Kiwis abroad and international audiences eagerly awaiting the release of RIVER OF FREEDOM can stream it across online platforms from 13 December. Journeyman Pictures has secured worldwide rights to the New Zealand box office smash, RIVER OF FREEDOM. “A unique and visceral account of the under-reported and divisive furore that erupted in NZ over its Covid policy,” says Journeyman’s CEO, Mark Stucke. The documentary will launch on Apple TV on 13 December, and can also be streamed via Journeyman.tv and Vimeo. A broader release to digital platforms Amazon and Google will follow.
RIVER OF FREEDOM was distributed independently, reached #10 at the NZ Box Office in its third week and took $355,000 for it’s run.
New Zealand FILM reviewer: Graeme Tuckett reported “It took me a week to get a ticket. The film sold out its Wellington screenings for five straight days. The Thursday afternoon session I got into was also a sell-out.”
RIVER OF FREEDOM is an intimate journey into New Zealand’s notorious 2022 ‘Parliament protest’ – a massive uprising against the mandatory Covid-19 vaccination regime.
The film is written, produced and directed by Gaylene Barnes (SEVEN RIVERS WALKING) and produced by Jared Connon (PEARL) and Julian Arahanga (COLONIAL COMBAT). Robin Monotti Graziadei (Amir Naderi’s MOUNTAIN) is executive producer. The production was entirely crowd-funded. Many artists donated the rights to their songs for use in the film including Eric Clapton’s This Has Gotta Stop and We’re All Criminals by the UK’s Right Said Fred, to name but a few.
“I’m really proud of the success of our film in New Zealand and how it touched audiences,” says director and editor Gaylene Barnes. She is now looking forward to its worldwide release: “What an opportunity for people the world over to experience New Zealand at its worst… and at its best.”
Watch the ShowNews interview with director Gaylene Barnes here
