Pietra Brettkelly’s ‘Yellow is Forbidden’ is New Zealand’s submission for the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 91st Academy Awards.
Each year the Academy invites countries to select and submit their best foreign language film for consideration. Selection of the film is made by a committee of experienced film industry representatives, chaired by New Zealand Film Commission CEO Annabelle Sheehan.
“Pietra’s film is both an insight into the extraordinary worlds of haute couture and modern-day China, and a significant cultural analysis of a Chinese artist,” says Sheehan. “Watching the film, it’s clear that Guo Pei and Pietra forged a strong connection. Both are fearless and determined women navigating their ways through complex professional worlds. The committee and I are thrilled to endorse this film and congratulate Pietra and her team.”
Yellow is Forbidden, directed by Pietra Brettkelly and produced by Brettkelly, Richard Fletcher and Naomi Wallwork, is a modern-day Cinderella story, where the diminutive and daring Guo Pei’s dream of being selected into the exclusive yet savage world of haute couture doesn’t end at the ball. The film weaves global power dynamics and the opposition between art and commerce with a hankering for oppressive imperial grandeur.
“I’m so proud of the beauty of everyone’s work in my film Yellow is Forbidden, those who threw their belief behind another filmic whim of mine, combined with the extraordinary unique talent that is the subject of my film, designer Guo Pei,” says Brettkelly. “This is a second film of mine selected as the New Zealand Best Foreign Language entrant for the Oscars, acknowledging documentaries can also be films. And when a filmmaker from New Zealand can connect with a world class designer from China, defying language barriers and across culture, it shows women can do anything! It’s time for us to build power from every female achievement.”
Yellow is Forbidden had its world premiere at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival where it was the first New Zealand film to screen In Competition at the festival. It is distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment and will open at selected New Zealand cinemas on 1 November after successful screenings at the 2018 New Zealand International Film Festival.
Pietra Brettkelly shared her story with MiNDFOOD as part of our Suffrage Special in September. To read more about Brettkelly and the story behind Rihanna’s Met dress, click here.
