New Zealand International Film Festival Has Announced Its First Five Movies for 2023

In order to curate each year's Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival, the event's team live the movie-watching dream, viewing flicks back to back to make their very best picks for the program. Putting together a film fest isn't all about seeing as many features as possible, of course, but going to one can be. Wondering where to get started at NZIFF 2023? The fest's first five movies have just been announced to get you excited.

Who needs daylight, time spent away from cinemas and something other than a big screen to stare at? If you're one of Aotearoa's movie buffs, you won't this winter and spring. This year's NZIFF is back in a big way, ramping back up in terms of stops and venues after a scaled-down 2022 event — starting in Auckland as usual, kicking off on Wednesday, July 19, then heading to 16 other destinations.

On the list: Wellington, Dunedin, Hamilton and Christchurch, then Matakana, Tauranga, Napier, Masterton, Whangarei, Havelock North, New Plymouth and Palmerston North. Then, the festival will also get the projectors whirring at Gisborne, Nelson, Timaru and Gore.

The full NZIFF 2023 lineup will arrive at the end of June, but the event's just-revealed initial five titles include an Oscar-nominee, a Sundance hit, a Venice favourite, the latest from one of Germany's great filmmakers and a documentary about attempting to escape North Korea. If you watched this year's Academy Awards, you'll know that EO didn't win the Best International Feature Film category, but this Polish tale of a donkey's life was an incredibly worthy contender. Now, it's an instant NZIFF highlight.

After wowing audiences in Park City, Celine Song's debut feature Past Lives is on its way to Aotearoa, telling a bittersweet romance about two childhood friends (Russian Doll's Greta Lee and Decision to Leave's Teo Yoo) who briefly reunite after decades apart. And from Venice 2022, Alice Diop's Saint Omer is another absolute must-see. The documentarian draws from true events to craft a drama about a young Parisian journalist and novelist attending murder trial, then wading through the complexities it surfaces within her own family history.

NZIFF will also screen the new feature by acclaimed filmmaker Christian Petzold, who nabbed a Berlinale Silver Bear this year for Afire. The Undine and Transit director once again puts actor Paula Beer in front of his lens, with the German talent this time helming a tragicomedy about a seaside holiday surrounded by forest fires.

Last for now, but by no means least, Beyond Utopia follows high-risk quests to get out of North Korea, focusing on a pastor called Sengeun Kim who has made helping defectors his life's mission.

WHĀNAU MĀRAMA: NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2023 DATES AND VENUES:

Auckland: July 19–August 6 — The Civic, ASB Waterfront Theatre, Rialto Cinemas Newmarket, Bridgeway Cinema, Academy Cinemas, The Hollywood Avondale
Wellington: July 27–August 12 — The Embassy Theatre (including Deluxe), The Roxy, Light House Cinema Cuba, Light House Cinema Petone, Penthouse Cinemas
Dunedin: August 3–20 — The Regent, Rialto Cinemas Dunedin
Hamilton: August 9–29 — Lido Cinema
Christchurch: August 10–27 — Isaac Theatre Royal, Lumiere Cinemas, Hoyts Christchurch Central (Closing Night only)
Matakana: August 10–27 — Matakana Cinemas
Tauranga: August 10–27 — Rialto Cinemas Tauranga
Napier: August 10–27 — MTG Century Theatre
Masterton: August 16–30 — Regent 3 Cinemas
Whangarei: August 17–27 — Event Cinemas Whangarei
Havelock North: August 17–September 3 — Event Cinemas
New Plymouth: August 17–September 3 — Len Lye Centre Cinema and Event Cinemas
Palmerston North: August 17–September 3 — Event Cinemas
Gisborne: August 24–September 3 — Odeon Multiplex
Nelson: August 23–September 10 — The Pastorius-Waller Theatre at Suter Art Gallery
Timaru: August 38–September 3 — Movie Max Digital
Gore: August 38–September 3 — SBS St James Theatre

Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival will run from July–September 2023. For more information, head to the festival website.