Punch in cinemas today
“There's no questioning the heft and weight of this emotional, very personal and incredibly important story”, Newshub’s Kate Rodger says of Punch, the debut feature film written and directed by AUT Professor of Art & Design Welby Ings.
The film, which is released in cinemas across Aotearoa today, examines the relationship between a teenage boxer and his alcoholic father, played by Oscar-nominee Tim Roth (Rob Roy, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction).
Set in small town New Zealand, Punch follows Jim (Jordan Oosterhof) as he prepares for his first professional fight. However, the 17-year-old begins to rethink his trajectory after tangling with the razor-tongued Whetu (Conan Hayes,) who spends his days in an old shack down by the beach.
Ahead of the film’s release, we had a look around Professor Ings’ office at some of the objects, drawings and works of art that inspired, or were inspired by his films.
As well as being a film director and teacher, Professor Ings is an award-winning author and designer. In 2002, he received the Prime Minister’s Award for Tertiary Teaching Excellence and the NZ Government Award for Sustained Tertiary Teaching Excellence. In 2013 he was awarded the inaugural AUT medal for his contribution to learning and research. In 2017, his best-selling book Disobedient Teaching became influential in the reconceptualisation of New Zealand education.
Professor Ings is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (UK), a member of the Designers’ Institute of New Zealand and of the New Zealand Screen Directors’ Guild.