Subgenre Sampler

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Bad Behaviour (2023): Dir. Alice Englert
Feat. Jennifer Connelly, Alice Englert, Ben Whishaw…; Jennifer Connelly gives a committed performance as a former child actor who seeks enlightenment at a retreat in Oregon while navigating a…
Red, White and Brass (2023): Dir. Damon Fepulea’i
Feat. John-Paul Foliaki, Haanz Fa’avae-Jackson, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi…; John–Paul Foliaki leads a lovable ensemble cast in this joyous, uplifting comedy set in the Tongan community of Te…
Uproar (2023): Dir. Paul Middleditch, Hamish Bennett
Feat. Julian Dennison, Rhys Darby, Minnie Driver…; Set in Dunedin in 1981, a rugby–obsessed country is divided over the arrival of the South African Springboks team, sparking nationwide…
Gloriavale (2022): Dir. Fergus Grady, Noel Smyth; A moving exposé of human exploitation in our own backyard, which continues within the infamous Gloriavale Christian Community on the West Coast of…
Mister Organ (2022): Dir. David Farrier; A real–life game of cat–and–mouse ensues when Kiwi journalist and film–maker David Farrier ("Tickled") tries to hold an…
Muru (2022): Dir. Tearepa Kahi
Feat. Cliff Curtis, Jay Ryan, Manu Bennett…; A riveting local action–thriller that boldly fictionalizes events surrounding the Nga Tuhoe raids of 2007. Our finest actor Cliff Curtis…
Nude Tuesday (2022): Dir. Armagan Ballantyne
Feat. Jackie Van Beek, Damon Herriman, Jemaine Clement…; A full–frontal body and sex–positive farce performed entirely in a made–up “gibberish” language (and then subtitled later by…
Whetu Marama – Bright Star (2022): Dir. Toby Mills, Aideen O’Sullivan; The inspiring story of Sir Hekenukumai Ngaiwi Puhipi, aka Hek Busby, the Maori navigator and waka builder who was a key figure in reviving…
Whina (2022): Dir. James Napier Robertson, Paula Jones
Feat. Miriama McDowell, Rena Owen, Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne…; A biopic of the trailblazing female Maori leader, Dame Whina Cooper, whose extraordinary life saw her break gender boundaries, champion innovation,…
Coming Home in the Dark (2021): Dir. James Ashcroft
Feat. Miriama McDowell, Erik Thomson, Daniel Gillies…; Not for the faint of heart, this Kiwi thriller is confrontingly grim yet takes the psycho–killer genre into thematic territory it rarely…
Cousins (2021): Dir. Ainsley Gardiner, Briar Grace-Smith
Feat. Tanea Heke, Ana Scotney, Te Raukura Gray…; Powerful Kiwi drama from the directors of WARU, following the intertwining lives of three Maori women who are cousins. While one of them is…
James & Isey (James and Isey) (2021): Dir. Florian Habicht; Kiwi director Florian Habicht's deeply moving tribute to Northland life and aroha in the form of a documentary portrait of Isey and her son James,…
Justice of Bunny King, The (2021): Dir. Gaysorn Thavat
Feat. Essie Davis, Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie, Amelie Baynes…; A single mother takes on the bureaucracy of NZ social services in this hard hitting drama, an impressive feature debut of director Gaysorn…
Poppy (2021): Dir. Linda Niccol
Feat. Libby Hunsdale, Ari Boyland, Seb Hunter…; Endearing Kiwi drama about an ambitious teenager who aspires to be a car mechanic despite the hurdles – which include her protective brother…
Baby Done (2020): Dir. Curtis Vowell
Feat. Rose Matafeo, Matthew Lewis, Emily Barclay…; Appealing Kiwi comedy with award–winning stand–up comedian Rose Matafeo playing a reluctant soon–to–be parent in a state of…
Girl on the Bridge, The (2020): Dir. Leanne Pooley; A brave and heart–wrenching documentary breaking the silence around New Zealand's mental health crisis, from the perspective of suicide…
Reunion (2020): Dir. Jake Mahaffy
Feat. Julia Ormond, Emma Draper, John Bach…; Beautifully–lensed NZ horror shot in a grand old mansion in Lower Hutt, following an academic studying black magic (Emma Draper, DAFFODILS) who…
Savage (2020): Dir. Sam Kelly
Feat. Jake Ryan, John Tui, Chelsie Preston-Crayford; Powerful drama inspired by the history of NZ's gangs, following a young boy in three different stages of life from the 1960's to the 1980's, as he…
Six60: Till The Lights Go Out (2020): Dir. Julia Parnell; Documentary tracking the extraordinary local success of Kiwi band Six60, who started off as students living in 660 Castle Street in Dunedin, and went…
Sounds, The (TV Mini-series) (2020): Dir. Peter Stebbings
Feat. Matt Whelen, Rachelle Lefevre, Matt Nable…; Kiwi mystery drama series from writer Sarah–Kate Lynch (800 WORDS), about a Canadian couple who move to the Pelorus Sound / Te Hoiere region in…
This Town (2020): Dir. David White
Feat. Robyn Malcolm, Alice May Connolly, David White…; Goofy small–town NZ rom–com about a socially awkward man (played by writer–director David White) who finds unlikely romance despite…
Alien Addiction (2019): Dir. Shae Sterling
Feat. Jimi Jackson, JoJo Waaka, Thomas Sainsbury; Goofball Kiwi comedy starring internet comedy sensations Tom Sainsbury and Jimi Jackson, the latter of whom plays a man from small town Waikato who…
Bellbird (2019): Dir. Hamish Bennett
Feat. Marshall Napier, Cohen Holloway, Annie Whittle; Charming and quietly restrained comedy drama set on a Northland NZ dairy farm, where a third generation farm owner struggles to cope with the loss of…
Births, Deaths & Marriages (2019): Dir. Beatrice Joblin
Feat. Geraldine Brophy, Tess Jamieson-Karaha, Sophie Hambleton…; A cancelled wedding in Upper Hutt in 1994 sets the scene for this chaotic yet surprisingly deft domestic farce made on a credit–card…
Blue Moon (2019): Dir. Stefen Harris
Feat. Mark Hadlow, Jed Brophy, Olivia Hadlow; Shot on entirely on an iphone in and around a Motueka petrol station, this twisty thriller from enterprising indie Mainlander Stefen Harris follows a…
Brown Boys (2019): Dir. Hans Masoe
Feat. Hans Masoe, Lagi Farani; A comedic coming–of–age film about six Samoan men (Peter the Player, Kiligi the Bad Influence, Magele the Tough Guy, Luka the Drunken…
Camino Skies (2019): Dir. Fergus Grady, Noel Smyth; A Kiwi take on the inspirational experience of six pilgrims who embark on the historic 800 kilometre Spanish pilgrimage known as the Camino de…
Capital in the Twenty-First Century (2019): Dir. Justin Pemberton; NZ filmmaker Justin Pemberton astutely adapts the bestselling book of the same name by French economist Thomas Piketty, which tells the story of 400…
Daffodils (2019): Dir. David Stubbs
Feat. Rose McIver, George Mason, Kimbra; Ambitious screen musical based on the stageplay of same name that threads a bittersweet romantic narrative over several decades through a setlist of…
Dan Carter - A Perfect 10 (2019): Dir. Luke Mellows; An intimate portrait of iconic All Black Dan Carter that traces his journey from rural New Zealand to international rugby superstar.
For My Father's Kingdom (2019): Dir. Vea Mafileo, Jeremiah Tauamiti; Director Vea Mafile'o crafts this deeply personal documentary portrait of her father, a Tongan patriarch whose dedication to pouring large amounts of…
Herbs - Songs of Freedom (2019): Dir. Tearepa Kahi; Passionate celebration of the iconic NZ band Herbs, from the director of POI E. More a social movement than a band, and at one time boasting up to 23…
Hillary: Ocean to Sky (2019): Dir. Michael Dillon; Director Mike Dillon revisits his original footage of Sir Edmund Hillary's extraordinary 1977 adventure boating up the entire Ganges river, which…
Killer Sofa (My Lover, My Lazy Boy) (2019): Dir. Bernardo Rao
Feat. Jed Brophy, jordan rivers, Nathalie Morris…; Endearing Kiwi B–movie about a reclining chair that becomes smitten with a young woman and begins committing crimes of passion. It's up to a…
Lowdown Dirty Criminals (2019): Dir. Paul Murphy
Feat. James Rolleston, Samuel Austin, Robbie Magasiva…; Kiwi crime caper set in Wellington, with likeably formless best buddies Freddy (James Rolleston, THE BREAKER UPPERERS) and Marvin (newcomer Samuel…
Mosley (2019): Dir. Kirby Atkins; Locally animated adventure about a family of four–legged “Thoriphants”, intelligent creatures with the ability to speak like humans but who…
Soldiers Without Guns (2019): Dir. Will Watson; A quite remarkable tale of a team of coalition soldiers who, in 1997, landed into the heat of a 10–year civil war on the Pacific Island of…
Take Home Pay (2019): Dir. Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa; New Zealand–set Samoan action comedy from the director of THREE WISE COUSINS and HIBISCUS AND RUTHLESS, following a man who hires a wannabe…
The Chills: The Triumph & Tragedy of Martin Phillipps (2019): Dir. Julia Parnell; An absolutely unflinching portrait of the genius New Zealand songwriter Martin Phillipps whose band The Chills exemplified the "Dunedin Sound" with…
Vai (2019): Dir. Becs Arahanga, Amberley Jo Aumua, Matasila Freshwater
Feat. Evotia-Rose Araiti, Ro Mereani Adi Tuimatanisiga, Agnes Pele…; Eight connecting moments of seemingly different lives thread together Vai’s journey of empowerment through culture over her lifetime. Beautifully…
Angie (2018): Dir. Costa Botes; Documentary exploring the legacy of sexual abuse in New Zealand's Centerpoint commune, through the eyes of articulate survivor Angie Meiklejohn and…
Bad Seed, The (TV Mini-series) (2018): Dir. Helena Brooks
Feat. Dean O'Gorman, Matt Minto, Madeleine Sami…; Four–part New Zealand crime series based on the books by Charlotte Grimshaw telling the story of two brothers from a dysfunctional family with…
Breaker Upperers, The (2018): Dir. Madeleine Sami, Jackie Van Beek
Feat. Madeleine Sami, Jackie Van Beek, James Rolleston…; Madeleine Sami and Jackie Van Beek write, direct and star in this frisky and flat–out hilarious Kiwi comedy as heart–burned pals who form…
Broken (2018): Dir. Tarry Mortlock
Feat. Josh Calles, Ruby Grubb, Wayne Hapi; Logan, an ex–gang leader, is torn between revenge and reconciliation when his daughter Tori is murdered by an opposing gang. Set in an isolated…
Celia (2018): Dir. Amanda Millar; Inspiring documentary written, directed and produced by former TV current affairs journalist Amanda Millar, which follows the career of Celia…
Field Guide to Evil, The (2018): Dir. Peter Strickland, Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala; The brainchild of Kiwi Ant "Incredibly Strange" Timpson, who follows his ABC's OF DEATH anthology productions with a like–minded venture into…
Guns Akimbo (2018): Dir. Jason Lei Howden
Feat. Daniel Radcliffe, Samara Weaving, Ned Dennehy…; Daniel Radcliffe plays a nerdy video game developer who tries to save his ex–girlfriend from kidnappers while competing in an illegal…
Heart Dances, The (2018): Dir. Rebecca Tansley; The director of CROSSING RACHMANINOFF returns backstage for what is this time a behind–the–scenes account of the unique artistic…
Hibiscus & Ruthless (2018): Dir. Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa
Feat. Suivai Pilisipi Autagavaia, Anna-Maree Thomas; A bolder but no less charming sophomore effort from the writer–director of THREE WISE COUSINS, following a young Samoan woman who is starting…
In the Zone (2018): Dir. Robyn Paterson; Documentary about American Terrance Wallace who pioneered a scheme to strategically re–zone the families of disadvantaged Maori and Pasifika…
Mega Time Squad (2018): Dir. Tim van Dammen
Feat. Anton Tennet, Jonathan Brugh, Milo Cawthorne…; Ingenious low–budget sci–fi comedy set in the tiny North Island town of Thames, New Zealand in which a small–town criminal finds an…
Mortal Engines (2018): Dir. Christian Rivers
Feat. Hera Hilmar, Hugo Weaving, Robert Sheehan; Peter Jackson produced fantasy epic set in a post–apocalyptic future, where cities survive by moving around on giant wheels and devouring…
Old Dog (2018): Dir. Sally Rowe; Retired New Zealand farmer and dog whisperer Paul Sorenson is the focus of this documentary exploring his unconventional and intuitive dog training…
She Shears (2018): Dir. Jack Nicol; A documentary about the minority of women who belong to NZ's shearing industry, following 4 female shearers who are preparing for Golden Shears, the…
Stray (2018): Dir. Dustin Feneley
Feat. Kieran Charnock, Arta Dobroshi; Moody, taciturn local drama in which two damaged strangers cross paths in mountainous Central Otago.
