Our Autumn Events programme concentrates on films that truly fill the giant screen. And we can now confirm that Christchurch will host the New Zealand premiere of Pecking Order as part of NZIFF's Autumn Events film screenings in May.

The full schedule is now live, and tickets will go on sale from 5pm Wednesday 5 April.

Slavko Martinov’s documentary about the Christchurch Poultry, Bantam and Pigeon Club was shot in 2015 as the Club prepared for the National Show.

The film will have its red-carpet premiere at Hoyts Riccarton on Tuesday 9 May at 6.30 pm with cast and crew in attendance. The world premiere will be held at Hot Docs in Toronto on the 29 April and the film will open in NZ cinemas from 18 May.

NZIFF Autumn Events will also present six classic films and one other New Zealand premiere. The films will screen across three weekends at the Hoyts Riccarton in Christchurch (6 to 21 May). The line-up includes the New Zealand premiere of Terrence Malick’s journey through space and time, Voyage of Time: Life’s Journey, narrated by Cate Blanchett; a return to the peace, love and music of 1969 with seminal documentary Woodstock; Werner Herzog’s legendary Fitzcarraldo; the 1954 landmark musical A Star is Born with Judy Garland and James Mason; Greta Garbo’s exquisite Camille; the English-voiced version of 1980 French animation The King and the Mockingbird, recommended for ages 5+, and Woody Allen’s definitive love letter to New York, Manhattan starring Diane Keaton, and Meryl Streep.

Tickets are on sale from Wednesday 5 April from Hoyts.co.nz and Hoyts Riccarton. The Five-Trip Pass ($70) is the best deal if you're purchasing multiple tickets. The pass can be used for individuals or shared with friends.

In addition to Pecking Order the latest film announcements are:

Camille

There’s rarely been a more sumptuous production than this 1936 MGM classic, and there’s never been a more exquisitely heart-breaking Camille than Greta Garbo.

“Through the perfect artistry of Garbo’s portrayal, a hackneyed theme is made new again, poignantly sad, hauntingly lovely.” — Frank Nugent, NY Times

A Star is Born

Judy Garland (as a singer on the rise) and James Mason (as a fading matinée idol) personify Hollywood’s archetypal view of showbiz coupledom in this landmark musical drama from 1954. (Hello, La La Land.)

“Fresh, exciting, touching and alive… by far the best of all the films about life behind the cameras, the lights, the wind-machines, and the cocktail bars of Hollywood.” — Dilys Powell

The King and the Mockingbird

Based on a Hans Christian Andersen story, this classic of hand-drawn animation follows a chimney sweep and shepherdess on the run from a tyrannical king. An eye-opener still, it’s been cited as a major influence by the great Miyazaki.

“It's beautiful, it's twisted, it's funny… It is the perfect film for children, and a challenging one for adults.” — Charles Mudede, The Stranger

Autumn Events also screens in Wellington, Dunedin and Auckland in April and May.