The programme for Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival 2021 in Dunedin is out and features 92 feature films from 37 countries plus five short film collections.

Since announcing the cancellation of the Auckland leg of the festival last week, NZIFF has been working further 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 – including Dunedin.

“We are delighted that even at level 2 we can screen our outstanding 2021 programme,” says Festival Director Marten Rabarts.

"We hope that Dnedin film fans 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 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.”

Dame Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog will screen at The Regent Theatre on opening night. The film, which was shot in the Otago region, premiered to a standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival and earned the New Zealander the Silver Lion award for Best Director.

Films joining NZIFF’s 2021 line-up for Dunedin include 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.

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

MILKED, a thought-provoking exploration of New Zealand’s dairy industry joins the line-up of previously announced local films.