News

The New Zealand International Film Festival is deeply saddened at the passing of former Director Bill Gosden (ONZM). Bill died peacefully on Friday 6 November, five days shy of his 67th birthday.

Bill helmed the film festival for almost 40 years before retiring last year due to ill health. His promotion of, and commitment to, New Zealand film and filmmakers is one of his enduring legacies.

New Zealand Film Festival Trust Chair Catherine Fitzgerald said Bill’s contribution to New Zealand’s film culture through film festivals is indelible. “Bill lived and breathed film from his earliest years, working tirelessly to create a demand from New Zealand audiences for the highest quality films from around the world.”

Film Festival Director Marten Rabarts said the news of Bill’s passing was a sad day for the film industry in New Zealand and worldwide. “The film festival and film community in New Zealand owes Bill a huge debt of gratitude for the decades of work and passion he committed to develop and champion a world-class festival experience for audiences and filmmakers alike.”

Paris-based programmer Sandra Reid said it had been a privilege and honour to work so closely with Bill as a boss, a mentor,

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Relive Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival 2020 with our series of Filmmaker Q&As - vibrant conversations with directors, producers, writers and actors.

You can find recorded Q&As on our Youtube channel HERE and in-cinema Q&As are available on Anchor HERE, or your favourite podcast platform including Spotify, Breaker, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts and RadioPublic.

In response to the disaster in Lebanon, we have arranged for FREE screenings of Oualid Mouaness' beautiful film 1982 starring Nadine Labaki (renowned actress and Director of the Cannes-winning Capharnaüm, NZIFF18).

Set in Beirut, 1982 opens a personal and intimate window on the daily lives of ordinary people living through extraordinary circumstances. The near and present danger of Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon is the nerve-wracking backdrop to this coming-of-age tale centred on one boy's all-consuming crush amid the encroachment of war.

With the support of Director Oualid Mouaness and Distributor WAZABI FILM, we are honoured to share this Beirut story to help raise funding for disaster relief.

Friends of NZIFF in Beirut recommend donating to Impact Lebanon or The Lebanese Red Cross. Both these organisations ensure your donation goes directly to the care of thgose directly affected by this disaster.

1982 is available to watch on At Home – Online from 10am Friday 7 August until 11pm Sunday 9 August.

We're bringing back New Zealand films for special encore screenings this weekend.

Nine titles will return or be extended into this weekend with the following available as Online Rentals from 10am Friday 7 August – 11pm Sunday 9 August. Once rented, films are available to watch for 48 hours.

Art Shorts
Before Everest
Kiwi Shorts
LOIMATA, The Sweetest Tears
New Zealand's Best 2020
Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts
Rūrangi
The Girl on the Bridge
Tupaia's Endeavour

Drum roll please ... announcing the winners of the Audience Choice awards for New Zealand’s Best and Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts.

The winner of the New Zealand’s Best Audience Choice Award is Daddy’s Girl (Kōtiro). Director Cian Elyse White will receive 25 per cent of the box office from the online screenings.

The winner of the Ngā Whanaunga CineMāori Audience Award is Gurl. Director Mika X receives the $1,000 cash award sponsored by CineMāori, the new online platform for Māori cinema.

The Audience Choice awards were decided by the combined votes from audiences at the in-cinema screenings at ASB Waterfront Theatre in Auckland, The Roxy Cinema in Wellington, and online audiences.

Previously announced were the winners of the jury prizes in New Zealand’s Best and Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts.

In New Zealand’s Best, the Creative New Zealand Jury Prize for Best New Zealand Short Film was awarded to Oranges & Lemons. Director Robyn Grace receives a cash prize of $4,000. The Madman Entertainment Emerging Talent Award was awarded to Daniel. Director Claire van Beek receives a cash prize of $2,000.

The Wellington UNESCO City of Film Award for Best Film in Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts is Money Honey.

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