News

Congratulations to our Fresh (debut films section) and Frames (documentary section) winners!

 As voted by our jury, Fresh Competition winners are:

🎬 Fresh Competition Award - 9 Temples to Heaven ($1000)

🎬 Fresh Competition Award - Elephants in the Fog ($1000)

and joint winners:

🎬 Fresh Competition Award - La Gradiva ($500)

🎬 Fresh Competition Award - Goodbye, Cruel World ($500)

As voted by you:

🏅Fresh Audience Award: Elephants in the Fog

As voted by our jury, the winners of our Frames Competition, proudly presented by @docplay, are:

🎬 DocPlay Frames Competition Award: Landmarks ($1000)

🎬 DocPlay Frames Competition Award: Memory ($1000)

And voted by you:

🏅Frames Audience Award: The Seoul Guardians

Congratulations to the winners of the NZIFF 2026 Ngā Whanaunga Aotearoa: New Zealand’s Best Awards for short films. Judging by the standard of all this year’s entries and the winners, the future of New Zealand film is looking good!  

Umbrella Best Short Film Award ($5,000) 
The Whole Thing by Calvin Sang

Letterboxd Audience Award 
The Whole Thing by Calvin Sang

Auckland Live Spirit of the Civic Award ($4,000)
Arrival by Ahmed Osman

Park Road Post Award for Māori Pasifika Talent ($2,000)
Todd Karehana, director of Socks

Canon Emerging Talent Award (EOS Camera and Lens of the value of $4,500)
Isaac Ieremia, director of Ciggie

Wi Kuki Kaa Memorial Award for Best Performance to a Māori Pasifika Talent ($5,000)
Keporah Torrance for Kurī by Ana Chaya Scotney

Best Artistic Contribution
Allan George, editor of Tall Hours by Sophie Black

Special Mention
Giovanna Varea, for her performance in Daunitukutuku by Tumeli Tuqota

Great news for Cantab film fans - we’ve added an entire new week of screenings at the Lumière. Check out the daily schedule below of late addition movies and extra screenings of our most popular titles: 

Monday 24 August

The Chronology of Water:   Lumière Cinemas (Bardot) - Mon 24 Aug , 3:30 PM

Jimpa:   Lumière Cinemas (Bernhardt) - Mon 24 Aug , 4:00 PM

Rose of Nevada:   Lumière Cinemas (Bardot) - Mon 24 Aug , 6:00 PM

The Cycle of Love:   Lumière Cinemas (Bernhardt) - Mon 24 Aug , 6:15 PM

Hen:   Lumière Cinemas (Bernhardt) - Mon 24 Aug , 8:15 PM

The Beloved:   Lumière Cinemas (Bardot) - Mon 24 Aug , 8:15 PM

Tuesday  25 August

The Cycle of Love:   Lumière Cinemas (Bernhardt) - Tue 25 Aug , 1:45 PM

Palestine 36:   Lumière Cinemas (Bernhardt) - Tue 25 Aug , 3:45 PM

Hen:   Lumière Cinemas (Bardot) - Tue 25 Aug , 3:45 PM

Franz:   Lumière Cinemas (Bardot) - Tue 25 Aug , 5:45 PM

The Tale of Silyan:   Lumière Cinemas (Bernhardt) - Tue 25 Aug , 6:00 PM

Late Fame:   Lumière Cinemas (Bernhardt) - Tue 25 Aug , 7:45 PM

Mockbuster:   Lumière Cinemas (Bardot) - Tue 25 Aug ,

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NZIFF is back at the Isaac Theatre Royal for one weekend only.

Don't miss out on seeing some of our biggest hits in one of our favourite venues.

August 21

Big Girls Don't Cry - 6:00pm

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma - 8:30pm

August 22

Whispers in the Woods - 10:30am

Comédie-Française - 12:45pm

Father Mother Sister Brother - 2.30pm

Lomu - 5:00pm

Fjord - 7:45pm

August 23

Kiri and Lou go Raaa! - 10.15am

The Black Ball - 2:15pm

Coward - 7:30pm

This year, NZIFF is rolling out the red carpet for the people behind the films. From intimate Q&As to captivating opening night intros, our live events across Aotearoa will bring filmmakers out from behind the camera and into the spotlight. You'll get the chance to see, hear from, and connect with an incredible line-up of local and international directors and creatives - appearing in person at screenings and workshops nationwide.

Please note that guest appearances and live events may be subject to change.

International guests

Abinash Bikram Shah
Director of Elephants in the Fog

• Screenings:
  Auckland – Sunday 9 August, 3:45 p.m. at Academy Cinemas
  Christchurch – Wednesday 12 August, 5:45 p.m. at Lumière Cinemas (Bernhardt)
  Christchurch – Thursday 13 August, 10:00 a.m. at Lumière Cinemas (Bardot)
  Wellington – Friday 14 August, 6:00 p.m. at Massey University National Academy of Screen Arts Cinema
  Wellington – Saturday 15 August, 3:55 p.m. at Light House Cinema Cuba

James J. Robinson
Director of First Light

• Screenings:
  Auckland – Thursday 6 August, 1:15 p.m. at Rialto Cinemas Newmarket
  Auckland – Friday 7 August, 6:00 p.m. at Academy Cinemas

Sophie Hyde
Director of Jimpa

• Screenings:
  Auckland – Saturday 1 August 2:45 p.m. at The Civic
  Auckland – Sunday 2 August, 1:15 p.m. at Bridgeway

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