Book tickets now for your chance to meet Will and hear his amazing story first hand.

Narrated by Lucy Lawless and featuring music by artists including Fat Freddy's Drop, Anika Moa and The Black Seeds, the film follows the riveting journey of coalition soldiers as they land unarmed into the heat of a 10-year civil war with only the weapons of Music, Maori Culture and Love to create peace.

About the film:

A David and Goliath story of the Pacific Island people of Bougainville rising up against the largest mining corporation in the world. Ten years of war saw 14 failed peace agreements. In 1997 the NZ army stepped into the conflict with a radical new plan. Instead of taking guns into the war zone, unarmed soldiers took guitars and culture. This idea was condemned by the national and international media – no one thought it could work.

Soldiers Without Guns follows the riveting journey of the peacekeepers as they endeavoured to end the worst civil war in the Pacific’s history.

This film creates new hope for creating peace in our time. It shines a light on the untold story of unsung heroes of the New Zealand Defence Force. A story all New Zealanders can be proud of.

Tickets:

Please join Ethels in welcoming filmmaker Will Watson to the Akaroa premiere of Soldiers Without Guns.

Akaroa premiere:  Thursday 22 April 2021 at 7.30pm

Please arrive at 7.30pm for your chance to mingle and meet filmmaker Will Watson, the movie screening then starts at 8pm and concludes with a Q & A session with Will at approx 9.30pm.

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as scrumptious food, are available to purchase.

Please contact Ethels directly on 03 304 7777 to book your tickets to the Akaroa premiere. Limited places available.

Additional film dates are available throughout ANZAC weekend, please check the website for dates and times.

About the producer

Will Watson is an international award-winning filmmaker. His first television documentary won six best international documentary awards.

In 2017 his documentary played at the Palais in Cannes during the Cannes Film Festival after winning the best documentary at the World Peace Initiative. He started out his career in journalism and publishing in the ’90s and then moved into film making in 2002.

He started out as a cameraman for BBC, ITV, Al Jazeera and Sky sport, then moved up to be a Director of Photography for larger international films like Dream Catchers.

His work on film has led him to the creation and invitation to do a TED talk and winning an international humanitarian award.

About Ethels

Ethels Cinema Akaroa is a boutique twin screen, licenced cinema playing the latest blockbusters and art-house movies. Akaroa is New Zealand's only French heritage seaside town, ninety minutes from Christchurch City.