Saviour

SAVIOUR is a psychological thriller about an idealistic missionary who embarks on an ambitious journey that will lead to a tragic discovery.

Set amongst the deep forest of 1820s New Zealand, we follow Thornley, a determined young missionary recently arrived into the country. He is led by Reed, a rough, washed-up sailor who views his plight with disdain. They journey to meet a distant M?ori leader. One night in camp they are disturbed by the arrival of a young M?ori man. The impact of this arrival and the assumptions made by the two travellers will have devastating consequences for all involved.

SAVIOUR will be an emotionally and visually gripping experience that explores ideas of cultural superiority and misunderstanding.

The Team

SAVIOUR is written and directed by Alistair MacDonald, and produced by Jarl Devine and Todd Karehana. There is a fantastic lineup of actors and crew currently involved. Kieran Charnock (STRAY, THE REHEARSAL) is set to play the missionary Thornley, and Mark Mitchinson (HUMAN TRACES, FILTHY RICH) will play the trader Reed. Cinematographer Ian McCarroll (THE BROTHER, BEYOND THE KNOWN WORLD) will shoot the film, and Berlin-based NZ musician Indi is set to compose the score.

Why We Need Your Help

To tell the story of SAVIOUR accurately and honestly, we are filming in the Kaimai Ranges, one of the best preserved forests in the upper North Island. No other landscape in the Auckland area offers such an awe inspiring window into what New Zealand looked like 200 years ago. As this project needs an experienced crew used to working in adverse, off the track conditions, we need to send 15 people and two van loads of equipment from Auckland south to the Kaimai Ranges. This means we need to pay for petrol, food, accommodation and logistical support.

We're hoping to raise the majority of our production budget through this 30-day Boosted campaign, so your donation will make this film possible. We'll keep you updated on our progress as we begin production, all the way through our shoot, and into the post-production stage. All donors will receive a thank you in the credits and a lot of gratitude from us!

Please note that all New Zealand based donors qualify for a 33% tax credit on their donations from the IRD. Receipts will be provided by The Arts Foundation at the close of the campaign.