Photo caption: (left to right) Judy Davis, Elijah Tamati, Miriam Margolyes and Jacki Weaver in Holy Days.
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) hosted the invitation-only screening of Holy Days at its Jack Mann Theatre last night ahead of the film’s New Zealand cinema release on 26 February.
UC’s Kōawa Studios served as the production base for the feature film, a New Zealand–Canadian comedy-adventure produced by Velvet Moss Productions (formerly Firefly Films) and Lily Pictures. Starring Judy Davis, Miriam Margolyes and Jacki Weaver, the film follows three unconventional nuns on a road trip through Aotearoa and marks the feature directorial debut of Nat Boltt.
The special screening brought together members of the cast and crew, UC staff and students, industry partners and invited guests, acknowledging the creative collaboration behind the film and celebrating UC’s growing role in screen production and education.
Kōawa Studios Director Sam Witters says the screening celebrated the collaborative effort behind the film.
“Holy Days was a landmark production for Kōawa Studios and demonstrates the capability of our facilities, staff and students to support international feature filmmaking, so hosting the first public screening on campus was a fitting way to acknowledge the creative partnership behind the film.”
The film used Kōawa Studios’ virtual production soundstage, production offices and on-campus workshops, while two UC students gained hands-on industry experience as paid crew interns on the shoot as part of the Kahurangi Toi Ātea training programme run by Share the Knowledge and Te Wananga Whare Tapere o Takitimu.
UC Digital Screen student and grip trainee Daniel Davy described the experience as transformative. “It was honestly unreal; I learnt so much working alongside such an experienced and talented crew. Everyone on set was so positive and supportive, fully backing each other. It was inspiring to see the collaborative nature of filmmaking, to be part of it, and to be given a lot of responsibilities that pushed me to step up and grow my skills in the Gripping department. I'm grateful to have been given the opportunity.”
Fellow Digital Screen student Cecile Wagener, who worked on the production as a costume trainee and production assistant, says the experience provided a valuable pathway into the industry.
“It was an amazing experience and such a supportive environment to step into as a student,” she says. “Being able to work across both costume and production gave me insight into how the departments collaborate to bring a film to life. I was trusted with responsibility, encouraged to ask questions and surrounded by professionals who genuinely wanted us to succeed.”
About Holy Days
Based on beloved author Dame Joy Cowley’s novel of the same name, Holy Days is the feature directorial debut from renowned Canadian-South African actress Nat Boltt (Riverdale, District 9), who also wrote the screenplay and stars in the film.
Holy Days will be distributed in New Zealand and Australia by Kismet Entertainment and in Canada by Photon Films. The film is produced by New Zealand-based production company Velvet Moss Productions (formerly Firefly Films) and Canadian producers Lily Pictures. Blue Fox Entertainment have acquired worldwide rights excluding New Zealand and Canada. Holy Days is made with financial support from Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga New Zealand Film Commission, New Zealand Screen Production Rebate, Screen CanterburyNZ Production Grant, Angel Investors Marlborough, the Percasky Family, University of Canterbury’s Kōawa Studios, Telefilm Canada, Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia, CBC Films and Elemental Post.
