wellington afternoon when we got to finally introduce our film and the team behind it to the public. The premiere event sold out quickly, with some bonus seats added closer to the day. 

The Roxy was a fantastic venue, with a great crowd gathered in the foyer before and after. The lights went down, the film played, and when they came back on there was a round of applause.

NZIFF Artistic Director Paolo Bertolin hosted a Q&A with Paul and Evelyn after the screening and we were so proud of Evelyn speaking to the issues and her work. When the Q&A ended Evelyn and Paul received a standing ovation from the audience - what more could we ask for?

First impressions from our audience were shared with us and we thought we’d share a few quotes with you:

"This film is Must See for anyone concerned with Social Justice issues at a really primal level. Marimari is necessarily both confronting and disturbing and rouses one out of any complacency about life being idyllic for people native to the stunningly beautiful Highlands of PNG." - Eileen Kelly, Community Development Guru and Film Festival Addict

"Alarming, evocative, compassionate. Marimari's close to the bone insightfulness is reminiscent of Joshua Oppenheimer’s ‘The Act of Killing’ as director Paul Wolffram takes an unflinching look into the harrowing darkness of sorcery violence, as well as the inspiring actions of the human rights workers supporting the survivors of these often fatal accusations. Marimari is essential viewing for the strong of heart, and its central subject, Evelyn Kunda, is proof that good people can and must stand up and protect others from prejudice and violence." - Jesse Gonzales, Local Filmmaker