Sara Shahverdi’s unique position as a councilwoman in rural Iran invites the audience to share her triumphs and setbacks as she uplifts young women and ruffles conservative feathers by advocating for gender equality.
Festival Programme
Films — by Genre
- Action
- Actors and Theatre
- Animation
- Art
- Based on Books
- Cannes
- Comedy
- Coming of Age
- Crime
- Documentary
- Education
- Environment
- Family Ties
- Fantasy
- Films about Films
- Historical
- Horror
- Human Rights
- Indigenous
- LGBTQIA+
- Love Stories
- Music
- Māori/Pacific
- Politics
- Religion
- Rural Life
- Sci-Fi
- Seniors
- Sex and Sexuality
- Slow Cinema
- Sports and Recreation
- Style
- Thriller
- Travel
- WTF?
- War Zones
- Women Make Movies
- Writers
Human Rights
Homebound
Class, religion, and gender intersect in Neeraj Ghaywan’s personal approach to life in Northern India. A life-long friendship is put to the test when a shared dream leads two best friends in different directions.
It Was Just an Accident
Yek tasadef sadeh
A masterpiece of cinematic invention and political bravery, Jafar Panahi’s rousing new film deservedly won the Cannes Palme d’Or and opens NZIFF 2025 on a powerful and inspiring note.
Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk
As a Gaza native, photojournalist Fatma Hassona documents aspects of the war in Palestine that foreign journalists cannot access. Her tenacious Palestinian voice will not be silenced in this poignant documentary.
The Wolves Always Come at Night
A young Mongolian family loses their livelihoods following a natural disaster. This docufiction provides a confronting look at their lives and proves that climate change can affect even the world's most remote areas.