Whanau Marama: New Zealand International Film Festival 2021

Overview

Despite being cancelled in Auckland due to Level 3 lockdown restrictions, this year's New Zealand International Film Festival is finally in full swing across the rest of the country. 

The full Whānau Mārama: NZIFF program is playing in cinemas throughout Aotearoa across November, after the Christchurch leg of the festival opened on Friday, October 29 and screenings in Wellington kicked off on Thursday, November 4. 

You're probably familiar with some of the heavy-hitting highlights showing at the festival, including Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch, Maggie Gyllenhaal's award-winning adaptation of Elena Ferrante's The Lost Daughter and Jane Campion's potential Oscar contender The Power of the Dog. 

Other standouts include Jasmila Zbanic's Quo Vadis, Aida?, as well as Berlinale-winning Romanian flick Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn. 

All cinemas presenting sessions during the festival will be operating under Alert Level 2 conditions. 

Festival Director Marten Rabarts said in a statement cancelling the festival in Tāmaki Makaurau was a "big blow" that impacted arts and culture organisations around the country. 

"We are delighted that even at level 2 we can screen our outstanding 2021 programme to Wellingtonians in a safe environment this November," he said.