“Head South” is heading to an independent cinema near you.
The charming coming-of-age feature film from New Zealand-born director Jonathan Ogilvie will screen nationwide from Thursday, April 3.
Staying true to its independent spirit, the movie will bypass the multiplexes, Ogilvie tells Variety AU/NZ.
“Head South” has coast-to-coast commitments from Perth to Sydney, Melbourne, Victor Harbour, Alice Springs and elsewhere, and special Q&A events are programmed for Sydney and Melbourne.
Set in Christchurch at the turn of the ‘80s, “Head South” is a voyage of discovery, a time capsule lifted from the mind of a young lad and wrapped in the glorious, sweaty textures of punk rock and post-punk tunes.
It’s “an almost-true story,” explains Ogilvie. “Everything in it happened, and mainly to me.”
“Head South” stars Ed Oxenbould (“Paper Planes”, “The Visit”, “Wildlife”), Márton Csókás (“Lord of the Rings”, “Bourne Identity”, “The Equaliser”), Roxie Mohebbi (“Kid Sister”, “Give Me Babies”, “Critical Incident”) and Kiwi singer/songwriter Benee (Stella Bennett) in her debut film role.
Ogilvie’s touching fourth feature has played to packed houses at Rotterdam Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, and gone on to win the hearts of critics and film buffs everywhere.
The British Film Institute named it one the great New Zealand films, it’s in the top ten of highest-rated Oceanian films for 2024 on Letterboxd and, currently, boasts a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Ogilvie is thrilled with the warm reception. “I am so delighted that ‘Head South’ speaks to not only those who first experienced the exuberance of post-punk but also a younger generation who identify with the anxieties and triumphs of the characters,” he tells Variety. “In this time of algorithms and artificial intelligence ‘Head South’ celebrates the pure excitement of DIY creative energy. Guitar. Bass. Drums. Microphone. Play!”
The original soundtrack by Shayne Carter (Straitjacket Fits, Dimmer) and featuring Benee is available on Leatherjacket Records through Flying Nun.
Antje Kulpe produced “Head South”, which is theatrically distributed in New Zealand and Australia by Forum Films, with Moviehouse Entertainment handling international sales.
The project was funded by the New Zealand Film Commission in association with Head South Cohort, Black Frame, I&G and Moviehouse Entertainment, with the assistance of the New Zealand Government’s Screen Production rebate and the Screen Canterbury NZ Production grant.