The KFC: In the Media
The KFC: In the Media
COVID-19: Wanaka, Queenstown host first major public events since lockdown as NZ Mountain Film Festival opens
Newshub
Published 26 June, 2020
Fifty-four films will screen at the festival – nine world premieres and 13 New Zealand-made movies. Wanaka director Richard Sidey is taking the top award.
His film is about five paragliding friends from central Otago taking on the challenge of climbing Mt Kilimanjaro and then paragliding off the top.
“So my film’s called The KFC, which actually stands for Kilimanjaro Financial Crisis, which was really just a fun play on the fact that our trip was really expensive,” Sidey told Newshub.
“Paragliding in the remote mountains of Tanzania was quite an experience.
“We were flying in places where no one had ever flown before.”
It’s the highest free-standing mountain in the world, so the altitude from the top to the bottom is the biggest possible glide on the planet people can do.
“When you landed, within minutes you’d have 2-300 people surrounding you – just fascinated about this person that came out of the sky,” Sidey said.
Read the full article & Watch the video here
Wānaka filmmaker wins best NZ film award
The Wānaka Sun
Published 4 June, 2020
The winner of the Hiddleston/MacQueen Award presented at the NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival will go to Wānaka local Richard Sidey for his film The KFC.
The beautiful film follows five New Zealanders as they take on a paragliding adventure in Tanzania, with the ultimate aim of flying from the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro. Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain in the world; the altitude change from the top to the bottom makes it the biggest glide possible to do on the planet.
Stunning imagery, experiencing a new culture, adventure and camaraderie make this a quintessential Kiwi tale.
Stunning imagery, experiencing a new culture, adventure and camaraderie make this a quintessential Kiwi tale.
NZ Mountain film festival
The award is presented in the names of two Wānaka adventurers and is a nod to the spirit of adventure they lived for.
Sidey says, “One of the highlights for me was flying places where no one had ever seen a paraglider, some people came out to see, others ran to hide. Winning the award was unexpected, but we are delighted to have the film recognised in this way, as a lot of work goes into a project like this. All the guys pitched in with their footage which made the film possible, sharing their own stories, as it’s pretty much impossible to stay together when paragliding in a foreign land. The prize money will go back into the film to help us enter festivals overseas. Hopefully, there’s even a little leftover to document the next adventure. I hope The KFC inspires people to get outdoors with their friends and have an adventure, and maybe make a film about it too.”
One of the judges, Whitney Oliver, commented, “The KFC took top marks from me. The cinematography was creative, with captivating footage; great pacing with the editing, good energy and balance; the story was fun and definitely carried the spirit of everyman’s adventure; great characters and good laughs; and ultimately left me with feelings of joy and inspiration, which I think is a great result for any adventure film.”
Read the full article online here
Kilimanjaro flight film wins award
Otago Daily Times
Published 2 June, 2020
Richard Sidey, of Wanaka, has won the Hiddleston-MacQueen Award for the best New Zealand film for The KFC.
The film follows five New Zealanders on a paragliding adventure in Tanzania with their ultimate aim of flying from the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro.
Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain in the world. This means the altitude change from the peak to the base of the mountain makes it the biggest glide it is possible to do from a peak on the planet.
Mr Sidey said one of the highlights was flying over places where no-one had ever seen a paraglider, “some people came out to see, others ran to hide”.
• The 18th NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival is scheduled to run live in five venues in Wanaka and Queenstown simultaneously from June 26-28 and nationally online from June 26 to July 5.