NZIFF 2014 Timaru 14 Aug–24 Aug 2014

Films — by Collection

Staff Picks: Hayden Ellis

I’m always looking for the films that make you feel something new or awaken what was dormant. Films that challenge and excite you then leave with a lasting impression. My picks for this year range from Cannes winners to a 15 year passion project of DIY animation. With so many titles on offer it’s hard to make a must-see list, but the gems are always there, sometimes you just have to take a risk and watch them.

Boyhood

Richard Linklater

Richard Linklater’s enthralling and moving drama of a boy’s progress from childhood to young manhood is truly unprecedented: it was shot over 12 years, capturing its star and his fellow cast as they themselves grew and changed.

The Wonders

Le meraviglie

Alice Rohrwacher

This intimate portrait of a marvellously idiosyncratic family of beekeepers in the Italian countryside is a classic picture of children growing up in nature – and won its young director the Grand Prix at Cannes.