Films — by Collection

Staff Picks: Olivia Young

For many New Zealanders, the NZIFF programme is the cultural bible of every winter. With friends and family, I eagerly pore over the pages and carefully plan three weeks dedicated to all that the festival offers. As the national publicist for 2015, it is a tremendous honour to work under the helm of our Director Bill Gosden and his team, Incredibly Strange’s curator Ant Timpson, the talented filmmakers from far and near, the venues and volunteers, and the relentless support from the hard-working, passionate journalists around the country. NZIFF is an annual event that celebrates the vibrant and diverse arts community of New Zealand, and I encourage everyone to take part in the magic of this fabulous festival. Here are twelve titles that I can’t wait to see...

Sherpa

Jennifer Peedom

Australian filmmaker Jennifer Peedom’s superb doco captures the 2014 climbing season on Everest from the point of view of Sherpa Phurba Tashi, including the tragic avalanche and its aftermath.

Iris

Albert Maysles

Veteran documentary maestro Albert Maysles’ Iris is a captivating salute to a proud flag-bearer of the vanishing quality of fashion individuality, the legendary New York clotheshorse and design darling Iris Apfel.

Amy

Asif Kapadia

An intimate, overwhelmingly moving tribute to Amy Winehouse, the great young British soul singer whose talent and charisma brought her more fame than anyone might be able to handle. From the director of Senna.

Crossing Rachmaninoff

Rebecca Tansley

A winning portrait of Italian-born Auckland concert pianist Flavio Villani as he returns like the prodigal son to Italy for his concert debut, scaling one of the summits of the Romantic repertoire.

The Second Mother

Que horas ela volta?

Anna Muylaert

Brazilian actresses Regina Casé and Camila Márdila shared a Special Jury Prize at Sundance for their performances as a good-hearted housemaid at odds with her progressive teenage daughter in this keenly observed family drama.