The Pacific: In the Wake of Captain Cook with Sam Neill (2018): Feat. Sam Neill; 250 years after Captain James Cook began his epic exploration of the Pacific, Sam Neill journeys in the wake, uncovering stories that resonate from…
They Shall Not Grow Old (2018): Dir. Peter Jackson; Ground–breaking documentary that employs state–of–the–art technology to transform audio and moving image archive footage to…
Wellington Paranormal (TV Series) (2018): Dir. Jemaine Clement, Jackie Van Beek
Feat. Karen O’Leary, Mike Minogue, Maaka Pohatu; An inspired spin–off TV series from WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS that expands the role of lovably clueless police officers O'Leary and Minogue…
6 Days (Six Days) (2017): Dir. Toa Fraser
Feat. Jamie Bell, Mark Strong, Abbie Cornish…; Kiwi filmmaker Toa Fraser helms this hostage thriller that faithfully recreates the siege of the Iranian Embassy in London, 1980.
Born Racer: The Scott Dixon Story (2017): Dir. Bryn Evans; Portrait of 5–time Indy Car world champion, New Zealander Scott "Iceman" Dixon. Provides a unique glimpse into the world of motor sport with…
Changeover, The (2017): Dir. Stuart McKenzie, Miranda Harcourt
Feat. Erana James, Timothy Spall, Melanie Lynskey…; Maragret Mahy's beloved fantasy romance novel is translated into a post–earthquake Christchurch setting, and marks an impressive debut from…
Gary of the Pacific (2017): Dir. Jarrod Holt, Ryan Hutchings, Nigel McCulloch
Feat. Josh Thomson, Megan Stevenson; Shot in Raratonga, a struggling real estate agent becomes the chief of his family's sinking Pacific Island, which complicates his plans to give his…
Human Traces (2017): Dir. Nic Gorman
Feat. Sophie Henderson, Mark Mitchinson, Vinnie Bennett…; When a mysterious young man arrives on a remote Sub–Antarctic research station, secrets threaten the relationship of a married couple working…
Kiwi Christmas (2017): Dir. Tony Simpson
Feat. Luca Andrews, June Bishop; Fed up with the materialism of Christmas, Santa runs away to New Zealand for a summer holiday. When two Kiwi kids figure out who he is, they have to…
Kobi (2017): Dir. Andrea Bosshard, Shane Loader; A loving portrait of Swiss goldsmith Kobi Bosshard, widely regarded as the grandfather of contemporary NZ jewellery, made by his daughter, filmmaker…
McLaren (2017): Dir. Roger Donaldson; After THE WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN, director Roger Donaldson tributes another Kiwi hero of motorsport, Bruce McLaren, for this elegant documentary…
My Year With Helen (2017): Dir. Gaylene Preston; With unique access to high–ranking candidate Helen Clark, filmmaker Gaylene Preston casts a wry eye on proceedings as the United Nations turns…
No Ordinary Sheila (2017): Dir. Hugh MacDonald; The immensely inspiring life–story of one Sheila Natusch, nonagenarian natural historian, mountain climber, intrepid cyclist and publisher of…
One Thousand Ropes (O Le Tulafale) (2017): Dir. Tusi Tamasese
Feat. Frankie Adams, Uelese Pataia, Beulah Koale…; A Samoan father and traditional healer reconnects with his estranged daughter in this quietly powerful drama shot in Wellington, by the director of…
Pecking Order (2017): Dir. Slavko Martinov; Members of the Christchurch Poultry, Bantam and Pigeon Club prepare for the NZ National Championships in this hilarious, heartwarming slice of Kiwi…
Pork Pie (2017): Dir. Matt Murphy
Feat. Dean O'Gorman, James Rolleston, Ashleigh Cummings…; Geoff Murphy's beloved and iconic New Zealand road movie is given a souped–up and delightfully witty make–over by his son, Matt Murphy,…
Spookers (2017): Dir. Florian Habicht; A delightfully surprising documentary feature about an Auckland "scream park" called Spookers that provides brave hordes of paying customers with the…
Waru (2017): Dir. Briar Grace-Smith, Casey Kaa, Ainsley Gardiner
Feat. Miriama McDowell, Tanea Heke, Kararaina Rangihau…; An outstanding and confronting film exploring the subject of domestic child abuse in New Zealand. Eight female Maori directors have each…
Yellow is Forbidden (2017): Dir. Pietra Brettkelly; Simply stunning fashion documentary from New Zealand director Pietra Brettkelly that swirls around the beguiling personality of Guo Pei, a dynamic…
Catch, The (2016): Dir. Simon Mark-Brown
Feat. Tainui Tukiwaho, David Capstick , Nicol Munro; Based on a true story, this good–hearted eco–comedy celebrates fishing culture as fraud unfolds during an angling contest amidst the…
Chronesthesia (2016): Dir. Hayden J. Weal
Feat. Hayden J. Weal, Michelle Ny, Cohen Holloway…; Indie rom–com with a curious time–shifting twist in which a socially isolated young man's burgeoning romance with a science student is…
Free Man, The (2016): Dir. Toa Fraser; Kiwi filmmaker Toa Fraser examines the life of world–champion freestyle skier Jossi Wells, who travels and trains with a troupe of…
Girl vs. Boy (TV Series) (2016): Feat. Will Robertson, Emma Draper, Courtney Abbot; Kiwi romantic whodunit set in "The Bay", where an amateur detective takes it upon herself to solve the mystery behind the divisions in her tight knit…
Great Maiden's Blush, The (2016): Dir. Andrea Bosshard, Shane Loader
Feat. Miriama McDowell, Renee Lyons; A precarious friendship develops between two first–time single mothers – one a taxi–driver and girl racer, the other a pianist and…
heART of the matter, The (2016): Dir. Luit Bieringa; A valuable historical documentary tracing the remarkable shifts in educational philosophy in New Zealand during the post WWII years, in which…
Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016): Dir. Taika Waititi
Feat. Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata…; A feel–good comic misadventure in which a rebellious city kid and his reluctant foster uncle become subjects of a manhunt after they "go bush"…
Le Ride (2016): Dir. Phil Keoghan
Feat. Phil Keoghan; Bike enthusiast and television personality Phil Keoghan attempts to recreate and ride the famously tough–as–hell route of the original…
Mahana (2016): Dir. Lee Tamahori
Feat. Temuera Morrison, Nancy Brunning, Akuhata Keefe…; Lee Tamahori and Temuera Morrison re–team for this evocative adaptation of Witi Ihimaera's saga of warring families in 1960's New…
Moana (2016): Dir. John Musker, Ron Clements
Feat. Aulii Cravalho, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Jemaine Clement…; An epic CGI Disney adventure about a Polynesian girl who sets sail on a daring ocean voyage to find a home for her people. Features Kiwi voice…
Poi E: The Story of Our Song (2016): Dir. Tearepa Kahi; An aptly feel–good documentary account of the unlikely pop hit that boldly mashed up "Kapa Haka" song tradition and Te Reo Maori lyrics with…
Rehearsal, The (2016): Dir. Alison Maclean
Feat. James Rolleston, Kerry Fox, Alice Englert…; Finely judged adaptation of Eleanor Catton's debut novel follows a young Auckland drama student desperate to impress his tutor, who mines a scandal…
Richie McCaw: Chasing Great (2016): Dir. Justin Pemberton, Michelle Walshe; Intimate documentary follows Richie’s final 365 days leading the All Blacks as the most capped rugby player of all time attempting to…
This Giant Papier-Mache Boulder Is Actually Really Heavy (This Giant Paper Mache Boulder Is Actually Really Heavy) (2016): Dir. Christian Nicolson
Feat. Christian Nicolson, Daniel Pujol; Three nerds are inexplicably plunged into a B–grade sci–fi movie where they must comandeer a rickety old spaceship and find a way to…
Three Wise Cousins (2016): Dir. Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa
Feat. Neil Amituanai, Gloria Blake, Vito Vito…; Affable comedy about a young Samoan man who ventures to his motherland to try and impress his crush who claims she only likes "real" Pacific Island…
Tickled (2016): Dir. David Farrier, Dylan Reeve; Utterly engrossing documentary from Kiwi journo David Farrier, who stumbles into the bizarre world of "competitive tickling" that leads him on an…
Why Am I?: The Science of Us (2016): An internationally lauded four part series that details the findings of a 40–year study by the Otago School of Medicine that follows every baby…
25 April (2015): Dir. Leanne Pooley; An animated take on the tragic 1915 Gallipoli Campaign of WW1 told through the perspective of six New Zealanders who were involved. The voice cast…
800 Words (TV Series) (2015): Feat. Erik Thomson, Michelle Langstone, Jonathan Brugh; From the writers of OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE come this gentle dramedy that follows the travails of a widowed Sydney columnist as he up sticks for life in…
A Flickering Truth (2015): Dir. Pietra Brettkelly; In documenting one man’s precarious quest to restore thousands of hours of film heritage in the post–Taliban Kabul, New Zealand filmmaker…
Act of Kindness (2015): Dir. Costa Botes, Sven Pannell; Charting the ripple effects of real compassion, this inspiring true story follows a spirited young New Zealander’s search for the Rwandan samaritan…
Born to Dance (2015): Dir. Tammy Davis
Feat. Parris Goebel, Stan Walker, Kherington Payne…; Dance phenomenon Parris Goebel and Stan Walker stars in this coming of age tale told through the eyes of 'Tu', an ambitious young man from Auckland…
Crossing Rachmaninoff (2015): Dir. Rebecca Tansley; Absorbing documentary follows aspiring piano soloist Flavio Villani as he prepares Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 for his first orchestral…
Day That Changed My Life, The (2015): Dir. Christopher Dudman; Documentary on the February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch which weaves together extensive interviews to provide a sensitive and personal account of…
Dead Room, The (2015): Dir. Jason Stutter
Feat. Jed Brophy, Jeffrey Thomas, Laura Petersen; A game straight horror effort from DIY Kiwi film–maker Jason Stutter who leaves his comedic impulses at the door for the first time to explore…
Deathgasm (2015): Dir. Jason Lei Howden
Feat. Milo Cawthorne, Kimberley Crossman, James Blake…; Bloody–minded Kiwi horror–comedy has two teenage metal fans stirring up trouble in small–town New Zealand when they accidentally…
Ever the Land (2015): Dir. Sarah Grohnert; Documentary exploring the sublime bond between people and their land through a landmark architectural undertaking by one of New Zealand’s most…
Grand Designs New Zealand (TV Series) (2015-2017): New Zealand iteration of the immensely popular British design show has Wellington architect Chris Moller taking us behind the scenes of some…
Ground We Won, The (2015): Dir. Christopher Pryor; A revealing portrait of contemporary manhood as observed through the rites and rituals of a rural New Zealand rugby club made up of…
Keeping Up With the Kaimanawas (TV Series) (2015): Horsey reality TV show following Northland's Wilson sisters as they tame and train New Zealand's indigenous horses, the endangered Kaimanuwas of the…
Life in the Dead Zone (2015): Dir. Peter Tonks
Feat. Des Morgon, Gabe Page, Chester Dextar…; Shot in Christchurch following the 2011 earthquakes, this creative comedy–mockumentary presents a town overrun by zombies in the wave of a…
Slow West (2015): Dir. John Maclean
Feat. Kodi Smit-McPhee, Michael Fassbender, Ben Mendelsohn…; New Zealand – specifically Twizel – stands in for Colorado in this tense Western that follows a young Scot, whose travels across America…
Thunderbirds are Go! (TV Series) (2015): WETA Workshop lends their skills to this remake of the legendary TV series about the five Tracy brothers pilot remarkable, cutting–edge…
True New Zealand Crime Stories (How to Murder Your Wife; Monster of Mangatiti; Venus and Mars; Bloodlines; Siege) (2015): Dir. Riccardo Pellizzeri, John Laing, Peter Burger
Feat. Mark Mitchinson, Craig Hall, Sara Wiseman…; How to Murder Your Wife: A black comedy based on the true story of Alfred Benning's outlandish attempts to murder his overbearing wife in 1977.…
Turbo Kid (2015): Dir. Francois Simard, Yoann-Karl Whissell, Anouk Whissell
Feat. Munro Chambers, Laurence Leboeuf, Michael Ironside…; Recommended for teens with strong constitutions, this gory post–apocalyptic romp set in a desolate "alternate 1997" follows a comic book fan…
Westside (TV Series) (2015-2019): Feat. Antonia Prebble, David de Lautour, Reef Ireland; A period prequel to OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE. Legendary safe cracker and career criminal, Ted West and his first wife Rita Build their fortune in the slums…
When We Go To War (TV Mini-series) (2015): Feat. Ido Drent, Sophia Huybens; Historical saga that tells the story of six young men and women whose plans for the future are thwarted as New Zealand enters World War I. Events…
Why ANZAC with Sam Neill (Tides of Blood) (2015): Feat. Sam Neill; Sam Neill examines the enduring myths of the Anzac legend, sharing his family's war stories and uncovering forgotten truths. From the Gallipoli…
ABCs of Death 2, The (2014): Dir. Vincenzo Natali, Bill Plympton, Sion Sono; NZ's "enfant terrible" and "Incredibly Strange" Film Festival director Ant Timpson wrangles another 26 genre film directors from all over the globe…
Anzac Girls (TV Mini-series) (2014): Feat. Georgia Flood, Antonia Prebble, Laura Brent; Honouring the centenary of the commencement of World War One, this six–part mini–series is based on true stories of Australian and New…
Aunty & the Star People (Aunty and the Star People) (2014): Dir. Gerard Smyth; The extraordinary story of an unassuming elderly women from Berhampore, Wellington who leads a double life as the famous "Jean Aunty", founder of a…
Broken Hallelujah (2014): Dir. Alastair Riddell
Feat. Vanessa Riddell, Ben Mitchell, Greg Smith; Thoughtful New Zealand drama inspired by Leonard Cohen's iconic song follows three families' intertwining lives.
