A controversial New Zealand documentary about competitive tickling has premiered in Auckland this evening to positive responses.
Kiwi filmmaker and former Newsworthy presenter David Farrier was at the premiere of Tickled tonight at The Civic along with co-director Dylan Reeve.
The cinema was packed for the event and Farrier says even his mum and dad were there.
"It felt great," he says. "To finally have it in front of New Zealand audiences feels like the best thing ever.
"Having my mum and dad in the audience, having my friends there … dream come true."
It tickled the fancy of the Auckland crowd, who were among the first in New Zealand to see the film.
"Fascinating and disturbing at the same time," one viewer says.
"We laughed a lot but it was unnerving," another says. "I'm glad none of my boys have been tickled."
The airing of Tickled has been fraught with controversy -- Farrier is being sued in every state of America the film has been shown so far.
"If you're at a film festival and suddenly you get served, it's a really unsettling thing."
But he's not being scared off:
"We're really confident the film's accurate, we're fully backing it, so bring it on. It's fine."
The film hits Wellington's The Embassy next on April 22 before a full release from May 26.
Newshub.
