It’s near impossible to select less than ten handfuls of films to ogle during this year’s NZIFF; there’s equal spoonfuls of film Frosties and fibre-rich oatmeal on offer, which makes for quite the viewing conundrum. Reluctantly, I’ve rendered down one big fat collection of compelling films – including so many outstanding Cannes titles – to just 12 ‘must sees’. This quite random and non-thematic (and non-genre biased) wishlist has been carefully selected, not on a ‘judge-a book-by-its-cover’ basis, but with fine-combed consideration. It is now glued to my fridge, firmly stapled in my Google calendar, and being talked-up to friends, strangers, and all human bodies who’ll listen.
Films — by Collection
- Letterboxd
- Newshub: The 12 Most Exciting Films at NZIFF
- Staff Picks: Alice Vilardel
- Staff Picks: Ant Timpson
- Staff Picks: Bex Shannon
- Staff Picks: Bill Gosden
- Staff Picks: Camila Araos-Elevancini
- Staff Picks: Ina Kinski
- Staff Picks: Jane Simons
- Staff Picks: Jean Teng
- Staff Picks: Kailey Carruthers
- Staff Picks: Karen Cartwright
- Staff Picks: Liam Reid
- Staff Picks: Matt Wilshere
- Staff Picks: Megan Andrews
- Staff Picks: Michael McDonnell
- Staff Picks: Nick Paris
- Staff Picks: Rebecca McMillan
- Staff Picks: Sally Woodfield
- Staff Picks: Sandra Reid
- Staff Picks: Sharon Byrne
- Staff Picks: Tim Wong
- Staff Picks: Zoe Pattinson Fan
- Wellington Film Society
Staff Picks: Bex Shannon
![Monterey Pop](/assets/resized/sm/upload/az/m5/mh/tp/720id_046%20KEY-0-520-0-390-crop.jpg?k=e419a211b6)
Monterey Pop
The first true rock-doc – and still the best – blazes with breakout performance from Hendrix, Joplin, The Who, Otis Redding, The Animals and more. Looking and sounding better than ever in this 50th anniversary 4K restoration.
![Nico, 1988](/assets/resized/sm/upload/hy/0x/7k/b3/08_Nico1988_NO88_STILL_HQ_10_0%20KEY_web-0-520-0-390-crop.jpg?k=77cb11f73c)
Nico, 1988
The last years and final performances of legendary singer Nico – who did not want to be remembered as Lou Reed’s femme fatale – are brought vividly to the screen by Danish actress Trine Dyrholm.
![Kusama – Infinity](/assets/resized/sm/upload/1c/lt/g1/16/Kusama+in+Japan+%C2%A9+Tokyo+Lee+Productions,+Inc.%20KEY-0-520-0-390-crop.jpg?k=c1ce29a8e3)
Kusama – Infinity
Now, at 89 years old the top-selling female artist in the world, Yayoi Kusama overcame family opposition, sexism, racism and mental illness to bring her radical artistic vision to the world stage.
![Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist](/assets/resized/sm/upload/k5/jc/3q/8j/KEY_STILL-0-520-0-390-crop.jpg?k=429b9fc8e9)
Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist
A fast, funny documentary on the life, looks and times of the British fashion designer, business woman, environmental activist – and unreconstructed punk – Vivienne Westwood.
![Juliet, Naked](/assets/resized/sm/upload/1w/9f/w7/ce/Rose-Byrne-and-Ethan-Hawke-in-JULIET-NAKED-Photo-credit-Alex-Bailey-Courtesy-of-Lionsgate-and-Roadside-Attractions%20KEY-0-520-0-390-crop.jpg?k=2a15d95c90)
Juliet, Naked
Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke and Chris O’Dowd are perfectly cast in this romcom, based on Nick Hornby’s novel about an indie rock obsession that leads to romance.
![Rafiki](/assets/resized/sm/upload/fs/oj/d1/96/rafiki-2-CMJN%20KEY_RGB-0-520-0-390-crop.jpg?k=9c82ac2a19)
Rafiki
Fresh and brave, Kenyan director Wanuri Kahiu’s tender, exuberant teenage lesbian coming-out tale has been banned in Kenya and celebrated in Cannes.
![A Kid Like Jake](/assets/resized/sm/upload/xw/4z/vi/u9/AKLJ_img_1128%20MED%20RES%20KEY-0-520-0-390-crop.jpg?k=0ea91d4854)
A Kid Like Jake
It’s Halloween and Jake wants to be Rapunzel. Claire Danes and Jim Parsons are sensational as a Brooklyn couple with divergent responses to their four-year-old’s ‘gender-variant play’ in Silas Howard’s comedy-drama.
![Dogman](/assets/resized/sm/upload/hf/dd/op/8e/DOGMAN-Still5-actorMarcelloFonte_cGreta-De-Lazzaris%20KEY-0-520-0-390-crop.jpg?k=092220942e)
Dogman
Matteo Garrone (Gomorrah) returns to the scene of the crime with this jaw-dropping, based-on-fact tale of a timid dog lover driven to terrifying extremes when he hitches his star to a human beast he cannot control.
![Jirga](/assets/resized/sm/upload/sj/f8/2j/wq/Jirga_A_SET_009%20KEY-0-520-0-390-crop.jpg?k=d6e5dafaba)
Jirga
Shot without permits in Afghanistan, this spectacular and powerful redemption drama from the director of Son of a Lion brings a needed fresh perspective to conflict in the Islamic world.
![The Wild Pear Tree](/assets/resized/sm/upload/mg/uu/ui/4p/still4_hires-0-520-0-390-crop.jpg?k=9b63a6c622)
The Wild Pear Tree
Ahlat agaci
Turkish master Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s latest follows a would-be writer’s reluctant return to his small-town fold, spinning an extensive series of encounters into a typically rich, wry, melancholic mood-piece.
![The Kindergarten Teacher](/assets/resized/sm/upload/3p/uu/gq/12/THE_KINDERGARTEN_TEACHER_01%20KEY-0-520-0-390-crop.jpg?k=9418ef09ea)
The Kindergarten Teacher
Maggie Gyllenhaal is riveting as a teacher and aspiring poet thrown off kilter by the conviction that only she can guard and nurture the lyric talent of a gifted five-year-old student.
![Wildlife](/assets/resized/sm/upload/fp/sj/i9/n5/wildlife-still-2_37805494585_o%20HI%20RES%20TEMP%20KEY-0-520-0-390-crop.jpg?k=905ab8f732)
Wildlife
In Paul Dano’s ace directing debut, Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal capture the cracks that occur in a marriage when a young wife kicks against the constraints of 1950s domesticity.