Brokenwood Mysteries, The (TV Series) (2014-2017): Feat. Neill Rea, Fern Sutherland; A local stab at the ever popular murder mystery genre with this Kiwiana policier featuring two mismatched detectives investigating a series of…
Cure, The (2014): Dir. David Gould
Feat. Antonia Prebble, Stephen Lovatt, John Bach…; An American–accented medical thriller in which Antonia Prebble plays a scientist who discovers that the pharmaceutical company she works for is…
Dark Horse, The (2014): Dir. James Napier Robertson
Feat. Cliff Curtis, James Rolleston, Kirk Torrance…; Cliff Curtis turns in a magnificent performance in this accomplished and powerful story of speed chess champion Genesis Potini, his battles with…
Dead Lands, The (2014): Dir. Toa Fraser
Feat. James Rolleston, Lawrence Makoare, Te Kohe Tuhaka…; After his tribe is slaughtered through an act of treachery, a Maori chieftain's son, must avenge his father's murder in order to bring peace and…
Erebus: Operation Overdue (2014): Dir. Peter Burger; The tragic yet compelling story of Air New Zealand's doomed DC–10 which crashed into Antarctica's Mount Erebus in 1979.
Hip Hop-eration (2014): An utterly delightful character–driven documentary that tells the humorous, heartfelt and life–affirming story of an elderly Waiheke…
Hobbit, The - Battle of Five Armies (2014): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage…; Spectacular concluding chapter of the trilogy has Bilbo and company forced to engage in a war against an array of combatants and keep the Lonely…
Hope and Wire (TV Mini-Series) (2014): Dir. Gaylene Preston
Feat. Rachel House, Joel Tobeck, Chelsie Preston-Crayford…; Gaylene Preston directs this contentious, though humanly compelling medley of stories based on first–hand accounts of the direct aftermath of…
Housebound (2014): Dir. Gerard Johnstone
Feat. Morgana O’Reilly, Rima Te Wiata, Glen-Paul Waru…; A home detainee is forced to move back into her old family house where she grapples with her neurotic mother and supernatural disturbances. A…
Nancy Wake: Gestapo's Most Wanted (2014): The heroics of Wellington–born Nancy Wake, aka 'The White Mouse', are given a pulpy treatment in this doco–drama celebrating the famed…
Nigel Latta (TV Series) (2014): Clinical psychologist Nigel Latta goes in–depth on some of the most urgent problems facing New Zealand society today in this confronting…
Our Big Blue Backyard (TV Series) (Wild South: Our Big Blue Backyard) (2014): From Northland to Stewart Island, this 6 part series explores the colourful and varied fauna within New Zealand's unique marine environments.
Pa Boys, The (2014): Dir. Himiona Grace; A small, nicely formed road movie of following a three–piece Wellington reggae band as they tour the North Island. At its heart a celebration…
Pirates of the Airwaves (2014): A docudrama on the story of Radio Hauraki, which rocked the state–monopolised airwaves in the sixties as a pirate radio station aboard a ship…
Short Poppies (TV Series) (2014): Feat. Rhys Darby, David Farrier, Josh Thomson; Rhys Darby plays multiple characters in this mock–umentary series in which journalist David Farrier goes on a trek around small town New…
Songs from the Inside (2014): Filmed on location inside two prisons in Auckland. This ten part "reality" series offers inmates an opportunity to write, arrange and record original…
Step Dave (TV Series) (2014): Feat. Sia Trokenheim, Jono Kenyon, Tania Nolan…; Bright, punchy Kiwi sitcom about the up–and–down relationship between a 20–something slacker and the woman of his dreams – a…
Topp Country (TV Series) (2014): Lynda and Jools Topp hit the road for this food flavoured tiki tour of New Zealand.
What We Do in the Shadows (2014): Dir. Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement
Feat. Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, Jonathan Brugh…; Follow the lives of Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav – three flatmates who are just trying to get by and overcome life’s obstacles, like being…
Antarctica - A Year on Ice (2013): Dir. Anthony Powell; A superb, multi–faceted insider's chronicle of life on the Earth's formidable southern pole that masterfully captures both the environmental…
Beyond the Edge (2013): Dir. Leanne Pooley
Feat. Chad Moffitt, Sonam Sherpa; Thrilling, definitive docu–drama on Sir Edmund Hillary's historic 1953 scaling of Everest with sherpa Tenzing Norgay.
Blue Rose, The (TV Series) (2013): Feat. Antonia Prebble, Siobhan Marshall, Jennifer Ludlam; An inquisitive office temp (Prebble) learns that the woman she is replacing in a law firm has been murdered, and becomes obsessed with solving the…
Edwin: My Life as a Koont (2013): Dir. Jason Stutter
Feat. Bryce Campbell, Jessica Grace Smith, David Fane…; Jason Stutter (TONGAN NINJA) directs this irreverant and frequently funny Kiwi comedy about a "koontz–syndrome" sufferer who attempts to stage…
Eternity (2013): Dir. Alex Galvin
Feat. Elliot Travers, Amy Tsang, Geraldine Brophy; In the near future, a police detective is investigating the most difficult case of his career – the seemingly impossible locked–room…
Fantail (2013): Dir. Curtis Vowell
Feat. Sophie Henderson, Stephen Lovatt, Jarod Rawiri; A fine small–scale New Zealand drama following the life of a young Pakeha woman who identifies as a Maori as she works graveyard shift at a…
Gardening With Soul (2013): Dir. Jess Feast; Heart–swelling documentary on Sister Loyola Galvin, a 90–year–old stalwart of Island Bay's Home of Compassion who offers pearls of…
Ghost Bride (2013): Dir. David Blyth
Feat. Yoson An, Rebekah Palmer, Fiona Feng…; A Chinese ghost story set in Auckland from Kiwi horror auteur David Blyth centred on a tabooed romance between a Chinese immigrant and a caucasian…
Giselle (2013): Dir. Toa Fraser; While the Met Opera and National Theatre have established international brands and reputations to lead them, Toa Fraser’s GISELLE has something…
Golden Hour, The (2013): Superb 'Sunday Theatre' docu–drama relives the inspirational story behind New Zealand's greatest–ever day at the Olympics, in which…
Harry (TV Series) (2013): Feat. Oscar Kightley, Sam Neill, Hunter Kamuhemu…; Oscar Kightley plays a grieving South Auckland detective swamped by a series of armed robberies in this dark, authentic local policier, a welcome…
Hot Air (2013): Dir. Abi King-Jones, Alister Barry; Is it possible for a small democratic nation to address the greatest political challenge of the age? That is the question posed by this timely…
Mt. Zion (2013): Dir. Tearepa Kahi
Feat. Stan Walker, Temuera Morrison, Miriama Smith; Singer Stan Walker plays a humble potato picker who dreams of performing the opening act to Bob Marley and the Wailers’ 1979 Auckland concert, in…
New Zealand From Above (2013): A stunning, high–definition aerial history of New Zealand taking in the country's many and varied landscapes and iconic locations.
Romeo and Juliet: A Love Song (2013): Dir. Tim van Dammen
Feat. Derya Parlak, Christopher Landon; The Bard's most iconic play is performed with colloquial gusto in this inventive musical transposing of the tale of star–crossed lovers to an…
Shopping (2013): Dir. Louis Sutherland, Mark Albiston
Feat. Kevin Paulo, Julian Dennison, Jacek Koman…; Set in 1981, this lyrical coming–of–age drama charts the self–discovery of a half–Samoan teen who escapes his volatile father…
Skeptics - Sheen of Gold (2013): Dir. Simon Ogston; Essential documentary on the legacy of the Skeptics, an innovative and controversial Kiwi post–punk band best known for their notorious…
Top of the Lake (TV Series) (2013): Dir. Jane Campion, Gerard Lee
Feat. Elisabeth Moss, Peter Mullan, David Wenham…; An unnerving, atmosphere–rich 'feminist' policier from Australasian auteur Jane Campion, centred on the mystery of a 12–year–old…
Weight of Elephants, The (2013): Dir. Daniel Borgman
Feat. Demos Murphy, Angelina Cottrell, Matthew Sunderland; Operating on a deep level, Daniel Borgman’s [debut] film prioritises what goes on under the surface almost to the complete exclusion of plot.…
White Lies (2013): Dir. Dana Rotberg
Feat. Whirimako Black, Rachel House, Antonia Prebble…; Witi Ihimaera's novella 'Medicine Woman' forms the basis of this rich period drama about a Maori healer who is approached by a wealthy woman to help…
Wiki The Kiwi (2013): Beautifully crafted show specifically for kiwi children about two very different friends, Wiki the Kiwi, a bird who cannot fly and his best friend…
Wild About New Zealand (TV Series) (2013): This stunning Wild South venture, clearly inspired by the BBC's Natural History unit, follows adventurer Gus Roxburgh into the heart of New Zealand's…
ABCs of Death, The (2012): Dir. Nacho Vigalondo, Marcel Sarmiento, Angela Bettis; Twenty–six directors, each assigned a letter of the alphabet, combine blood with creativity in this scatterbrained anthology of five minute…
First Crossings (TV Series) (2012): This rugged adventure series literally retraces the steps of New Zealand's pioneer explorers in the intrepid, no–holds–barred style of…
Fresh Meat (2012): Dir. Danny Mulheron
Feat. Temuera Morrison, Nicola Kawana, Hanna Tevita…; A cannibal comedy with a Maori twist, this spirited romp throws various genres into its gory blender when a gang of criminals accidentally invade the…
Golden (TV Series) (2012): Feat. Lucy Schmidt, Joel Tobeck, Jesse Griffin…; The Olympic spirit makes for comedy gold in this Kiwi sitcom about a washed up former rowing world champion who's determined to make a comeback,…
Good for Nothing (2012): Dir. Mike Wallis
Feat. Cohen Holloway, Inge Rademeyer, Jon Pheloung…; A convincingly mounted 'Pavlova Western' homegrown in New Zealand but set in the traditional American west, about a nameless outlaw's misguided…
Hobbit, The - An Unexpected Journey (2012): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage…; Peter Jackson returns to Middle Earth with this epic first chapter in The Hobbit saga, which follows Bilbo Baggins' quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf…
Hounds (TV Series) (2012): Feat. Toby Sharpe, Susana Tang, Mick Innes…; Quirky kiwi comedy concerns the mis–adventures of a lawyer who inherits both a twelve year old half–sister and a share in a racing…
How Far is Heaven (2012): Dir. Christopher Pryor, Miriam Smith; A genuine triumph. Directors Christopher Pryor and Miriam Smith deftly compare the lives of the Sisters of Compassion (only three resident at the…
How to Meet Girls from a Distance (2012): Dir. Dean Hewison
Feat. Richard Falkner, Scarlet Hemingway, Jonathan Brugh…; A "peeping–tom rom–com" with Richard Falkner surprisingly relatable as a well–intentioned stalker determined to woo the girl of his…
Intersexion (2012): Dir. Grant Lahood; New Zealand's first 'out' intersex person, Mani Bruce Mitchell, reaches out to other intersexuals around the world in this a frank exploration of the…
Kea: Mountain Parrot (2012): Wild South documentary takes a closer look at New Zealand's notorious native mountain bird, famous for its mischievous behaviour, but less known as a…
Kiwi Flyer (2012): Dir. Tony Simpson
Feat. Edward Hall, Tikirau Hathaway, Tandi Wright…; Amiable family fun follows twelve–year old Ben as he sets out to win Nelson's annual trolley derby, but he's up against some stiff Aussie…
Last Ocean, The (2012): Dir. Peter Young; Sobering environmental documentary on the depletion of marine life in the Antarctic's Ross Sea, which factors as part of an international movement to…
Margaret Mahy's Rumbustifications (2012): This magical blend of animation and live storytelling finds the late Margaret Mahy reciting five stories and eleven poems to her grandchildren and…
Most Fun You Can Have Dying, The (2012): Dir. Kirstin Marcon
Feat. Matt Whelan, Roxane Mesquida, Pana Hema Taylor…; Sultry youth drama from first–time feature dir. Kirstin Marcon about a terminally ill young man who absconds overseas with the money raised for…
Mr. Pip (2012): Dir. Andrew Adamson
Feat. Hugh Laurie, Florence Korokoro, Eka Darville…; In a remote Bougainville village, isolated by a rebellion over self–determination and mineral rights, the only remaining white man (Hugh…
Politically Incorrect Guide to Grown Ups, The (2012): Psychologist Nigel Latta's third installment in his popular 'politically incorrect' series turns the spotlight on the adults and the complexities of…
Red House, The (2012): Dir. Alyx Duncan; A breakthrough for New Zealand's fledgling art cinema, this impressive first feature finds a beguiling middle ground between fiction and documentary…
Safe House (2012): Feat. Errol Shand, Peter Elliot, Morgana O’Reilly…; The infancy of witness protection in New Zealand is given a suspenseful retelling in this quality feature–length production from TVNZ's Sunday…
Shackleton's Captain (2012): Dir. Leanne Pooley
Feat. Craig Parker; The Endurance's ship captain, Frank Worsley, is given the spotlight in this searing reenactment of Ernest Shackleton’s troubled expedition to the…
Shihad: Beautiful Machine (2012): Dir. Sam Peacocke; A dignified and highly satisfying chronicle of the iconic Kiwi rockers, brimming with revealing anecdotes about the band's fight with fame, the…
Siege (2012): Feat. Mark Mitchinson, Joel Tobeck, Kirk Torrance; Napier's recent siege crisis in which small–time cannabis grower Jan Molenaar barricaded himself in his home after shooting a Senior Constable…
Sione's 2: Unfinished Business (2012): Dir. Simon Bennett
Feat. Oscar Kightley, Robbie Magasiva, Shimpal Lelisi…; The Samonan larrikins of SIONE'S WEDDING return for this laddish sequel where one of their own goes missing.
