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818 Entertainment has revealed production has commenced in Auckland for a new local feature film called PUNCH, starring British actor and Oscar-nominee Tim Roth alongside other local actors, Jordan Oosterhof and Toi Whakaari graduate Conan Hayes.

The fil is scheduled to be shot in the Auckland region with a release date planned for 2021.

Welby Ings is the writer and director for this project, who has an award-winning short film screening at more than 80 international film festivals.

The project for PUNCH was in development for fourteen years and is a love story about loyalty and redemption.

The story follows a gay adolescent boxer and a small-town golden boy Jordan Oosterhof acting as Jim on his journey to self-discovery and manhood.

Actor Tim Roth plays the role of Stan, Jim's demanding coach and alcoholic father, and lastly, Conan Hayes takes on the part of Whetu, a young takatāpui Māori musician.

Director and writer Welby Ings says the story is very close to her hear and she's thrilled for bringing it to life: “It’s great to be heading into production, and I’m excited to be collaborating with the extraordinarily talented Tim Roth. It’s wonderful to welcome him to a film set in Aotearoa.”

PUNCH is produced by Robin Murphy (Lowdown Dirty Criminals) for Robin Murphy Productions and Catherine Fitzgerald (The Orator, Bellbird) of Blueskin Films.

The film will be invested and made possible by The New Zealand Film Commission, NZ Screen Production Grant, Prospect Films and Images and Sound. PUNCH will be distributed by Vendetta Films in New Zealand and Australia.

Image: SUPPLIED

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