In The Shade film festival Q&A

The in The Shade Film festival kicks off on Wednesday night in Auckland to fill the gap left by last year's cancellation of the Auckland leg of the New Zealand International Film Festival.

With over 50 movies scheduled to play at Auckland's Hollywood Theatre and the Academy Cinemas, there's more than enough to choose from.

This is what the festival organisers, the Dos Ojos collective had to say about the upcoming event.

How does it feel to be the new kid on the film block?

It feels delightful! Though we have been around the film block a few times; we all work in, and breathe film, 

What's been the reality of getting a festival like this together?

Phone calls, emails, Zooms, Slacks, film watching, reading about films. Rinse and repeat.

It is tough given the environment. There were a few times when we had to stop and have a rethink, mainly all due to the pandemic. The benefit of pulling together a festival in a short frame of time - approximately a month - is that you just have to go for it.

There isn’t time to dwell, decisions have to be made fast; so there is definitely a bit of adrenaline involved!

Which films have already been popular with audiences - and why do you think that is?

Our opening and closing nights; Nightmare Alley and C’mon, C’mon respectively and Licorice Pizza especially. They’re fresh and currently doing the awards circuit, so will be top of mind.

Other films that are piquing interest are International Feature Film Oscar shortlisted films like A Hero, Drive My Car, Great Freedom and Flee.

But the festival is an eclectic mix to suit all tastes.

If you can see only 5 films at the festival, which should you see and why?

How dare you expect us to choose between our children.

(But we will take the opportunity to shout out Merata Mita’s Patu! A seminal film that every person in this country should say; what better way to see it on the big screen?)

What's the film that you think will surprise audiences and why?

Mandibles! Absurdly funny, in only the way that the French can be.

What's the one film that has the best moment of all the films you've programmed - and why?

Cliff Curtis popping up in the Croatian film Murina, which premiered at Cannes and won the Camera d’Or (best feature length film by a debut director).

What's the future for In The Shade - will it become an annual fixture in Auckland's cinema calendar?

We’re dipping our toes in the shade…and are keen to see where it takes us, but equally have no expectations.

With a lack of certainty becoming a daily fixture; our focus is on the here and now and we wanted to start the cinematic year off right!

The In The Shade Film Festival runs in Auckland from January 19. Get all the details at intheshade.co.nz