Two Little Boys (2012): Dir. Robert Sarkies
Feat. Bret McKenzie, Hamish Blake, Maaka Pohatu…; Set in the early 90's, this Kiwi "mullet" comedy follows the arrested development of two 'bogan' mates whose situation and relationship goes…
West of Memphis (2012): Dir. Amy Berg; Documentarian Amy Berg, with crucial the backing of Peter Jackson, investigates the crime, arrest, and long legal campaign to free the ‘West…
What Really Happened: Votes for Women (2012): Feat. Sara Wiseman, Craig Hall, Stephen Lovatt; Another edifying take on a key turning point in New Zealand history (following What Really Happened: Waitangi), this Sunday Theatre commission…
Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn (2011): Dir. Steven Spielberg
Feat. Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig…; Wellington's Weta Digital work their magic on this rollicking first installment of Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson's 3D animated trilogy of…
Almighty Johnsons, The (TV Series) (2011): Feat. Timothy Balme, Dean O'Gorman, Ben Barrington…; From the creators of Outrageous Fortune, this fantastical series follows the misadventures of four brothers who happen to be the living incarnations…
Billy (2011): Dir. Peter Burger
Feat. Tainui Tukiwaho, Morgana O’Reilly; A sound, praiseworthy biopic of New Zealand's greatest ever comedian, played here by Tainui Tukiwaho with equal parts sobriety and jolly…
Billy T - Te Movie (2011): Dir. Ian Mune
Feat. Billy T. James; Infectious, long overdue documentary celebration of comedy legend Billy T James' career in TV, sketch, and film, and his enduring influence on Kiwi…
Blakey (2011): The legacy of sailing legend and environmental crusader Peter Blake is celebrated in this quality commemorative TVNZ production.
Bliss: The Beginning of Katherine Mansfield (2011): Dir. Fiona Samuel
Feat. Kate Elliot, Sarah Peirse, Peter Elliot…; Revealing portrait of the early years of New Zealand's most celebrated writer Katharine Mansfield, movingly played by Kate Elliot.
Chef on a Mission (TV Series) (2011): Masterchef maestro Simon Gault muscles in on a few Kiwi kitchens set in their way – an offshore gas platform, or a girls bordering school, for…
Curry Munchers (2011): Dir. Cristobal Araus Lobos
Feat. Aunanda Naaido, Alison Titulaer, Ben Mitchell; Knockabout comedy has a young Indian immigrant struggling to catch the attention of kiwi girls.
Daytime Tiger (2011): Dir. Costa Botes; In 1999, NZ writer Michael Morrissey was diagnosed with manic depression, or bi–polar disorder (Morrissey prefers the older term). He has…
Devil's Rock, The (2011): Dir. Paul Campion
Feat. Craig Hall, Matthew Sunderland, Gina Varela…; Kiwi cinema's fondness for zombie–horror vehicles continues with this enterprising homespun production, centred on a pair of New Zealand…
Disappear in Light (2011): A distilled portrait of Wellington playwright and performer Jo Randerson, whose work towards the staging of her play "Good Night, The End" provides…
Food Truck, The (TV Series) (2011): Outgoing Auckland chef Michael Van de Elzen takes on New Zealand's fast–food favourites in this enterprising local series aimed at…
Global Radar (TV Series) (2011): Te Radar seeks out environmental do–gooders both here and abroad in these further 'sustainable adventures' from the intrepid Kiwi comedian.
Hiding Behind the Green Screen (2011): Dir. Paora Joseph; An empowering documentary on the negative impact of marijuana on New Zealand youth, as openly discussed by four young men who are mentored by two…
Hook, Line and Sinker (Hook, Line & Sinker) (2011): Dir. Andrea Bosshard, Shane Loader
Feat. Rangimoana Taylor, Carmel McGlone, Geraldine Brophy; A blue–collar truck driver struggles to cope with his failing eyesight, despite the love and support of his family, in this grassroots gem from…
Inside Child Poverty (2011): Dir. Bryan Bruce; Wellington documentary maker Bryan Bruce investigates the appalling level of child poverty in New Zealand, and travels to Sweden to found out why…
It's Rhys Darby Night! (2011): Feat. Rhys Darby; Post–Concords Darby performs his latest standup act – a redux of his sold out Edinburgh Fringe Festival show about his experience in…
Last Dogs of Winter, The (2011): Dir. Costa Botes; For the past 40 years, in a remote and harshly beautiful corner of northern Manitoba, Brian Ladoon has devoted his life to preserving and breeding an…
Love Birds (2011): Dir. Paul Murphy
Feat. Rhys Darby, Sally Hawkins, Emily Barclay…; Chirpy, engaging Kiwi comedy with Rhys Darby as a recently jilted council worker whose nursing of a wounded duck leads to unexpected romance with…
My Kind of Place (TV Series) (2011): Kiwi celebrities swan around various Australian holiday hotspots for our entertainment in this thinly veiled tourism advertisement for the lucky…
My Wedding and Other Secrets (2011): Dir. Roseanne Liang
Feat. Michelle Ang, Matt Whelan, Kenneth Tsang…; Dir. Roseanne Liang adapts her winning documentary (BANANA IN A NUTSHELL) on the struggle to get her traditional Chinese parents to accept her Kiwi…
Night at the Classic (TV Series) (2011): Feat. Brendhan Lovegrove; Caustic Kiwi comedian Brendhan Lovegrove fronts this clever send–up of the stand–up circuit, where various guests get the chance to…
North (TV Series) (2011): Feat. Marcus Lush; The ever–endearing Marcus Lush follows up his award–winning SOUTH with this typically offbeat traverse of New Zealand's far…
Nothing Trivial (TV Series) (2011): Feat. Shane Cortese, Tandi Wright, Blair Strang…; An agreeable and endearingly performed 'singles' comedy by way of modern day Auckland, centred on the romantic hang ups of five friends who compete…
Operation 8: Deep in the Forest (2011): Dir. Errol Wright, Abi King-Jones; Cohesive and compelling documentary that gives credible voice to the Maori sovereignty and peace activists who were targeted in police raids and…
Orator, The (O le tulafale) (2011): Dir. Tusi Tamasese
Feat. Fiaula Sanote, Tausili Pushparaj; In this superlative Polynesian drama – the first Samoan language feature film – tradition and modernity collide on the island of Upolu, where a…
Personal War, A (The Kiwi Who Saved Britain) (2011): Three short dramatic accounts of war stories as a memorial to all those who have fought and lost their lives for New Zealand as soldiers. THE KIWI…
Primeval New Zealand (TV Series) (2011): Excellent Kiwi–spun series adopts the WALKING WITH DINOSAURS model of prehistoric life reanimated with CGI effects to illuminate us on New…
Rage (Rage1981) (2011): Dir. Danny Mulheron
Feat. Maria Walker, Ryan O’Kane, Paul Harrop…; Vividly–realised telemovie depicting a star–crossed romance against the turbulent and controversial 1981 Springbok Rugby Tour of New…
Rest for the Wicked (2011): Dir. Simon Pattison
Feat. Tony Barry, John Bach, Irene Wood…; Jolly late–life crime–caper with Tony Barry as a former cop who poses undercover as a resident of a retirement village in an effort to…
Rugby World Cup 2011 (2011): For the diehard All Blacks fan, an official review of the team's 2011 Rugby World Cup triumph. Includes highlight's from the side's epic…
Super City (TV Series) (2011): Dir. Taika Waititi
Feat. Madeleine Sami; Award–winning comedy series directed by Taika Waititi and starring the brilliant Madeleine Sami, who alternates between multiple characters all…
Tangiwai: A Love Story (2011): Dir. Charlie Haskell
Feat. Ryan O' Kane, Rose McIver, Miranda Harcourt…; Stirring chronicle of our worst rail disaster in which 151 lives were lost, and the extraordinary events that played out during New Zealand's cricket…
Underbelly - Season 4 (TV Mini-series) (Land of the Long Green Cloud) (2011): Feat. Daniel Musgrove, Damien Avery, Grae Burton…; World famous in New Zealand, drug trafficker Marty Johnstone – aka, Mr. Asia – steals the Underbelly spotlight in this locally made…
When a City Falls (2011): Dir. Gerard Smyth; Heavy–hearted chronicle of the impact of Christchurch’s devastating earthquakes, and on the lives of its resilient citizens.
Wild Coasts (TV Series) (Wild Coasts with Craig Potton) (2011): Photographer Craig Potton continues his exploration of New Zealand's celebrated landscape with this new series dedicated to the nation's rich and…
2010 Fifa World Cup (New Zealand; Highlights; World Cup Final) (2010): The All Whites are All Right in this historic three–match replay (vs. Slovakia, Italy, Paraguay) of New Zealand’s courageous showing at the…
48 Hours 2010 (2010): "48 Hours" is a furious, fun–loving filmmaking competition that consumes New Zealand filmmakers (amateur and occasionally professional) for one…
After the Waterfall (2010): Dir. Simone Horrocks
Feat. Antony Starr, Cohen Holloway, Michelle Langstone…; The debut feature of dir. Simone Horrocks is an intimate portrait of a man's grief as he struggles to put his life back together after the…
Asylum Pieces (2010): Dir. Kathy Dudding; Local filmmaker Kathy Dudding charts New Zealand's cultural and medical attitudes towards mental health and institutionalization, with a movingly…
Bloodlines (2010): Dir. Peter Burger
Feat. Mark Mitchinson, Nathalie Boltt, Craig Hall…; The intimidating Mark Mitchinson plays another hihg–profile Kiwi criminal in this solid tele–movie of South African–born,…
Boy (2010): Dir. Taika Waititi
Feat. Taika Waititi, James Rolleston, Te Aho Aho Eketone-Whitu…; Taika Waititi continues his dream run as director with this fictionalised coming–of–age tale that draws on his own experience growing up…
Butterfly Crush (2010): Dir. Alan Clay
Feat. Courtney Hale, Hayley Fielding, Sally Kelleher; Poppy local drama packed with tunes has the titular song and dance duo thrown into turmoil when one member becomes ensnared in a cult.
Captain Amazingly Incredible and the Space Vampires from the Evil Planet! (2010): Dir. Karl Burnett
Feat. Roy Snow, Nicko Vella, Karl Burnett…; Micro–budgeted comic caper from Shortland Street's Karl Burnett has superhero (and pimper of homeless people) Captain Amazingly Incredible do…
Coasters (TV Series) (2010): HUNGER FOR THE WILD's Al Brown circumnavigates New Zealand's rugged coastline in search of Kiwi characters and spectacular scenery while cooking up a…
Dave Dobbyn - Beside You (30 Years of Hits) (2010): Still going strong after 30 years, New Zealand’s Dave Dobbyn reflects on a career spanning collaborations from Th' Dudes to Bic Runga, songwriting…
Desert (2010): Dir. Stephen Kang
Feat. Jane Kim, Andrew Han; An impressive independent feature from Korean–New Zealand dir. Stephen Kang, whose Auckland–set film observes the quiet desperation of a…
Expedition Antarctica (2010): A team of international marine scientists on board the research vessel PV Tangaroa head for the Ross Sea off the Antarctic Ice Shelf in this battle…
Free China Junk, The (2010): Dir. Robin Greenberg; Dir. Robin Greenberg follows her 2008 documentary HULOO with this toothy, humour–filled yarn, circa 1955, of five Taiwanese fishermen who set…
Gordon Crook: A Life in Art (2010): Dir. Clare O'Leary; Thoughtful, and enlightening portrait of ex–pat British artist Gordon Crook, who since 1972 has called Wellington – and Aro Valley…
Holy Roller, The (2010): Dir. Patrick Gillies; Critically–mauled drama from the director of OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOUR about a debt–ridden preacher who is tricked into starting a church in a…
Home By Christmas (2010): Dir. Gaylene Preston
Feat. Tony Barry, Martin Henderson, Chelsie Preston-Crayford; The director of WAR STORIES returns to the subject for this deeply personal yet affecting docu–drama focusing this time on a single story…
Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell, The (2010): Dir. Brendan Donovan
Feat. William McInnes, Robyn Malcolm, Mia Blake…; Emotionally loaded kiwi comedy centres on a Peter Pan dad with political aspirations and a serious go–karting obsession.
