Award winning film to have Whanganui premiere

Herewini Whakarua's restored marble likeness was welcomed home before being replaced on the Pakaitore monument in 2015. Photo Bevan Conley

Kevin Double's film about Whanganui's WWI memorial won Best Emerging Filmmaker award at the recent Doc Edge International Film Festival.

Set In Stone also received a special mention for Best Feature award at the festival when it went up against international films shot in locations like Syria.

The statue of Maori soldier Herewini Whakarua, was removed from the monument for restoration by expert stonemasons in 2013.

When Kevin Double picked up the story, the restoration was underway and the story gained momentum as Whakarua's whanau, trustees, experts and communtiy members played their parts.

The resulting film traces a young soldier's voyage from Waitotara to the battlefields of Europe to his welcome home a century later.

Mr Double had hoped to screen the film in Whanganui for Anzac Day because the date was very significant.

"Filming began on the evening of Anzac Day 2014 and, exactly a year later, we shot the final footage," says Mr Double.

Production work on the film was completed last April 25 and the date also happens to be the film maker's birthday.

Because of entry conditions, the film could not be shown in Whanganui prior to the festival so the local audience will be treated to a free screening at the Whanganui War Memorial Centre concert chamber next week.

"We were going to have a couple of screenings at Confluence Boutique Cinema but it is important that everyone who would like to see it will get the opportunity.

"And the War Memorial Centre is the appropriate venue for a soldier's story to be shown."

To reserve a seat for the Wednesday June 21 screening go to Set in Stone
or call the producers at 06 2813474