Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival has revealed its full programme for Christchurch and Wellington. The garden city opens this year’s nationwide festival on Friday 29 October, followed by the capital on Thursday 4 November.

NZIFF has been working with partner venues and cinemas around the country to be able to present the festival under the new Alert Level 2 requirements in 12 towns and cities.

“We are delighted that even at level 2 we can screen our outstanding 2021 programme to Cantabrians and Wellingtonians in a safe environment this November. Cancelling Auckland was a big blow – one that we share with fellow arts and culture organisations around the country who’ve been hugely impacted by this latest Delta outbreak,” says Festival Director Marten Rabarts.

"We hope that Kiwis will now rally behind the film festival and show their support by coming out to see the stunning line-up of films that we’ll be presenting.

“As well as having a fantastic collection of New Zealand films, our international selection is jam-packed with award-winning, critically acclaimed films from around the globe that we can’t wait to share with audiences.”

Highlights screening in both Wellington and Christchurch include Wes Anderson’s star-studded homage to the golden age of journalism, The French Dispatch; Maggie Gyllenhaal’s award-winning adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s The Lost Daughter, featuring a powerhouse performance from Olivia Colman; decorated Chinese director Master Zhang Yimou’s love letter to cinema, One Second, and Bosnia and Herzegovinia’s Oscar-nominated film for 2021 Best International Feature, Jasmila Zbanic’s Quo Vadis, Aida

Delivering star power is Berlin Golden Bear nominee, Maria Schrader’s I’m Your Man, featuring Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens as a love android; colourful televangelist biopic The Eyes of Tammy Faye, starring Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield, and moving literary memoir My Salinger Year, staring Sigourney Weaver.

Dame Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog will have its Kiwi premiere at Christchurch’s Isaac Theatre Royal on opening night, before kicking off the 50th Jubilee edition of the Wellington festival at flagship venue The Embassy Theatre the following week.

Cannes Film Festival’s Palme D’or winner Titane will close the festival in both centres and Paulo Sorrentino’s Venice Grand Jury Prize-winning masterpiece The Hand Of God takes centrepiece position, screening in the festivals’ middle weekend.

Other major award-winning films heading to both cities include previously announced Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix award winners, A Hero, from decorated Iranian director Asghar Farhadi and Juho Kuosmanen’s offbeat train romance, Compartment No. 6, Venice Film Festival Golden Lion winner, Audrey Diwan’s Happening, Sundance Grand Jury prize-winner Flee and Berlin Film Festival highlights, Golden Bear winning black comedy Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn and Grand Jury Prize winner, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy.

MILKED, a thought-provoking exploration of New Zealand’s dairy industry will screen in Wellington and Christchurch, while Juliet Gerrard: Science in Dark Times, a fascinating insight into the life and career of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s Chief Science Advisor, joins the Wellington line-up.