Bookworm

Ant
Timpson

Since the mid '80s Timpson has worked in every facet of the film industry; from managing an arthouse, programming for MGM, creating short film events, running drive-ins to producing television and feature films, operating devolved government film funds and mentoring filmmakers. His distribution company released specialist indie fare starting with Slacker in 1993. He launched the The Incredibly Strange Film Festival in 1994 that continues to this day inside the New Zealand International Film Festival. His national film competition 48HOURS with Peter Jackson as mentor began in 2003 and exposed talent such as Taika Waititi (Jo Jo Rabbit), Roseanne Liang (Shadow in the Cloud) and Gerard Johnstone (M3gan). As a producer he created the hit anthology series The ABCs of Death (TIFF 2013) and the following features The Devil Dared Me To (SXSW 2006), Housebound (SXSW 14), Turbo Kid (Sundance 15), Deathgasm (SXSW 15), The Greasy Strangler (Sundance 16) & The Field Guide to Evil (SXSW 18), Censor (Tribeca 21), Mister Organ (22), Family Dinner (Tribeca 22). His directorial debut, the critically acclaimed feature Come to Daddy (Tribeca 2020) starring Elijah Wood won numerous awards. He is currently producing two films in post. Timpson was also the inaugural recipient of New Zealand’s Art Entrepreneur Award and is a Board member of the New Zealand Film Commission. His 35mm print archive is the largest personal film archive in the Southern Hemisphere.

Mildred, a precocious 11-year-old, escapes her dull suburban life through books. Her dream is to capture proof of the mythological Canterbury Panther and win a reward to help her struggling mum. When her mum falls into a coma, Mildred’s estranged father, Strawn Wise – a washed-up American illusionist – arrives. On a camping trip, they clash but bond while chasing the real panther.