‘Bookworm’ is a Joyride into the Wild at Fantasia

Bookworm, edited by Dan Kircher (DEGANZ), kicked off this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal as the opening night film. This was the feature’s world premiere, earning many positive reviews leading up to its wider cinematic release.

The film explores universal themes of fatherhood, survival, and overcoming fear against the rugged South Island landscape. When eleven-year-old Mildred’s mum lands in hospital, her life is flipped upside down when her estranged and strange father, played by Elijah Wood, flies to Aotearoa to look after her. In an attempt to bond, he takes Mildred on a wilderness camping adventure in search of the mythological Canterbury Panther. A string of increasingly absurd and treacherous adventures unfold.

Fantasia is North America’s largest genre film festival, hosting sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and action films from across the globe. By juxtaposing pop and alternative cultures in its programming, it has earned notoriety as one of the top festivals in the industry for emerging and established filmmakers alike.

You can catch Bookworm in cinemas across New Zealand from 8 August.

Last updated on 31 July 2024