News

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. 

This year’s prizes were given out after the session, with Womb, by Ira Hetaraka, taking the top spot. See all 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. Check back for this year’s Audience Award, to be presented on the final night (August 24) in Wellington.  

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: (to be presented on closing night - but announced on Saturday)
Stage Challenge by Stella Reid

Letterboxd Award for Maori 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

Continue reading…

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 are your opportunity to catch some of this year’s most in-demand films, back for a limited time in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

The sessions listed below will be added to film pages in the coming days - check back for the latest! 

And remember - tickets won’t last!

AUCKLAND

Breathless
Hollywood Avondale
Tue 12 Aug, 8:30pm

Forgotten Silver
Hollywood Avondale
Mon 11 Aug, 6:15pm

Happyend
Academy Cinemas
Tue 12 Aug, 8:30pm

It Was Just an Accident
Hollywood Avondale
Mon 11 Aug, 8:00pm

Kokuho
Academy Cinemas
Mon 11 Aug, 5:15pm
Academy Cinemas
Tue 12 Aug, 5:15pm

Life in One Chord
Hollywood Avondale
Sun 17 Aug, 6:30pm

A Little Something Extra
The Bridgeway
Mon 11 Aug, 6:15pm

Mistress Dispeller
Academy Cinemas
Mon 11 Aug, 8:30pm

Notes From a Fish

The Bridgeway
Tues 12 Aug, 8:15pm

Nouvelle Vague
Hollywood Avondale
Tue 12 Aug, 6:15pm

Prime Minister
The Bridgeway
Tue 12 Aug, 6:15pm

Hollywood Avondale
Sat 16 Aug 2:00pm

Sentimental Value
The Bridgeway
Wed 13 Aug, 6:15pm

TOITŪ Visual Sovereignty
The Bridgeway
Mon 11 Aug, 8:15pm

Vie Privée
Hollywood Avondale
Wed 13 Aug, 6:15pm

WELLINGTON

Breathless
Massey University National Academy of Screen Arts

Continue reading…

NZIFF after dark is your chance to get amongst the fun and run riot with fellow festival fans! Check out what's on in Wellington.

Get your glitter for the Lesbian Space Princess costume party

In honour of the candy-coloured animated flick that’s set to become a cult classic, we’re throwing a Lesbian Space Princess shindig in Wellington. Ahead of The Embassy screening on 22 Aug, the cinema’s Black Sparrow bar is morphing into a portal through the gay-laxy, destination: Clitopolis! Costumes are encouraged - we’re looking forward to your interpretations of the theme - or at the very least, roll yourself in glitter and sample a drink from the specially-curated ‘clit-tail’ list. Join us from 7.30pm. Bring your ex.

The Embassy Theatre, August 22
7:30pm The Black Sparrow
8:45pm Lesbian Space Princess at The Embassy

Rock out at the Pavements pre-screening gig

Get Slanted & Enchanted as we Brighten the Corners of Light House Cuba. Wowee Zowee (Sorry).

Ahead of the fever dream that is Pavements, NZIFF After Dark presents a set of stripped-back covers—very subjectively chosen “greatest hits”—played and sung by Louis Reeve, bigtime Pavement aficionado since way back, and frontman of local band By A Damn Sight. Grab a

Continue reading…