The Full Program For The New Zealand International Film Festival Has Been Revealed

Good news film buffs. The New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF) is making its return to cinemas across the nation this July. With a handful of films drip fed over the past month, including five music-centric delights, the full program has now been released. You won't find blockbuster superhero sequel number seven or rehashed classics on the menu here, but a finely curated selection of nearly 150 gems from all corners of the globe.

The world premiere of Poi E: The Story of Our Song will kick off the festival at Auckland's Civic Theatre on July 14, before performing the same duty in Wellington on Friday 22 July, Christchurch on Thursday 28 July and Dunedin on Thursday 4 August. Written and directed by Tearepa Kahi, the documentary is an in-depth look at the Patea Maori Club's mashup of pop, traditional waiata and bop that took New Zealand by storm in 1984.

Further homegrown films include: Le Ride - Phil Keoghan's salute to Kiwi cyclist Harry Watson, The Rehearsal - Alison Maclean's screen adaptation of Eleanor Catton's debut novel, and A Flickering Truth - the fourth feature-length offering from New Zealand documentary filmmaker Pietra Brettkelly. See the full list of NZ features here.

This year's World Strand section - international films lavished with praise or box office success in their countries of origin - will represent nineteen countries. Following the hugely popular Boyhood, Richard Linklater returns with relaxed comedy Everybody Wants Some!! recalling his days at college. Further highlights include musically charged French-Tunisian film, As I Open My Eyes; comedic drama Captain Fantastic; the most celebrated Spanish film of the year, Truman; technology dramedy, Perfect Strangers; brutal crime saga, Suburra; lauded Aussie drama, The Daughter, and Spanish auteur Pedro Almodóvar's female-centric emotional drama, Julieta.

Twenty three films from Cannes also make the bill including eleven titles from the Cannes Competition selection and winner of the prestigious Palme d'Or for Best Film - I, Daniel Blake. The drama is the second grand prize winner for British director Ken Loach. It follows the friendship of an out-of-work carpenter and a young single mother.

The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra will once again assemble for the Live Cinema element of the festival, accompanying Harold Lloyd's classic silent comedy Safety Last! and rare short An Eastern Westerner on Sunday 31 July. 1925 German classic silent Variety will also screen with a new chamber orchestra score composed by Johannes Contag on Sunday 24 July.

The New Zealand International Film Festival will take place across the following dates:

Auckland 14 – 31 July
Wellington 22 July – 7 August
Christchurch 28 July – 14 August
Dunedin 4 – 21 August

For more information and the full program, visit nziff.co.nz.