An ex-con masquerading as a priest works to heal the wounds of a grieving congregation with his unorthodox brand of faith and forgiveness in this darkly compelling Oscar-nominated Polish drama.
Festival Programme
Films — by Genre
- Activism
- Adventure
- Americana
- Artist Cinema
- Based on Books
- Comedy
- Coming of Age
- Crime
- Crossing Borders
- Dance
- Documentary
- Fashion
- Feminism
- Films about Films
- Found Footage
- Historical
- Horror
- Human Rights
- Indigenous
- LGBTQIA+
- Love Stories
- Music
- Politics
- Rebellion
- Religion
- Retro
- Rural Life
- Science Fiction
- Seniors
- Sexuality
- Sports and Gaming
- Theatre
- Travel
- WTF?
- War Zones
- Wellbeing
- Youth
Youth
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Drama Girl
Playing outside the boundaries of drama and documentary, this adventurous self-portrait of a 20-something artist and dancer asks the question, “if you could star in the film of your life, how would you rewrite the script?”
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Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie's Dead Aunt)
In this bright, affirmative lesbian teen rom-com, a girl awkwardly angles for the attention of her high school crush with a little help from the ghost of her aunt, a queer activist with a poignant history in the fight for LGBTQI+ rights.
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Family Members
Los miembros de la familia
Stranded after their mother’s passing, a teenage brother and sister awkwardly socialise, take long walks on the beach and get serious about fitness in this dry, Jim Jarmusch-esque hangout film.
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If I Were the Winter Itself
Si yo fuera el invierno mismo
Indulging in the thrill and heartbreak of the artistic process, this unabashedly avant-garde take on the iconic works of Godard, Mendieta and Farocki explores cinema as both a political and playful act.
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No Hard Feelings
Futur Drei
Understated yet emotionally resonant, Faraz Shariat’s semi-autobiographical coming-of-age drama is both timely in its exploration of a global humanitarian crisis and a testament to the transformative power of queer love.
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Paradise Drifters
Exciting young director Mees Peijnenburg and ace cinematographer Jasper Wolf (Monos; Instinct, NZIFF20) immerse us in the gritty world of a trio of disadvantaged Dutch youths en route to Marseille, where either hope or failure awaits.
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Perfect 10
Gymnastics, an unknown half-brother and a streak of petty crime set in motion a teenage girl’s coming-of-age in suburban Brighton in Eva Riley’s sensitive, spirited first feature film.
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Rūrangi
Premiering their forthcoming web series as a special festival presentation, director Max Currie (Everything We Loved, NZIFF14) and writer Cole Meyers’ queer and trans-celebratory drama swells with character and heart.
![Sick, Sick, Sick](/assets/resized/sm/upload/6f/e5/fe/yd/03.SICK,%20SICK,%20SICK_Alice%20Furtadojpg-0-520-0-390-crop.jpg?k=f9ad04aadc)
Sick, Sick, Sick
Sem Seu Sangue
An intense teenage romance morphs into a hypnotic tale of resurrection and saudade in this visually lush meditation on all-consuming love from emerging Brazilian director Alice Furtado.
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Tench
Muidhond
A young paedophile’s return to society is calmly explored in Belgian director Patrice Toye’s powerful, thought-provoking new film. Based on Inge Schilperoord’s controversial novel Muidhond.
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A Year Full of Drama
Aasta täis draamat
Nourishing and unexpectedly moving, director Marta Pulk’s documentary takes us to theatre-mad Estonia, where a young, inexperienced woman wins a job to watch and critique every theatre production in a calendar year.