‘Head South’ to Open International Film Festival Rotterdam

Jonathan Ogilvie’s coming-of-age post-punk comedy, Head South, is set to open the 53rd International Film Festival Rotterdam.

Head South is a semi-autobiographical film set in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1979. It follows a private schoolboy drawn to the underground post-punk music scene, who must confront self-doubt, the derision of his friends, and a family tragedy to develop an appreciation for true character.

The film is edited by Julie-Anne De Ruvo and stars Ed Oxenbould, Marton Tsokas and Benee. 

In Variety, Vanja Kaludjercic, IFFR festival director, stated, “With ‘Head South,’ Jonathan Ogilvie returns to the festival with an unpredictable coming-of-age story that delights in its shifting tone. Quirkiness and nostalgia evolve into sober and thoughtful moments, only to turn exuberant and then transform once again, offering a fitting tribute to the post-punk subculture. Ogilvie is the kind of filmmaker we cherish at IFFR: those for whom art is, above all, an adventure of discovery.”

Head South is scheduled to open IFFR on January 25th.