NZIFF Director Bill Gosden and Radio New Zealand film critic Simon Morris got together for their annual chat about the highlights of the NZIFF programme.

Bill divides the NZIFF programme of more than 150 carefully selected feature films, documentaries and shorts programmes into several manageable themes and discusses select films within each.

Read more below, or to hear the full interview, tune into Simon’s ‘Standing Room Only’ radio show on Sunday 1 July. You can also listen to it online on the Radio New Zealand website.

Auckland 50th Anniversary Titles

To celebrate 50 years of NZIFF in Auckland, a special programme of films from half a century of NZIFF will be screened in cinemas around the city, culminating with Buster Keaton’s The General, which will be accompanied by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

Film discussed: Wings of Desire.

Animation NOW!

This international festival of animated shorts is coming to Auckland for one weekend only from Friday 10 August and will screen six programmes of shorts handpicked by animation expert Malcolm Turner.

Films discussed: Animation NOW! festival

Cannes

A prize collection of 30 highly anticipated Cannes films will premiere to New Zealand audiences during NZIFF. These are some of the best new releases from around the world.

Films discussed: Birds of Passage (from director Ciro Guerra who was behind the stunning 2015 film Embrace of the Serpent); Shoplifters; and Girl.

Lesbian

This year, NZIFF lesbian audiences are catered to better than ever with a huge selection of stunning films featuring strong lesbian characters or storylines.

Films discussed: The Heiresses; Disobedience; and Rafiki.

Surfing and Skating

Surfing and skating, and the culture that goes along with these sports, are highlighted in this year’s programme.

Films discussed: Skate Kitchen; Minding the Gap; United Skates, and Breath.

Women in Film

Forty-nine of this year’s films were made by female directors. There are also many notable performances by strong female actors.

Films discussed: Leave No Trace (featuring Wellington schoolgirl Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie and directed by Debra Granik); Beirut; and Samouni Road.

Fake News

The NZIFF programme includes a bevvy of films from the ‘fake news’ genre to challenge viewers’ thinking and provoke thought on topics often outside mainstream media.

Films discussed: Donbass; Our New President; The Cleaners; and [CENSORED] 

New Zealand Films

Eleven New Zealand-made feature length films, including six world premieres, feature this year along with four stunning selections of shorts.

Films discussed: Yellow is Forbidden; Celia; Paul Callaghan: Dancing with Atoms; The Heart Dances – the journey of The Piano: the ballet; Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen.

Special mentions

A series of films that were discussed and deserve special mention include: Nico, 1988; Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist; The King; I Used to Be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story; Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story; Filmworker

Simon’s Picks

Simon’s shares his top picks for NZIFF: Monterey Pop and The Guilty.

Bill’s Picks

Finally, Bill shares some top picks for NZIFF. These are: Burning; Woman at War; Shut Up and Play the Piano; Leto; Le Grand Bal; and McQueen.