Welcome to the first programme announcements for NZIFF 2014.
Two great music-filled documentaries head-up the announcements: 20,000 Days on Earth; and Jarvis Cocker, Sheffield's, in Pulp: A Film about Life, Death and Supermarkets. Both films are guaranteed to find enthusiastic audiences in New Zealand, the Pulp film not least because it is the work of NZIFF born-and-bred filmmaker Florian Habicht. World famous in Auckland for his surprise-packed premieres, Florian will return from Berlin to uphold his reputation at the New Zealand premiere screenings.
This provocative portrait of Jimi Hendrix as a fledgling rock legend features Outkast's Andr� Benjamin as the supremely gifted young guitarist in Swinging London. Directed by 12 Years a Slave screenwriter John Ridley.
Further announcements will follow in May and June, with the latest information updated regularly on NZIFF's new website.
But wait there's more.....Andrew Adamson, of Shrek, Narnia and Mr Pip fame, has generously agreed to act as this year's guest selector of finalists in the New Zealand's Best Short Film competition. They have received 115 entries and are reaching the short-list selection of a dozen for Andrew's consideration.