New Zealand International Film Festival Has Revealed Its Initial Homegrown Titles for 2023

In its moniker, Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival references the world, reflecting its commitment to showing the latest and greatest movies that the global cinema scene has to offer each year. But the annual film fest also takes the NZ part of its name just as seriously. Alongside flicks from around the planet always sits a feast of homegrown fare, including at NZIFF's upcoming 2023 event.

Already this year, the festival has unveiled its first five movies, spanning titles from the US, France, Germany and Poland. The full program is still to come, ahead of the fest's run from July–September around Aotearoa; however, it now has 12 local efforts on offer as well.

Topping the list is Bad Behaviour, the feature directorial debut of actor-turned-filmmaker Alice Englert (You Won't Be Alone) starring Jennifer Connelly (Top Gun: Maverick). Following a former child actor (Connelly) with a stunt-performer daughter (Englert), it debuted at Sundance, and will enjoy its first NZ screenings at NZIFF.

Among the dozen titles, nine will make their world premiere on home turf, including Tom Sainsbury's Loop Track, Haydn Butler's Home Kills, Michael Duignan's The Paragon and Rebecca Tansley's The Strangest of Angels. The first charts a four-day tramp through the New Zealand bush, and an anxious man (also Sainsbury) who might be being followed, while the second is a dark comedy about two brothers trying to save their butchery business by switching their products. In Duignan's feature debut, viewers are in for a cosmic comedy-horror, with the victim of a hit and run becoming a psychic. And Tansley's contribution is a NZ Opera film, and takes inspiration from events in the life of New Zealand writer Janet Frame.

Five documentaries also sit on the world-premiere list — and it's an eclectic bunch. Ms Information focuses on microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles, Red Mole: A Romance hones in on the titular NZ theatre troupe, and music doco King Loser is all about the 90s band. Then there's Grant Sheehan: Light, Ghosts and Dreams, focusing on its namesake, especially as he heads around Aotearoa and the globe. And, in Building Bridges: Bill Youren's Vision of Peace, viewers will witness footage shot by a New Zealand farmer travelling to communist China in 1952 on his 8mm camera.

Rounding out the NZ titles for now are Tiki Taane in Session with CSO, the film of the dub musician's one-off performance with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra — and 1993 drama Bread and Roses, which adapts activist Sonja Davies' autobiography.

Grant Sheehan

Thanks to all of the above movies and the still-to-be-announced rest of 2023's slate, this year's NZIFF is back in a big way, and will ramp 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.

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.