Overview
This week, the international filmmakers to take up the podium and answer some Q and As at the NZIFF have been confirmed.
Leading the lineup is the Academy Award-nominated Debra Granik, whose film Leave No Trace follows the story of two low-tech hermits, a young girl and her father, confronting the idea of reintegration with the modern world. She will be speaking at the Embassy Theatre screenings on Sunday 29 July at 6pm and Monday 30 July at 12.45pm.
Australian art collective Soda_Jerk will be presenting their film TERROR NULLIUS, which is a "a fierce – and very funny – counter-narrative of [Australia]'s national mythology", on Sunday 29 July at 4.15pm and 8pm at Reading Cinemas. Gabrielle Brady, will present her first feature Island of the Hungry Ghosts, which focuses on Christmas Island's refugee detention centre and the surrounding eco-system at 6:30pm on Tuesday 31 July, 6.30pm and 11:15am on Wednesday 1 August at the Reading Cinemas screening. New Yorker Tina Brown will present her documentary United Skates which explores the relationship between roller-skating rinks, hip hop culture and property developers on Wednesday 1 August at 6.15pm and Thursday 2 August at 11am at Reading Cinemas.
Local filmmakers like Costa Botes, Andy Deere and Dustin Feneley will also be present. Costa Botes is best known for his mockumentary Forgotten Silver created with Peter Jackson. Angie delves into the life of Centrepoint sexual abuse survivor Angie Meiklejohn. Botes will be attending a Q&A for Angie at 1.15pm on Sunday 29 July and at 11am on Monday 30 July at the ASB Waterfront Theatre. Andy Deere's film Bludgeon explores the Kiwi subculture of medieval combat. Deere will be attending a Q&A for his film on July Tuesday, 24 July at 6.15pm and Wednesday, 25 July at 3.45pm and 8.15pm at Event Cinemas on Queen Street. Dustin Feneley's first film Stray has been described as "hard-edged New Zealand poetry". He will be attending Q&As at 5pm on Sunday 22 July, and 1.15pm on Tuesday 24 July at ASB Waterfront Theatre.
For a full lineup, please see the NZIFF website. NZIFF starts in Wellington on 27 July.