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Former New Zealand International Film Festival director Bill Gosden passed away days before his 67th birthday.
Well-known film festival director Bill Gosden died yesterday.
Photo: Supplied by Rebecca McMillan
Gosden died peacefully earlier yesterday, after being diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2017.
He ran the film festival for 40 years, but retired last year due to his health problems.
New Zealand Film Festival Trust President Catherine Fitzgerald said Gosden had created an enduring legacy through her contribution to New Zealand’s film culture.
“Bill lived and breathed cinema from his earliest years, working tirelessly to create a demand in New Zealand audiences for films of the highest quality from around the world,” said Fitzgerald.
Photo: Supplied by Michael Jeong
Film festival director Marten Rabarts said it was a sad day for the film industry in New Zealand and around the world.
“The New Zealand film community owes Bill an enormous debt of gratitude for the decades of hard work and passion that he committed to developing and promoting a world-class festival experience for audiences and filmmakers alike.”
Last year, Gosden appeared in a Bowel Cancer New Zealand Facebook post, saying that he wished he could have had a colonoscopy sooner.
He had told his GP that he had irregular bowel habits, but his blood tests were fine, so his doctor was not concerned.
“I was very fit, so I think that was masking my illness. It’s very annoying.
“I would advise people to definitely get screened if they are concerned,” Gosden said.
Despite three rounds of chemotherapy and surgery, the cancer metastasized to his lungs.
He said Space for standing people only Last year, when your oncologist recently told you that now was the time to go out and do the things you wanted to do, your response was “I’ve spent most of my life doing exactly that.”
“I think I’ve been incredibly lucky with what I’ve done.”
Gosden’s family and close friends have asked for privacy as they come to terms with their loss.
Devastated by the announcement that Bill Gosden passed away yesterday. Almost impossible to process. My heart goes out to everyone in it @nzff whānau and everyone in the movie world who he supported (which is everyone) Aotearoa’s movie lovers live in a world that he created.
– Dan Slevin (@danslevin) November 6, 2020
It is very sad to learn that Bill Gosden, the longtime director of the New Zealand Film Festival, has passed away. Basically, Bill helped create New Zealand film culture as it is today, and it was always a good conversation when I was a radio film critic. Huge legacy.
– Andrew Todd (@mistertodd) November 6, 2020
We are very sad to hear about the passing of Bill Gosden Bill’s role as an advocate for the NZ movie cannot be overstated. Our condolences to his whānau and everyone present @nzff https://t.co/TZVjFCClec
– Treasures (@goers) November 6, 2020
I was very saddened to learn of Bill Gosden’s death from cancer.
Bill lived and breathed the movie, and it was under his command that the @nzff I was hooked, and my love for film really took hold about 30 years ago. Thanks Bill: may your cinema always be free of cell phones, talkers and people who are late. X– Sarah McMullan (@SarahMcMullanNZ) November 7, 2020
This boy changed my life in a profoundly good way. Thankful for his life and his work. https://t.co/fNljAropZK
– kazmological ✨ (@kazmological) November 6, 2020
Bill Gosden is dead. The man who ran the International Film Festival for years and made it such a huge and hugely popular celebration of not just movies, but art, entertainment, and critical research as well. Sitting in the dark with a big crowd today. We have lost a culture hero. pic.twitter.com/r0pvdv3PcY
– Simon Wilson (@simonbwilson) November 6, 2020
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