Hugh & Heke (Hugh and Heke) (2010): Dir. Reston Griffiths
Feat. Geoff Dolan, Pete Smith; A jolly grassroots of comedy of dispute, in the tradition of THE WAIMATE CONSPIRACY, about a Pakeha family whose quiet holiday on an isolated beach…
Insatiable Moon, The (2010): Dir. Rosemary Riddell
Feat. Rawiri Paratene, Sara Wiseman, Ian Mune…; Heartfelt local feature has a self–proclaimed son of God setting out to save the world, save his boarding–house, and woo the Queen of…
Kaitangata Twitch (TV Series) (2010): Feat. Te Waimarie Kessell, George Henare; A fine adaptation of Margaret Mahy's novel about a teenager who possesses a strange connection to a mysterious island where a young girl vanished…
Last Paradise (2010): Dir. Clive Neeson; Cinematographer Clive Neeson's poignant, free–spirited documentary on his pioneering adventures in extreme sports.
Leigh Hart's Mysterious Planet (TV Series) (2010): Comedian Leigh "That Guy" Hart fronts this irreverent, ham–fisted send–up of Arthur C Clarke's Mysterious World, visiting various corners…
Loop Select 009 (Kono 2) (2010): Wellington's Loop Recordings present their fifth basket full of music, short films, motion graphics, music videos and live concerts.
Love Story (2010): Dir. Florian Habicht
Feat. Florian Habicht; Ebullient Kiwi filmmaker Florian Habicht creates his own 'New York Story' by turning his camera to a beautiful Russian model and his own creative…
Matariki (2010): Dir. Michael Bennett
Feat. Jason Wu, Susana Tang, Michael Whalley…; A random act of violence affects eight Aucklanders in this melting–pot drama, set on the eve of the Maori New Year. Notable for excellent…
Michael Smither - The Next Ten Years (2010): Dir. Tony Hiles; Intimate two–part documentary following New Zealand artist and musician Michael Smither, as he prepares for his final dealer exhibition and…
Nights in the Gardens of Spain (Kawa) (2010): Dir. Katie Wolfe
Feat. Calvin Tuteao, George Henare, Dean O'Gorman…; Psychological drama of a family man coming to terms with his homosexuality and whose decision to come out plunges his family into crisis. Based on…
Outrageous Fortune (TV Series) - Series 6 (2010): Feat. Robyn Malcolm, Antony Starr, Antonia Prebble…; Explosive final season of the popular NZ series, set around a family of 'Westie' (West Auckland) criminals trying to go straight.
Politically Incorrect Guide to Teenagers, The (2010): The irreverent and provocative Nigel Latta returns with advice on how parents can navigate the pitfalls of raising teenagers.
Predicament (2010): Dir. Jason Stutter
Feat. Jemaine Clement, Heath Franklin, Hayden Frost…; A macabre comic adventure of murder and blackmail in rural Taranaki in the 30's, this follows CAME A HOT FRIDAY, THE SCARECROW and PALLET ON THE…
Radar's Patch (TV Series) (2010): Resourceful comedian Te Radar attempts to create a green backyard both lush in life and sustainable in this amusing and enlightening series.
Rivers (TV Series) (Rivers with Craig Potton) (2010): Striking documentary series follows renowned photographer and conservationist Craig Potton as he traverses along some of our most significant…
Russian Snark (2010): Dir. Stephen Sinclair
Feat. Stephen Papps, Elena Stejko, Stephanie Tauevihi…; A pair of Russian refugees settle in Auckland to make art and a new home in this eccentric yet accessible 'art comedy' from screenwriter and…
Sam Hunt: Purple Balloon and Other Stories (2010): Dir. Tim Rose, Jim Scott; A bluntly honest portrait of New Zealand's most recognisable poet, with conversation by Hunt – along with friends, relatives, and other talking…
Spartacus: Blood and Sand (TV Series) (2010): Feat. Andy Whitfield, John Hannah, Peter Mensah…; Outlandish sword–and–sandal serial features Lucy Lawless and a line–up of Kiwi faces in various states of dismemberment and/or…
Stolen (2010): Dir. Britta Hawkins
Feat. Miriama Smith, Scott Wills, George Henare…; TV thriller based on the real life 2002 kidnapping of Baby Kahu Durie, which saturated NZ media at the time. Held for $3 million ransom, the child…
That's Country (2010): Running for an impressive eight years and filmed entirely in the Christchurch Town Hall, this hugely popular show featured New Zealand's best country…
This is Not My Life (TV Series) (2010): Dir. Robert Sarkies
Feat. Charles Mesure, Tania Nolan, Ariana Brunet…; Set in a fictional New Zealand town in the 2020s, this high–end Kiwi production runs with a number of well–worn science–fiction…
Topp Twins and the APO, The (2010): Feat. Jools Topp, Lynda Topp; The iconic Topp Twins make their orchestral debut with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra for an evening of music, comedy and classics.
Tracker (2010): Dir. Ian Sharp
Feat. Ray Winstone, Temuera Morrison, Gareth Reeves…; Ray Winstone is lured to New Zealand in this turn–of–the–century chase movie, in which the hulking Brit plays a master South…
Warrior's Way, The (2010): Dir. Sngmoo Lee
Feat. Jang Dong-Gun, Kate Bosworth, Geoffrey Rush…; A ninja assassin (Jang Dong–Gun) on the run from his former clan is forced to hide in the American Badlands after refusing a mission to kill a…
Wound (2010): Dir. David Blyth
Feat. Kate O'Rourke, Te Kaea Beri, Ian Mune…; Supernatural horror with a victim of incest returning to haunt her mother, and exact a gore–filled retribution on her father. Not to…
48 Hours 2009 (2009): "48 Hours" is a furious, fun–loving filmmaking competition that consumes New Zealand filmmakers (amateur and occasionally professional) for one…
9/11: Blueprint for Truth (The Te Papa Lecture) (2009): Dir. Colin Hodson; Speaking at Te Papa Museum in Wellington, late 2009, American architect Richard Gage presents further evidence (or complete bullshit, depending on…
Barry Barclay - The Camera on the Shore (2009): Dir. Graeme Tuckett
Feat. Barry Barclay; Film critic Graeme Tuckett directs this sensitive tribute to the late Kiwi filmmaker Barry Barclay, who passed away during the production of the…
Billy T & Me (2009): Feat. Billy T. James, Peter Rowley; Peter Rowley looks back on the time he spent writing and performing with his mate, Billy T James.
Billy T James - The Legend, The Man, The Cuz (2009): Feat. Billy T. James; Latest compilation of the most popular sketches from irrepressible comedian Billy T James, including Te News, the Traffic Cop, the Hard Case, the…
Birdland with Jeremy Wells (2009): Dir. Paul Casserly
Feat. Jeremy Wells; Offbeat ornithology with the typically droll Jeremy Wells taking the viewer on a tour of some of New Zealand's finest scenery in pursuit of our most…
Bro' Town - Series 5 (TV Series) (2009): Final series of animated adventures set in South Auckland. Series 5 episodes: The Summer Of Samson, To Sam With Love, A Vegetarian At My Table,…
Chasing The Ghost: New Zealand's P Epidemic (2009): Feat. Paul Holmes; Relevant documentary sees Kiwi broadcaster Paul Holmes investigating New Zealand's 'P' – pure methamphetamine – epidemic, through the…
Cult, The (TV Series) (2009): Feat. Renato Bartolomei, Latham Gaines, Danielle Cormack…; A group of brainwashed cult members are desperate to escape the mysterious compound and its deranged leader they're imprisoned by in this ambitious…
Dai Another Day (Dai Henwood) (2009): Feat. Dai Henwood; Kiwi comedian Dai Henwood takes to the stage in the Sky City theatre in Auckland to perform best–of material in front of a live audience.
Diagnosis: Death (Diagnosis Death) (2009): Dir. Jason Stutter
Feat. Raybon Kan, Jessica Grace Smith, Bret McKenzie…; Stand–up comedian and writer Raybon Kan casts himself in this schlocky horror spoof as a terminal patient who becomes a human guinea pig at a…
Diplomatic Immunity (TV Series) (2009): Feat. Dave Fane, Craig Parker, Lesley-Ann Brandt; Mischievous Kiwi comedy series set on a small scattering of islands in the South Pacific ruled by a group of irreverent Pacific Islanders, who refuse…
Fly My Pretties - A Story (2009): Dir. Mikee Tucker; Represents the best takes from the 2009 New Zealand tour, performed, filmed and recorded across ten shows, and is a conceptual extension of the…
Go Girls (TV Series) (2009): Feat. Anna Hutchison, Bronwyn Turei, Alix Bushnell…; A North Shore equivalent of OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE perhaps, but with considerably less bite, this follows four middle–class 20–somethings as…
He Wawata Whaea: The Dream of an Elder (2009): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; An insightful portrait of 87–year–old Maori teacher and artist Merimeri Penfold, whose lifelong struggle for Te Reo Maori provides…
I'm Not Harry Jenson (2009): Dir. James Napier Robertson
Feat. Gareth Reeves, Ian Mune, Marshall Napier…; Tensely conceived, enterprising Kiwi thriller finds a true crime novelist so deeply invested in the violent subject of his latest book, that he…
Land of the Long White Cloud (2009): Dir. Florian Habicht; Loveable loose sequel to Florian Habicht’s Kiwi classic KAIKOHE DEMOLITION finds the engaging filmmaker returning to Northland, where hundreds of…
Line of Fire (TV Series) (2009): In–depth documentary series delves deep inside the New Zealand police force's highly regarded Armed Offenders Squad, with interviews and…
Living With Coffee (2009): Dir. Diane Abad; Premiering at the 2009 NZ Human Rights Film Festival, this short yet concise doco highlights the importance of fair trade in an $80 billion industry…
Lost in Wonderland (2009): Dir. Zoe McIntosh; Wellington filmmaker Zoe McIntosh offers an insightful take on the Rob Moodie character: an eccentric, headline–grabbing lawyer (and former…
Man In The Hat, The (2009): Dir. Luit Bieringa; Sam Neill narrates this intimate portrait of veteran art dealer Peter McLeavey, commemorating his 40 years in the business of running an independent…
No Petrol, No Diesel! (2009): Dir. Stefen Harris
Feat. Jim Moriarty, Helen Pearse-Otene, Mark Hadlow…; Dir. Harris reunites the cast of THE WAIMATE CONSPIRACY for this spirited sequel of sorts, in which the people of Temuka find themselves battling a…
Ours (2009): Dir. Emma Heke; Kiwi 'children's doco' informs kids of the creatures, environments and eco issues that are unique to New Zealand, based around an…
Outrageous Fortune (TV Series) - Series 5 (2009): Feat. Robyn Malcolm, Charles Mesure, Antony Starr…; Further outrageous episodes in the popular NZ series, set around a family of 'Westie' (West Auckland) criminals trying to go straight. Series 5:…
Piece Of My Heart (2009): Dir. Fiona Samuel
Feat. Annie Whittle, Rena Owen, Emily Barclay…; TVNZ–commissioned drama focused on the issue of adoption in New Zealand, told through the story of two women who must reconcile their past as…
Politically Incorrect Parenting Show, The (2009): Feat. Nigel Latta; Straight–shooting Clinical Psychologist Nigel Latta presents this series that teaches parents parenting tips in a hilariously frank manner…
Separation City (2009): Dir. Paul Middleditch
Feat. Joel Edgerton, Rhona Mitra, Danielle Cormack…; Kiwi comedy penned by satirical cartoonist Tom Scott , musing on the struggle of long–term relationships among a group of…
Sisters from Siberia (2009): Dir. Russell Campbell; Wellington City Councillor Stephanie Cook is the subject of this insightful documentary on her successful adoption of sisters Katya and Nadia, who…
South (TV Series) (2009): Feat. Marcus Lush; Another "love story" from intrepid broadcaster Marcus Lush, who this time explores the South Island of New Zealand, an area he fell in love with…
Strength of Water, The (2009): Dir. Armagan Ballantyne
Feat. Hato Paparoa, Melanie Mayall-Nahi, Jim Moriarty…; Ten–year–old twins are separated by tragedy in this evocative, gracefully shot debut for dir. Ballantyne, set in a Maori community on the…
Tales of Mystery and Imagination (2009): Dir. Geoff Murphy; Saxophonist Lucien Johnson and the works of Edgar Allan Poe meet for this avant–garde, Blerta–esque performance. Fusing a…
This Way of Life (2009): Dir. Tom and Barbara Burstyn; Evocative, moving Kiwi doco which treats the viewer to an intimate glimpse of a family who reject modernity and live wild with six kids and fifty…
Through Rainbow Coloured Glasses (2009): Grassroots documentary that explores how the Queer community have survived and thrived in Christchurch over the past five decades. Part documentary,…
To Sir With Love (A Tribute to Sir Howard Morrison) (2009): Feat. Pio Terei, Sir Howard Morrisson; Musical tribute to one of New Zealand's most accomplished entertainers staged at the Civic Theatre in Rotorua, with performances by a ton of familiar…
Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls (2009): Dir. Leanne Pooley
Feat. Jools Topp, Lynda Topp; An adorable, "Kiwi–as" portrait of NZ's beloved folk–singing comedy duo, Jools and Lynda Topp, which also resonates as a ripely…
Trouble is My Business (2009): Dir. Juliette Veber; Keenly observational documentary about an empathetic assistant principal (Gary Peach) who battles to keep his students in school and out of trouble…
Under the Mountain (2009): Dir. Jonathan King
Feat. Tom Cameron, Sophie McBride, Sam Neill…; The special effects are right up to spec, and it's a step up for the director of BLACK SHEEP, but in souping up its source material for a teenage…
Until Proven Innocent (2009): Dir. Peter Burger
Feat. Cohen Holloway, Edward Campbell, Miranda Harcourt; Credible homegrown teledrama tells the true story of the crusade to free David Dougherty, wrongly imprisoned for the rape and abduction of an…
Vintner's Luck, The (2009): Dir. Niki Caro
Feat. Keisha Castle-Hughes, Jeremie Renier, Gaspard Ulliel…; Contentious, opulent NZ–made adaptation of the much–loved Elizabeth Knox novel, ostensibly about the relationship between a guardian…
