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Dame Gaylene Preston’s GRACE: A Prayer for Peace has struck a profound chord with audiences at NZIFF 2025. The documentary traces the remarkable life and work of artist Dame Robin White, whose career has spanned from small-town New Zealand realism to large-scale Pacific collaborations, always driven by a spirit of connection and resilience.

At Sunday’s packed Wellington screening, the film was met with a standing ovation - testament to both the power of Preston’s filmmaking and the enduring impact of White’s vision. 

"This project is a beautiful tribute that reminds us how art and creation can highlight the harsh reminders and realities of humanity. It is a film that can only be experienced, through shedded tears, shared chuckles, reflective warmth and a more invigorated movement to create a world better than we left." - Taylor Lee, Craccum

Due to demand, we’re delighted to be able to announce three special encore screenings:

Lumiere Cinemas, Christchurch - Weds 27 Aug, 5:00pm

Massey University, Wellington - Tue 26 Aug, 6:15pm

The Screening Room, Masterton - Weds 10 Sept, 6:00pm

These added sessions offer festival-goers a final chance to experience Preston’s deeply moving portrait of an artist whose work continues to inspire across generations

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Film fans from across the capital flocked to Massey University Theatre on 16 August for screenings of both programmes of Ngā Whanaunga: Aotearoa New Zealand’s Best – aka, the country’s top short films. 

A jury of four – Alex Liu, Mike Jonathan, Kate Rodger and Mathias Taylor – had the difficult job of picking out the prizewinners from a stellar selection. They decided on Womb, by Ira Hetaraka for the competition's top prize, the Umbrella Best Short Film Award. See all the rest of the winners below, and check out the photos from the afternoon here.

Congratulations to everyone who entered a film this year, and applause to everyone who took home an award.

Umbrella Entertainment Best Short Film Award:
Womb by Ira Hetaraka

Auckland Live Spirit of the Civic Award:
Growing Still by Alyx Duncan

Wellington UNESCO Creative City of Film Emerging Talent Award:
Stage Challenge by Stella Reid

Letterboxd Award for Māori Pasifika Talent:
Mirumiru by Allan George
Picking Crew by Tanu Gago

Best Performance Award:
Nora Aati for I Am Not Your Dusky Maiden by Vea Mafile'o

Best Artistic Contribution Award:
Michael Cong for the Cinematography of When the Geese Flew by Arthur Gay

Special Mention:
Nausea by Elliott Louis

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One of New Zealand’s most celebrated filmmakers, Gaylene Preston, will join audiences at the August 24 screening of War Stories Our Mothers Never Told Us at Massey Univeristy for a special Q&A session. This is a rare chance to hear directly from the director about the making of her landmark documentary, which captures the extraordinary resilience and untold wartime experiences of New Zealand women.

First released in 1995, War Stories remains a powerful, intimate portrait of love, loss, and survival during the Second World War. Preston’s insightful storytelling and gift for drawing out deeply personal histories have cemented the film as a classic of New Zealand cinema. Don’t miss this opportunity to revisit the film on the big screen and join the conversation with the filmmaker who brought these voices to light.

Missed out on tickets? Here’s your second chance! 

NZIFF encore screenings and late additions are your opportunity to catch some of this year’s most in-demand films and surprise new additions for a limited time in Wellington. 

Tickets won’t last!

Monday 25 August
6.00pm A Little Something Extra — Massey University
6.15pm Forgotten Silver — Embassy Theatre
6.15pm Mistress Dispeller — Roxy Cinema
6.30pm Trains — Roxy Cinema 2
8.00pm The Secret Agent — Massey University
8.15pm Prime Minister — Roxy Cinema
8.30pm It Was Just an Accident — Embassy Theatre

Tuesday 26 August
6.15pm Nouvelle Vague — Embassy Theatre
6.15pm Riefenstahl — Roxy Cinema
6.15pm GRACE A Prayer for Peace — Massey University
6.30pm Plainclothes — Roxy Cinema 
8.30pm TOITŪ Visual Sovereignty — Roxy Cinema
8.30pm Breathless — Massey University
8.45pm Prime Minister — Embassy Theatre

Wednesday 27 August
6.15pm Vie Privée — Embassy Theatre
6.15pm Notes from a Fish — Roxy Cinema
6.15pm It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley — Massey University
8.30pm Exit 8 — Massey University
8.45pm Sentimental Value — Embassy Theatre