UK

Pop culture returns to Afghanistan after 30 years of Taliban rule. Though the old-guard elites vehemently oppose it, millions tune in weekly to Tolo TV’s jubilantly groovy Afghan Star. “Fantastic.” — Oprah Winfrey

Riveting interview with pop genius/convicted killer. “A hell of an exclusive… a synthesis of a psychological profile, a critical history and a candid, surprising interview.” — The Times

Celebrate ten years of the alternative music festival All Tomorrow’s Parties with Sonic Youth, Portishead, Nick Cave, Iggy and the Stooges, Patti Smith, Animal Collective, Daniel Johnston, and many many more.

Selected by kids for kids, our annual panorama of the world’s best animated shorts for the Festival’s youngest audience (we suggest 3–7 this year) has plenty to offer their grown-up escort parties.

Narrowed down from an amazing 2000+ entries, this year’s survey of the best in animated short films covers the gamut from sumptuous painterly Russian styles to the most inventive and expressive CGI, including NZ-made Poppy.

Marathon swimmer Martin Strel, attributing his endurance to a diet of horse burgers and alcohol, takes on the Amazon. “[Strel has] so much personality it’s a wonder he fits on the screen.” — NY Times

“Bright Star tells the story of the love affair between John Keats and Fanny Brawne with a classical poise, exquisite craftsmanship and a piercing tenderness.” — Screendaily

A stunning Michelle Pfeiffer reunites with Dangerous Liaisons director Stephen Frears to play a cynical courtesan in love with a younger man in this sumptuous Belle Epoque drama. With Rupert Friend, Kathy Bates.

Carey Mulligan’s enchanting performance in this early-60s getting-of-wisdom tale is one of the wonders of the year. Adapted by Nick Hornby from Lynn Barber’s memoir and directed by Lone Scherfig (Italian for Beginners).

MIC Toi Rerehiko presents the best new NZ short films selected by a panel of industry experts. This eclectic short film programme brings together the cream of Kiwi animators and innovators.

British political satire takes on Washington in this lacerating spoof of bureaucratic opportunism. “Horribly brilliant… The acting is superb, and the writing is relentlessly funny – vicious and delicious.” — The Guardian

Roger Horrocks introduces Art That Moves, his new film about New Zealand’s favourite 20th-century expatriate artist and filmmaker, and presents a cornucopia of rarities and recent restorations.

Direct from this year’s Cannes Film Festival, director Ken Loach in laughter mode, featuring Steve Evets as a messed-up postman who receives spiritual guidance from none other than soccer idol Eric Cantona.

A smartly minimalistic science fiction drama, Moon is a tightly wound, man-alone-in-space workout. Sam Rockwell is dynamite as Sam Bell, the lone inhabitant on a moon base. “Alarmingly vivid.” — San Francisco Bay Guardian

Admiring portrait of South African women’s organisation Bobbi Bear, which fights to repair the damage caused by child sexual abuse. By acclaimed UK documentarian Kim Longinotto (Divorce Iranian Style, Sisters in Law).

Graphic design and animation morph into a single artform in the best of recent International CGI shorts – narratives, ads, music videos – as selected from a 1000 entries at the prestigious SIGGRAPH Asia Festival.

Longingly sensuous, the year’s hippest, freshest, most sweetly inclusive date movie. A lyrical tale of two solitary expats crossing paths in the international art-rock milieu of a sprawling East London squat.