WotWots, The (TV Series) (2009): Charming, energetic, and entirely home–grown kids series about two soft, puppet–like aliens who land in a local zoo and go on a mission…
48 Hours 2008 (2008): "48 Hours" is a furious, fun–loving filmmaking competition that consumes New Zealand filmmakers (amateur and occasionally professional) for one…
A Song Of Good (2008): Dir. Gregory King
Feat. Gareth Reeves, Ian Mune, Danielle Cormack…; The director of CHRISTMAS continues to pick away at the festering sores of Kiwi suburbia, diagramming the destructive forces hampering a…
Allan Wilson - Evolutionary (2008): Dir. George Andrews; Pithy and practical documentary on Kiwi ‘evolutionary’ Allan Wilson, whose humble, can–do–anything beginnings thrust him from…
Apron Strings (2008): Dir. Sima Urale
Feat. Laila Rouass, Jennifer Ludlam, Scott Wills…; Acclaimed short film director Sima Urale makes her feature film debut with this drama about fractious maternal connections that contrast two…
Art Star and the Sudanese Twins, The (2008): Dir. Pietra Brettkelly; With a genuinely compelling subject to draw confession from, this oddly–topical documentary – on the increasingly common adoption of African…
Barefoot Cinema (The Art and Life of Cinematographer Alun Bollinger) (2008): Dir. Gerard Smyth; The camera work of veteran Kiwi cinematographer Alun Bollinger is appraised in this documentary which includes tributes from Peter Jackson, Vincent…
Burying Brian (TV Series) (2008): Dir. Peter Burger
Feat. Rebecca Hobbs, Ian Mune, Robbie Magasiva; Kiwi black comedy series centred on four friends who find themselves entangled in a scandalous cover–up when one of the ladies accidentally…
Comic Genius of Billy T James, The - Legacy Edition (2008): Feat. Billy T. James; Must–have DVD & CD collection of Billy T. James Greatest Hits. DVD includes over an hour of newly released material from the TVNZ vaults…
Crossing the Ditch (2008): Surprisingly captivating story of two young Australians, James Castrission and Justin Jones, who were the first people to cross the Tasman by kayak.…
Dance of the Instant (2008): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; Documentary exploring the history of the New Dance Group, who pioneered contemporary dance in post–WWII New Zealand. The film draws on an…
Dean Spanley (2008): Dir. Toa Fraser
Feat. Jeremy Northam, Sam Neill, Peter O'Toole…; This Kiwi–British production cross–breed is a charmingly eccentric, surprisingly moving 'drawing room' drama set in Edwardian Britain in…
Flight of the Conchords - Season 2 (TV Series) (2008): Feat. Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie, Rhys Darby…; Second series of the hit musical sitcom starring Kiwis Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie as they continue to haplessly chase success in New York…
Hollow Men, The (2008): Dir. Alister Barry; Seasoned documentarian Alister Barry distills Nicky Hager's hot potato expose of National Party leader Don Brash into a confronting, election year…
Huloo (2008): Dir. Robin Greenberg; Delightful documentary about the remarkable and diverse life of T’ai Chi master Loo–Chi Hu, nicknamed Huloo, who despite being well into his…
Investigator, The (TV Series) (2008): Probing Kiwi crime doco series investigating six unsolved New–Zealand crimes by delving into the pitfalls of the justice system in our country…
Jaquie Brown Diaries, The (TV Series) (The Jacquie Brown Odyssey) (2008): Feat. Jaquie Brown, Madeleine Sami; Pert Kiwi satire series starring former 'Campbell Live' comic relief reporter Jaquie Brown as a self–centred TV reporter attempting to further…
Jinx Sister (2008): Dir. Athina Tsoulis
Feat. Sara Wiseman, Jarod Rawiri, William Wallace…; Tidy homeland drama finds Americanized ex–pat Wiseman returning to New Zealand to reconcile with her elder sister (Nash), seemingly happily…
Laughing Samoans, The - Crack Me Off (2008): Feat. Eteuati Ete, Tofiga Fepulea'i; Latest live recording from Samoan comedy duo Eteuati Ete and Tofiga Fepulea'i as they perform their 'Crack Me Off' show to a receptive Aussie…
Map Reader, The (2008): Dir. Harold Brodie
Feat. Rebecca Gibney, Jordan Selwyn, Bonnie Soper…; A small–town teenager’s obsession with maps is the central metaphor in this ragged yet heart–felt local feature about finding and…
Margaret Mahy: A Tall Long Faced Tale (2008): Dir. Yvonne MacKay; An invaluable documentary on New Zealand's greatest children's writer, which combines a fascinating conversation between Mahy and Elizabeth Knox with…
Milly, Molly (TV Series) (2008): Animated children’s series based on the best–selling New Zealand books that celebrates diversity. Each episode carries a subtle message…
Off The Radar (TV Series) (2008): Home–grown TV series featuring Te Radar – comedian, presenter and self–confessed latte drinking city boy attempting to become…
Outrageous Fortune (TV Series) - Series 4 (2008): Feat. Robyn Malcolm, Antony Starr, Antonia Prebble…; Further outrageous episodes in the popular NZ series, set around a family of 'Westie' (West Auckland) criminals trying to go straight. Series…
Pictures of You (2008): Dir. Ben Woollen
Feat. Brendan Kavanagh, Jonn Wilson, Bernard Moody…; Youth drama concerning a promising rugby player whose dreams lie far away from the sporting field.
Rhys Darby Live - Imagine That! (2008): Feat. Rhys Darby; Kiwi comedian Rhys Darby, from FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS fame, performs a stand–up comedy gig at LA's El Rey Theatre to an…
Rubbings From A Live Man (2008): Dir. Florian Habicht; Film–maker Florian Habicht finds the perfect portrait subject in Warwick Broadhead, a fiercely independent, 40–year veteran of performing…
Second-Hand Wedding (Secondhand Wedding) (2008): Dir. Paul Murphy
Feat. Holly Shanahan, Geraldine Brophy, Patrick Wilson…; Sweet–natured Kiwi suburban rom–com that was a surprise hit at the local box office, with large audiences responding to a highly…
Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby (TV Series) - Series 2 (2008): Dir. Danny Mulheron
Feat. David McPhail, Tandi Wright, Jason Hoyte…; Second series of this un–PC yet tremendously popular Kiwi comedy series tracking the old fashioned teaching methods of Mr Gormsby and his…
Show of Hands (2008): Dir. Anthony McCarten
Feat. Melanie Lynskey, Craig Hall, Stephen Lovatt; Quaint but contrived Kiwi rom–dram set in New Plymouth in which a grab–bag of townsfolk compete for new 4–wheel drive by keeping…
Sir Edmund Hillary 1919 - 2008 (2008): Towering tribute to the late, great Sir Ed. Includes the documentary ‘Remembering Sir Ed: A Tribute to Sir Edmund Hillary’, an overview of the…
Sisterhood (2008): Dir. Richard Wellings-Thomas
Feat. Emily Corcoran, Isabelle Defaut, Graham McTavish…; Ex–pat Kiwi Emily Corcoran wrote and stars in her own Brit–com, playing a Kiwi girl who travels to England to surprise her long lost…
Taking the Waewae Express (2008): Dir. Andrea Bosshard, Shane Loader
Feat. Matariki Whatarau, Evan Hussey, Isaac Heron…; Grief and resentment affect a Maori family and their friends after a tragic car accident in this honest and open–hearted drama set in…
Third Richard, The (2008): Dir. Danny Mulheron, Sarah Stretton; A labour of love for actor–director Danny Mulheron, this explores the life and music of his unheralded grandfather, Richard Fuchs, a gifted…
Wahine Disaster, The (2008): Commemorative documentary to mark forty years since the Wahine passenger ferry struck Barrett Reef in Wellington Harbour, killing 51 people.…
Yes That's Me - Dave Murphy Plays the Blues (2008): Dir. Costa Botes; Intimate Wellington–based biopic following Kiwi blues performer Dave Murphy as he is given the opportunity to record at Braeburn Recording…
48 Hours 2007 (2007): "48 Hours" is a furious, fun–loving filmmaking competition that consumes New Zealand filmmakers (amateur and occasionally professional) for one…
A Civilised Society (2007): Dir. Alister Barry; Documentarian Alister Barry concludes his loose trilogy on New Right economic policies with this impassioned plea for the standards of public…
An Evening with Whirimako Black - Live at the Holy Trinity Cathedral (2007): The first recording of a live performance from our most acclaimed Maori language singer – Whirimako Black at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in the…
Antonello and the Architect (2007): Dir. Tony Hiles; A fitting tribute to Wellington architect Bill Toomath (whose associations include the likes of I.M. Pei), dir. Tony Hiles backdrops the…
Big Picture, The (TV Series) (2007): Commentator Hamish Keith brings New Zealand’s imposing arts history down to earth in this appealing, highly accessible reappraisal of everything…
Bro' Town - Series 4 (TV Series) (2007): Further animated adventures from the excellent comedy series set in South Auckland. Series 4 episodes: tba
Cowboys and Communists (Cowboys & Communists) (2007): Dir. Jess Feast; Engaging culture documentary centred on a risque East Berlin bar and eatery (known as White Trash Fast Food), operated by an ex–pat 'cowboy'…
Devil Dared Me To, The (2007): Dir. Chris Stapp
Feat. Chris Stapp, Matt Heath; A gleefully irresponsible petrolhead comedy that wears its oily rags on its sleeve, this feature debut from the crazy yet talented boys behind "Back…
Down By the Riverside (2007): Dir. Brad Davison, Marama Killen
Feat. Rebecca Trelease; Stylised rural noir concerns the mystery of a notorious country house used for abortions in the 20s, and the subsequent investigation into its dark…
Eagle vs Shark (2007): Dir. Taika Waititi
Feat. Jemaine Clement, Loren Taylor (Horsley), Joel Tobeck…; Wearing its Kiwi heart on its sleeve to delightful advantage, Taika Waititi's skewed romantic comedy managed to please a crowd both here and abroad,…
Equator (Power of the Sun, Challenge of the Cold) (2007): Stunning NHNZ production exploring six areas of the planet that exist along the equator and the effect this location has on the flora and fauna of…
Ferryman, The (2007): Dir. Chris Graham
Feat. Kerry Fox, Tamer Hassan, John Rhys-Davies…; Homegrown high–seas supernatural horror following a group of charter cruise passengers en route from New Zealand to Fiji who pick up a weirdo…
Five (2007): Dir. Amit Tripuraneni
Feat. Richard Thompson; Exploratory sophomore feature from the dir. of MEMORIES OF TOMORROW leeches the mind–bending surrealism of David Lynch to intriguing,…
Flight of the Conchords - Season 1 (TV Series) (2007): Feat. Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie, Rhys Darby…; Local heroes Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie's unique two–man 'digi–folk' routine finds its way onto American screens in this applauded…
Flightless: Bill Hammond's Cure for Being Kiwi (2007): Dir. Alan D'Arcy Erson
Feat. Ian Hughes; An intriguing blend of drama and documentary are used to tell the story of an everyman who's life is falling apart at the seams when he is…
Gravy, The (TV Series) (2007): Insightful local arts magazine–style series made by Sticky Pictures for the now defunct TVNZ 7 channel that was a “30 minute tour through…
Here to Stay (TV Series) (2007): An enlightening, culturally pertinent reference point for the current make up of New Zealand society, this six part series revisits a number of key…
Heritage of Maori Song (2007): Comprehensive collection of 15 Maori song and dance performances, including 3 poi dances, stick games, haka and a number of well–known songs…
Ice (TV Series) (2007): Feat. Marcus Lush; Radio and TV Personality Marcus Lush goes well and truly off the rails, here embarking on a month–long sojourn in the below–zero…
Kissy Kissy (2007): Dir. Alexander Greenhough, Elric Kane
Feat. Daniel Northcott, Dick Whyte, Tania Nolan…; Aro Valley–made DV drama concerns the intersecting lives of a cast and crew on a low budget movie, and the all–too–familiar…
Kiwi Tonguer (2007): A good keen stand–up comedy routine from Mark de Lacy (Newstalk ZB's regular satirist) as featured at the International Comedy Festival in…
La Verdad? (The Truth?) (2007): Dir. Helen Smyth; Whilst in Cuba, Kiwi journalist and mother–of–two Helen Smyth and husband Tim Rose (of Havana Coffee Works) inadvertently delve into its…
Last Magic Show, The (2007): Dir. Andy Conlan
Feat. Andy Conlan, Jade Collins, Michael Hurst; Gothic New Zealand drama with a hint of romance follows a disturbed magician searching for his next great career move and a replacement assistant…
Last Western Heretic, The (2007): Dir. Monique Oomen; Riveting documentary presenting the life and ideologies of New Zealand's leading theologian – 89–year–old Lloyd Geering. A key…
Laughing Samoans, The - Off Work (2007): Feat. Eteuati Ete, Tofiga Fepulea'i; Comedy duo Tofiga Fepulea'i and Eteuati Ete present their latest show, 'Off Work', live from the 'Concert Hall of QPAC' in Brizzie. They…
Loop Select 008 (Rare Vision) (2007): Dir. Paolo Rotondo, Jane Shearer, Tearepa Kahi; Fourth edition of LOOP Recordings’ curated DVD show reel, bringing together the select best in New Zealand music, music videos, short films and…
Lovely Rita - A Painter's Life (2007): Dir. Gaylene Preston
Feat. Loren Taylor (Horsley); Evocative, celebratory remembrance of New Zealand’s Rita Angus, told primarily through a collection of over 300 letters the artist wrote to…
Man Who Lost His Head, The (2007): Dir. Terry Johnson
Feat. Martin Clunes, John Leigh, Nicola Kawana; Martin Clunes plays a museum curator on a New Zealand sojourn, traveling from Britain to the small Maori community of Otakataka appealing the return…
NZSAS: First Among Equals (TV Series) (2007): Eye–opening insider’s guide to the SAS offers a unique tour of duty in recruitment and training for the elite special forces, through to…
