Whānau Mārama 2023 has come to an end in Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara. We hope you enjoyed this year’s huge and diverse programme as much as we did. Thank you to everyone who came and watched films from Aotearoa and abroad alike. It is always a delight to have the beautiful Wellington venues play host to NZIFF and this year was no exception. Thank you to Embassy Theatre, The Roxy Cinema, Penthouse Cinema, Light House Cuba, and Light House Petone for graciously screening the NZIFF selections.

As it's lights down in the Capital we think Amanda, our Marketing and Communications Coordinator based in Tāmaki sums our Closing Night up best with this excerpt from her blog post, ‘Notes from NZIFF in Tāmaki Makaurau’:

“It’s not often Auckland feels glamorous, but Closing Night of Whānau Mārama this year was an exception. Earlier in the evening patrons had left the Live Cinema screening of Charlie Chaplin’s The Circus with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra accompaniment, and an hour later audiences were streaming in for the Closing Night film, Aki Kaurismäki’s Cannes Jury prize-winning deadpan comedy Fallen Leaves. It is nights like this that make the grey depths of the Aotearoa winter feel worth it."

Read what Connor, our Film Logistics Manager (and admittedly, exhausted cinephile) had to say about the NZIFF experience from a Wellington perspective in his blog post, 'In Defense of the Film Festival Masochist'.

Heoi anō tāku mō nāianei. See you in 2024!

Ngā manaakitanga. Hei konā mai.
Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival

Please consider filling out the NZIFF 2023 Audience Survey to voice your opinion and get more of what you loved most in 2024!

Look back on this year’s festival with our galleries (and see if you can spot yourself)!

Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts 2023 Awards night in Wellington

Rolf de Heer Masterclass at Massey University

The Survival of Kindness Q+A Wellington

GAGA Q+A in Wellington

A Storm Foretold Q+A in Wellington

Grant Sheehan: Light, Ghosts & Dreams World Premiere in Wellington

The Female Gaze Panel Discussion

Red Mole: A Romance World Premiere in Wellington

Bread and Roses Q+A in Wellington

Hello Dankness Q+A with Soda Jerk Lighthouse Cuba WLG

Wellington Opening Night NZIFF 2023