Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival 2023 Auckland programme announced

The NZIFF 2023 programming team attends film festivals around the world to bring audiences in Aotearoa the very best of global cinema, with the Auckland programme featuring 129 full-length films and seven short film collections, with films hailing from 39 countries, including Uganda, Senegal, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Estonia, Jordan, Iran, Brazil, and of course Aotearoa. 

The films will screen in six venues and cinemas in Auckland from 19 July to 6 August with the festival rolling out to 15 regions across the motu. 

General Manager Sally Woodfield says, “We’re immensely proud of this year’s programme. Coming together for our annual film festival unites, connects and transcends people in cinemas across the country. We forget, in the thick of the everyday grind, how much humans need to share culture, language and experiences, and how bridges can be built and boundaries crossed through the stories we experience in film. We can’t wait to welcome Aotearoa back to the 2023 festival.” 

The 2023 programme comprises features, Cannes Film Festival winners, documentaries, shorts, retrospectives, films for kids, animation, and the ‘incredibly strange’. Nine films are celebrating their world premiere and all films are making their New Zealand premiere at NZIFF 2023.  

Also announced tonight was the festival’s visiting International filmmakers who will travel to Aotearoa for the festival headed by Celine Song (Past Lives), along with Laha Mebow (GAGA), Soda Jerk (Hello Dankness), Elegance Bratton (The Inspection), Christoffer Guldbrandsen (A Storm Foretold), and Rolf de Heer (The Survival of Kindness). 

“It’s been four years since we have been able to bring a contingent of international filmmakers to our shores and we are very excited to announce these six guests who span diverse styles of filmmaking,” Woodfield says. 

The NZIFF team presented the Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland programme at special event tonight. The programme announcements for Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara Wellington, Ōtautahi Christchurch and Ōtepoti Dunedin and the remaining 11 centres will follow in the coming weeks. 

NZIFF 2023 opens in Tāmaki Makaurau on Wednesday 19 July, Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara on Thursday 27 July, and Ōtepōti and Ōtautahi on 3 and 10 August respectively. The remaining centres will follow, with the festival closing on Sunday 10 September. 

 

For more information, visit nziff.co.nz  

 

NZIFF 2023 Cinemas and Dates 

Auckland 

19 July to 6 August 

The Civic, ASB Waterfront Theatre, Rialto Cinemas Newmarket, Bridgeway Cinema, Academy Cinema & The Hollywood Avondale 

Wellington 

27 July to 13 August 

Embassy Theatre (including Deluxe), The Roxy, Light House Cuba, Light House Petone, Penthouse Cinema. 

Dunedin 

3 – 20 August 

The Regent & Rialto Cinemas Dunedin 

Hamilton 

9 – 29 August 

Lido Cinema Hamilton 

Christchurch 

10 – 27 August 

Isaac Theatre Royal, Lumiere Cinemas, Hoyts Christchurch Central (Closing Night only) 

Tauranga 

10 – 27 August 

Rialto Cinemas Tauranga 

Matakana 

10 – 27 August 

Matakana Cinemas 

Napier 

10 – 27 August 

MTG Century Theatre 

Masterton 

16 - 30 August 

Regent 3 Cinemas 

Whangarei 

17 – 27 August 

Event Cinemas Whangarei 

Havelock North 

17 August to 3 September 

Event Cinemas Havelock North 

New Plymouth 

17 August to 3 September 

Len Lye Centre Cinema & Event Cinemas New Plymouth 

Palmerston North 

17 August to 3 September 

Event Cinemas Palmerston North 

Nelson 

23 August to 10 September 

The Pastorius-Waller Theatre at the SuterArt Gallery 

Gisborne 

24 August to 3 September 

Odeon Multiplex 

Timaru 

24 August to 3 September 

Movie Max Digital