Outrageous Fortune (TV Series) - Series 3 (2007): Feat. Robyn Malcolm, Grant Bowler, Frank Whitten…; Further outrageous episodes in the popular NZ series, set around a family of 'Westie' (West Auckland) criminals trying to go straight. Series…
Pretender, The (TV Series) (2007): Feat. Bob MacLaren; Acclaimed Kiwi mocko series centred on a self–serving New Zealand MP weaselling his way from the overlooked bank bench into second in charge of…
Rain of the Children (2007): Dir. Vincent Ward
Feat. Vincent Ward, Rena Owen; Vincent Ward's masterful docu–drama – in which he investigates the 'cursed life' of an elderly Maori woman – is a deeply personal…
Rude Awakenings (TV Series) (2007): Feat. Danielle Cormack, Patrick Wilson; Polished, darkly tinged suburban satire between a grassroots Kiwi family and their new latte–slurping neighbours, who declare warfare in the…
Staines Down Drains (TV Series) (2007): New Zealand–made animated plunge through the plughole of a basement sink, revealing an underground drain world navigated by two intrepid…
Stringer (2007): Dir. Steven Morrison
Feat. Matthew Sunderland, Paul Glover, Danielle Cormack; The excellent Matthew Sutherland (OUT OF THE BLUE) plays a journalist investigating organ trafficking in this local sci–fi digital…
Tattooist, The (2007): Dir. Peter Burger
Feat. Jason Behr, Mia Blake, David Fane…; A supernatural thriller that forges the disparate worlds of urban tattoo counter–culture with Samoan cultural taboo, Jason Behr plays an…
Th' Dudes Live - Th' 2006 Reunion Tour (2007): One–time reunion tour sees Th’Dudes reunite after 26 years in celebration of Radio Hauraki’s 40th anniversary. Includes live concert…
Time of Our Lives, The (2007): Dir. Gaylene Preston; Kiwi documentarian Gaylene Preston joins 32 war veterans en route to London, selected to inaugurate the erection of a New Zealand War Memorial in…
We're Here to Help (2007): Dir. Jonothan Cullinane
Feat. Erik Thomson, Miriama Smith, Michael Hurst…; Hearty bureaucratic broadside with Australian Erik Thomson well cast as Kiwi property developer Dave Henderson, who became hounded and eventually…
When Night Falls (2007): Dir. Alex Galvin
Feat. Tania Nolan, Rosella Hart; Creeping Wairarapa–set thriller fixed on two nurses holed up in a remote country house caring for a patient while trying to steer clear of a…
You Move You Die (2007): Dir. Ketzal Sterling
Feat. Ketzal Sterling, Bruce Hopkins; Ad hoc gangster thriller out of Auckland concerns a stolen engagement ring, and its ensuing recovery by a desperate fiancée and his posse of…
48 Hours 2006 (2006): "48 Hours" is a furious, fun–loving filmmaking competition that consumes New Zealand filmmakers (amateur and occasionally professional) for one…
Amazing Extraordinary Friends (TV Series) (2006): Feat. Carl Dixon, Hannah Marshall, David McPhail…; Lightweight, tongue–in–cheek Kiwi kids series focused around a young boy who gains heroic powers and goes on a quest to recruit other…
Ans Westra - Private Journeys/Public Signposts (2006): Dir. Luit Bieringa; Photographer laureate Ans Westra takes to the other side of the camera in this insightful, contemplative retrospective of her photography, and…
Belief (2006): Dir. Phil Davison; Low–budget grinder from local horror up'n'comer Phil Davison (KUNG FU VAMPIRE KILLERS) which juggles comedy and DIY terror around the tale of…
Black Sheep (2006): Dir. Jonathan King
Feat. Nathan Meister, Danielle Mason, Peter Feeney…; A slick splatter–comedy in the Kiwi tradition of BAD TASTE, about a herd of rabid, flesh–eating sheep run amok in rural New…
Bro' Town - Series 3 (TV Series) (2006): Further animated adventures from the excellent comedy series set in South Auckland. Series 3 episodes: tba
Buddha Wild - The Monk in a Hut (2006): Dir. Anna Wilding; Modest documentary following the lives of a group of Thai and Sri Lankan monks as they reveal their unique way of life and dedicated faith. Narrated…
Earthquake (2006): Dir. Gaylene Preston; Staple filmmaker and documentarian Gaylene Preston chronicles the devastating Hawkes Bay earthquake of 1931 through a series of vivid and moving…
Event 16 (2006): Dir. Derek Pearson; An ambitious sci–fi yarn – shot on a shoestring in Wellington – in which the backroom tinkerings of a wannabe young inventor…
Fat Freddy's Drop – Fantastic Voyages Vol. 1 (2006): Wellington's esteemed dub music group 'Fat Freddy's Drop' here present ten live tracks from their recent UK and European tour, along with a number of…
Figure 8000 (2006): Dir. Lindon Puffin; Former glam rock front man of The Puffins, Lindon Puffin, takes to the road as an under–resourced solo act, touring with a single roadie in a…
Hidden (2006): Dir. Tim McLachlan; An atmospheric but baffling 'lost in the woods' thriller, this locally–produced horror wrestles with the plight of various characters who are…
Hunger for the Wild (TV Series) (2006-2007): Wellington restauranteurs Steve Logan and Al Brown (of 'Logan Brown') travel the wilds of New Zealand looking for fresh food to turn into…
Kiwi Kitchen (TV Series) (2006): A wee beauty of a TV series has gastronome Richard Till investigate the roots of Kiwi cuisine and serve up some iconic recipes and dinner…
Last Resort, The (2006): Dir. Errol Wright, Abi King-Jones; A modest coastal campground is the site of much dispute and debate in this thorny documentary casting light on New Zealand’s ceaseless ‘land…
Let's Get Inventin' (TV Series) (2006): Interesting local series has some ambitious kids bring their ideas for various inventions to fruition with the help of Kidventor 'Build Buddy' Sam…
Lost Children, The (TV Series) (2006): Feat. Hudson Mills, Beatrice Joblin, Rhys Castle-Hughes…; Well–crafted adventure series follows three children washed ashore from a shipwreck as they search for their parents..
Maddigan's Quest (TV Series) (2006): Feat. Michael Hurst, Timothy Balme, Danielle Cormack; Nicely–produced local series for children – adapted from Margaret Mahy's bestseller – set in a post–technological future…
Magical World of Misery, The (2006): A short documentary on the creations and career of New Zealander Tanya Thompson (a.k.a. 'Misery'), who began as a hip graffiti artist and has gone to…
Maori Queen, The: 1931-2006 (Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu) (2006): Televised tribute to the 'Maori Queen', Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, on the occasion of her funeral in August 2006, edited down from…
New Oceania, The (2006): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; Dir. Shirley Horrocks continues her excellent series on local artists and literary figures with an enthralling study of 'South Pacific' writer Albert…
No. 2 (Number 2) (2006): Dir. Toa Fraser
Feat. Ruby Dee, Mia Blake, Emile Taungaroa…; Playwright Toa Fraser adapts his acclaimed stageplay about a hard–bitten matriarch determined to bring her grandchildren together for a…
Out of the Blue (Aramoana) (2006): Dir. Robert Sarkies
Feat. Karl Urban, Matthew Sunderland, Simon Ferry…; A moving, uncomfortably harrowing account of New Zealand’s worst mass murder, bringing the trauma of 1990’s Aramoana massacre to the screen with…
Outrageous Fortune (TV Series) - Series 2 (2006): Feat. Robyn Malcolm, Grant Bowler, Frank Whitten…; Further outrageous episodes in the popular NZ series, set around a family of 'Westie' (West Auckland) criminals trying to go straight. Series Two:…
Perfect Creature (2006): Dir. Glenn Standring
Feat. Saffron Burrows, Dougray Scott, Leo Gregory…; Ambitious, well–appointed Gothica set in a retro–alternate Aotearoa, where humans and their highly–evolved vampire colleagues…
Show Me Shorts (2006-2009): Dir. Grant Lahood, Paolo Rotondo, Sima Urale; A round up of the top entries from the annual Trans–Tasman short film festival. Volume 1, 2006: – Bad Dates (Grant Lahood,…
Sign of the Times (2006): Dir. Victoria Manning, Paul Wolffram; In April 2006 the New Zealand Parliament recognised New Zealand Sign Language as the third official language of New Zealand. This short 'insider'…
Sione's Wedding (2006): Dir. Chris Graham
Feat. Oscar Kightley, Robbie Magasiva, Madeleine Sami…; Highly engaging local comedy set among the Auckland Samoan community which charts the misbehaving antics of four laddish buddies (Knightly, Lelisi,…
Squeegee Bandit (2006): Dir. Sandor Lau; The hard–luck story of a charismatic street window–washer who works the intersections of South Auckland is documented with warmth and…
Struggle No More (2006): Dir. Costa Botes; Affectionate tribute to veteran Wellington band 'The Windy City Strugglers' who formed in 1968 to play a mix of blues, soul and jug–band music…
Surfing the Menu - New Zealand (2006): Adventure–bound Australian food show which here features surf–mad Kiwi chef Mark Gardner and host Ben O'Donoghue on an exciting food…
Tough Act (TV Series) (2006): Dir. Stuart McKenzie; Compelling 'reality TV' show follows a class of aspiring actors in their first year at Toi Whakaari – New Zealand Drama School in Wellington,…
Waimate Conspiracy, The (2006): Dir. Stefen Harris
Feat. Jim Moriarty, David McPhail, Mark Hadlow; With good jest, this disarming rural mock–unmentary unravels the story of a group of local Waimate Maori contesting the ownership of tribal…
Waves (2006): Dir. Li Tao; Shot with empathy and an open heart, this fine documentary on the arrival of four Chinese high school students to New Zealand offers rare insight…
What Lies Beneath (TV Series) (2006): Feat. Simon Dallow; An eight–part series about New Zealand's archaeological heritage, presenting a series of intriguing site studies, with Simon Dallow asking the…
48 Hours 2005 (2005): "48 Hours" is a furious, fun–loving filmmaking competition that consumes New Zealand filmmakers (amateur and occasionally professional) for one…
50 Ways of Saying Fabulous (2005): Dir. Stewart Main
Feat. Rima Te Wiata; Rural New Zealand forms a stylised background to this unusual rites–of–passage drama which combines whimsy, pathos and cruelty for a…
Aerosol Crimes (Chemtrails) (2005): Dir. Clifford Carnicom; Interesting account of the possible conspiracies lurking behind the increasing presence of 'chemtrails' in our skies. These are the polluting trails…
Banana in a Nutshell (2005): Dir. Roseanne Liang
Feat. Roseanne Liang; Having fallen in love with a white New Zealand boy, 27–year–old Liang turns the camera on herself in this thoroughly intimate…
Best of Laughing With Samoans, The (2005): The first live–comedy show by Samoan New Zealand comedy duo Eteuati Ete and Tofiga Fepulea'i has an impressive verbal and physical energy, as…
Billy Connolly - World Tour of New Zealand (TV Series) (2005): Feat. Billy Connolly; The special New Zealand segment of comedian Billy Connolly's 2004 world tour, which has the crazed Scot covering the length of the country over eight…
Boogeyman (2005): Dir. Stephen Kay
Feat. Barry Watson, Emily Dreschanel, Lucy Lawless; Haunted by his father's death, a young man (Watson) quests to discover the identity of the monstrous 'boogeyman' killer, who may in fact be a figment…
Bro' Town - Series 2 (TV Series) (2005): Further animated adventures from the excellent comedy series set in South Auckland. Series 2 episodes: Zeelander, Survival of the Fattest, Honky…
Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (2005): Dir. Andrew Adamson
Feat. Tilda Swinton, James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent…; A splendid and meticulous vision of C.S. Lewis' classic children's fantasy novel in which a group of four young siblings – ensconced in an…
Dress-Up Box, The (TV Series) (2005): Delightful roleplay series for pre–schoolers, with each episode revolving around a bottomless dress–up box full of costumes and props,…
Holly's Heroes (TV Series) (2005): Feat. Dominique Crawford; Trans–Tasman co–production about an ex–pat Kiwi new to Australian and mad about basketball. Follow the titular Holly as she scores…
Insiders Guide to Love, The (TV Series) (2005): Feat. Kate Elliot, Will Hall, Ryan O' Kane…; Adopting the whimsical style of series forerunner INSIDERS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS, this spiffy companion–piece assembles an entirely new set of…
King Kong (2005): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, Jack Black…; Peter Jackson's colossal remake lavishes one of the cinema's greatest legends in 21st century technology and ratchets up the emotional stakes to…
King Kong: Peter Jackson Production Diaries (2005): Presenting a close–to–the–ground account of the forging of Peter Jackson's KING KONG (2005), this shows the filming with all its…
Laughing Samoans - Old School (2005): Comedy team Eteuati Ete and Tofiga Fepulea'i return for another humourous look at New Zealand–Samoan life, recycling a few sketches but also…
Loop Select 007 (We Are Here) (2005): The third of the hugely popular "showcase" for New Zealand music, music videos and short filmmaking. This edition also includes motion graphics…
Love, Speed and Loss (2005): Dir. Justin Pemberton; Skilfully interweaving home movies and and present day interviews, this presents a heartfelt tale of a couple's journey through grand prix racing in…
Luella Miller (2005): Dir. Dane Giraud
Feat. Sara Wiseman, Philip Brown, Sia Trokenheim; Competent local drama set in a small country town, where quiet lifestyle and gentle intrigues are disrupted by the arrival of an enigmatic young…
Mee-Shee (The Water Giant) (2005): Dir. John Henderson
Feat. Bruce Greenwood, Rena Owen, Joel Tobeck; A modest yet engaging family adventure, partly filmed in New Zealand, with special effects by 'Jim Henson's Creature Shop'.
