With just under 12 weeks to go until the NZIFF begins to kick off, here are the first films of Whānau Mārama: NZIFF 2024! There are 10 sections inside this year’s film festival, along with a flagship title to provide moviegoers with a clear insight into what they can expect for the cinematic experience.
Māhutonga: Illuminating the pathway to the storytellers from Aotearoa is our constellation of Māhutonga - lighting up the Southern Skies via the Southern Cross. Never Look Away (directed by Lucy Lawless, New Zealand) Presented in association with NewstalkZB.
Fresh: First narrative features from brand new voices of international cinema. Brief History of a Family (directed by Lin Jianjie, China)
Frames: Works that explore and expand the language of documentary filmmaking. The Speedway Murders (directed by Luke Rynderman and Adam Kamien, Australia)
Portraits: Character-driven narrative and documentary films that draw us into the lives of ordinary and extraordinary people. My Favourite Cake (directed by Behtash Sanaeeha, Maryam Moghadam, Iran)
Widescreen: Narrative and documentary films that provide snapshots from diverse realities from across the globe. The Teachers' Lounge (directed by Ilker Çatak, Germany) Presented in association with Goethe-Institut.
Nocturnal: An evening strand devoted to irreverent genre and out-of-the-box films. Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (directed by Ariane Louis-Seize, Canada)
Rhythms: Narrative and documentary films centered around music and its forms In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon (directed by Alex Gibney, USA) Presented in association with Coast.
Visions: Works showcasing the distinct cinematic style of revered masters and emerging talents. Evil Does Not Exist (directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Japan)
Journeys: Presenting films from specific countries or regions, beginning in The Himalayas. The Monk and the Gun (directed by Pawo Choyning Dorji, Bhutan)
Treasures: A section of hand-picked classics and recently restored films. Days of Heaven (directed by Terrence Malick, USA)
Paolo Bertolin, the Artistic Director of NZIFF says, "A film festival is a space for encounter and dialogue. The communal experience of watching a film in a theatre brings together bodies and minds, sparking a conversation between the works of filmmakers and their audiences. Curating the programme of an international film festival does not simply mean choosing the best films available across the world at that time, it is a mission in facilitating a meeting between a film and its audience, providing opportunities for discovery, entertainment, and reflection. It is an equally exciting and challenging task.”