The New Zealand International Film Festival Teases Its Full Program With Eight Features

On cue, as the rain flips sideways and an expedition outside becomes more than just a wayfare in jandals, the New Zealand International Film Festival has dropped the first taste of its 2017 program. But before you spend weeks earmarking pages of must-see flicks, there are eight films festival organisers think you should hear about first.

Four documentaries — three from established New Zealand filmmakers — make up half of the first program announcement. They include: the story of convicted hacker turned file-sharing entrepreneur Kim Dotcom in Caught in the Web, behind the curtain of popular horror theme park Spookers by Florian Habicht, and My Year with Helen — award-winning filmmaker Gaylene Preston's coverage of Helen Clark in her bid to be the United Nations' new Secretary General. The fourth title is a documentary from Emma Franz about musician acclaimed jazz guitarist Bill Frisell.

Four international features have also been announced: American drama A Ghost Story starring Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck, UK period drama Lady Macbeth based on a 19th-century Russian classic, sweeping giant screen epic The Lost City of Z starring Charlie Hunnam and Robert Pattinson, and bio-sci-fi horror The Untamed from Mexican director Amat Escalante.

The full NZIFF program will be available from Tuesday 27 June for Auckland, and Friday 30 June for Wellington. NZIFF starts in Auckland on 20 July and in Wellington from 28 July.

Image: Nigel Marple.