Off the Rails - A Love Story (TV Series) (2005): Feat. Marcus Lush; Quality TV series that journeys with presenter and train buff Marcus Lush from Bluff in the South to Opua in the North on a variety of railways…
Old Men of the Point (2005): Dir. Evan Booth; A quasi–experimental documentary which covers the surfing scene on the West Auckland coast including Piha. Includes some tasty archival footage…
Outrageous Fortune (TV Series) - Series 1 (2005): Feat. Robyn Malcolm, Grant Bowler, Frank Whitten…; Mining similar territory to the feature–film SAVAGE HONEYMOON, this is a considerably more successful attempt at capturing the customs, mores…
Puzzle Inc. (TV Series) (2005): Highly educational kids series originally aired on TV2 that brings a collection of puzzle shapes to life through music, sounds and movement to create…
Quiet Night In (2005): Dir. Christopher Banks
Feat. Nicolette Kenny; Odd low–budget Kiwi comedy that chronicles a series of unfortunate events over one evening, where a would–be–novelist ends up…
Rediscovering Intrepid Journeys (TV Series) (2005): Generally enlightening TV series in which New Zealand celebrities journey to various exotic climes and give a running version of their…
River Queen (2005): Dir. Vincent Ward
Feat. Samantha Morton, Kiefer Sutherland, Cliff Curtis…; Both underrated and overblown, dir. Vincent Ward's (VIGIL) ambitious historical drama depicts the journey across heart, soul and land–scapes of…
Sedition (2005): Dir. Russell Campbell; Thorough and fascinating doco about the experiences of conscientious objectors in New Zealand during WW2 – particularly the social ostracism…
Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby (TV Series) - Series 1 (2005): Dir. Danny Mulheron
Feat. David McPhail, Jason Hoyte, Tandi Wright…; Gleefully un–PC series stars David McPhail as an aggressively behind the times 'relief teacher' in a small New Zealand secondary school, whose…
Tyrannical Love (2005): Dir. Scott Boswell
Feat. Stephen Jorgensen, Marcus Maclean; A homegrown low–budget comedy that follows the romantic manouverings amongst a group of young adults in Pakuranga, Auckland just before the…
Who Laughs Last? (2005): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; Short but informative documentary about New Zealand's most successful playwright, Roger Hall. Covers his long career writing for both the stage and…
World's Fastest Indian, The (2005): Dir. Roger Donaldson
Feat. Anthony Hopkins, Diane Ladd; Feelgood drama with a core of goodhearted Kiwi common sense and realism, this relates the true story of Invercargill legend Burt Munro (Hopkins), who…
1 Nite (2004): Dir. Amarbir Singh
Feat. Bruce Hopkins; A successfully dramatic foray into the night–worlds of half–a–dozen characters frequenting Auckland's K' Road: a Sikh…
Allie Eagle and Me (2004): Dir. Briar March; A portrait of an artist, dir. Briar March's highly personalised dedication to Allie Eagle confronts the painter's staunch feminist and lesbian…
Bro' Town - Series 1 (TV Series) (2004): An instant hit with local audiences, this 'Simpsons of the South Pacific', catches a humourous and authentic South Auckland vibe, with its teenage…
Colin McCahon: I Am (2004): Dir. Paul Swadel
Feat. Sam Neill; A sterling examination of the life and work of New Zealand's most renowned modern artist, Colin McCahon, who was born in 1919 and blossomed into a…
Colour of War: The ANZACs (2004): Dir. Paul Rudd, Ben Ulm
Feat. Russell Crowe; Russell Crowe hosts this documentary TV series about the Australian and New Zealand military experience from the 1930s to Vietnam, utilising colour…
Dame Kiri and Friends - The Gala Concert (2004): A concert performed at the Aotea Centre, Auckland to celebrate the launch of the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation. Dame Kiri sings with other luminaries…
Facelift (TV Series) (2004-2006): A genuinely hilarious, Kiwi–centric sketch satire spoofing many of New Zealand’s best known ‘faces’, with various masked actors…
Flatmates Wanted (2004): Dir. Gary Davies
Feat. Luke Hutching, Nick Broadhurst, Chris Yates; A no–budget psychological horror of disappearing flatmates and disturbing reoccuring dreams, this plays out with the quirky mix of horror and…
Fracture (2004): Dir. Larry Parr
Feat. Kate Elliot, Miranda Harcourt, Jennifer Ward-Lealand…; An impressively staged adaptation of Maurice Gee's novel "Crime Story", set around two equally fractured families who enter each other's orbit after…
Futile Attraction (2004): Dir. Mark Prebble
Feat. Michelle Ang, Alistair Browning; Set around a 'Reality TV' show, whose attempt to follow a couple from arranged date through to consummation is frustrated when the selected twosome…
Gladiators Of World War Two - The Anzacs (2004): A special look at the contributions of the Australian and New Zealand ANZAC troops during WWII, covering the Greek, African, Italian and Pacific…
Hayley Westenra - Live in Concert (2004): The golden–voiced New Zealand singer in a spell–binding live setting at the St James Theatre, Wellington (August 2004). Singing a variety…
Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2004): Dir. Robert Harmon
Feat. Tom Selleck, James Remar, Timothy Bottoms…; Historical war dramatization of the three months leading up to Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy, and how General Dwight Eisenhower…
In My Father's Den (2004): Dir. Brad McGann
Feat. Matthew MacFadyen, Emily Barclay, Miranda Otto…; Achieving a new high watermark in production terms at least, this vivid New Zealand melodrama harnesses the complexities of Maurice Gee's…
Insiders Guide to Happiness, The (TV Series) (2004): Feat. Fasitua Amosa, Ben Barrington, Fraser Brown…; An ambitious, stylish TV series (made on our doorstep) which shows the life–tracks of various contemporary urbanites and suburbanites meshing…
Kaikohe Demolition (2004): Dir. Florian Habicht; A glimpse into the mirth, mayhem and pathos of provincial New Zealand, this concerns a group of unkempt Northland residents who relish their…
Land Has Eyes, The (Pear ta ma 'on maf) (2004): Dir. Vilsoni Hereniko
Feat. Sapeta Taito, Rena Owen, Voi Fesaitu; The first ever Fijian feature film, this evokes WHALE RIDER with its tale of a young woman (Taito) who aspires to transcend an existence…
Loop Select 006 (Kono) (2004): Dir. Adam Stevens, Tom Reilly, Brian Challis; Another great compilation of music videos from the Loop music stable, plus a bonus range of kiwi short films. Included this time is a documentary and…
Marti - The Passionate Eye (2004): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; A celebratory savour of the life and times of New Zealand photographer Marti Friedlander, who arrived from England in 1958 and proceeded to document…
Memories of Tomorrow (2004): Dir. Amit Tripuraneni
Feat. Richard Thompson, Rachel Gilchrist, Ray Trickitt; An artful psychological thriller set around a man's (Thompson) frustrating amnesia of a past which seemingly involves commando training and…
Michael King - History Man (2004): Feat. Colin Hogg; A balanced television documentary on acclaimed NZ historian Michael King, made shortly after his untimely death in 2004. Presenter/writer Colin Hogg…
NZ Idol - Greatest Moments (TV Series) (New Zealand Idol) (2004): A comprehensive overview of the 2004 debut season of the talent quest 'NZ Idol', through the cringe–worthy audition process, expert training…
Offensive Behaviour (2004): Dir. Patrick Gillies; Amiable though underwritten exercise in Kiwi bad taste, revolving around one afternoon’s goings on in a block of flats. The deviants inside…
Second Season (Flying Nun DVD II) (2004): Further music–videos from cult NZ record label Flying Nun. Like VERY SHORT FILMS this encompasses the classic early groups like the The Clean…
Small Samoan Wedding, A (2004): Filmed at the Wellington Opera House, this live show is the latest offering from the Laughing Samoans comedy duo.
Treasure Island Kids (2004): Dir. Gavin Scott; Hearty adventure series for kids, based around an island and its most interesting inhabitant: the wacky inventor Conrad Dawson, who has spent his…
Very Short Films (Flying Nun DVD I) (2004): A prime collection of music–videos from cult New Zealand music label Flying Nun. From the early days of The Clean and Straitjacket Fits to the…
Wrestling With The Angel - Janet Frame (2004): An unique insight into Janet Frame's private world, accurately framing her childhood years, psychiatric institutionalisation, and eventual freedom…
Behaviours of the Backpacker (2003): Dir. Sandor Lau; Chinese/Hungarian–American film student, Sándor Lau, walked 500km alone from Auckland to Cape Reinga – New Zealand's geographic and…
Christmas (2003): Dir. Gregory King; Structured around a grueling family Christmas in suburban New Zealand, this stark and uncompromising drama is one of the best low–budget…
For Good (2003): Dir. Stuart McKenzie
Feat. Michelle Langstone, Timothy Balme, Miranda Harcourt…; Deserving of a wider audience, this assured and well–focused NZ feature debut belies its limited budget with a pertinent crime story executed…
Give it a Whirl (2003): An in–depth visual and musical exploration of New Zealand rock 'n' roll stories, from the fledgling sounds of the 1950s to today's…
Gupta Vs Gordon (2003): Dir. Jitendra Pal
Feat. Jitendra Pal; Sincere Kiwi comedy, set in the Hawkes Bay, portrays the struggles of Indian immigrants attempting to settle into the New Zealand lifestyle. Centred…
Haunting Douglas (2003): Dir. Leanne Pooley; Mesmerising exploration of renowned New Zealand contemporary dance performer and choreographer Douglas Wright, featuring generous excerpts of his…
Locals, The (2003): Dir. Greg Page
Feat. John Barker, Dwayne Cameron, Kate Elliot…; A local horror outing that follows a couple of surfie city kids into the Waikato bush, where they discover an undead netherworld of shady rural types…
Loop Select 005 (incl. Two Cars One Night) (2003): Dir. Taika Waititi, Patrick Gillies, Michael Duignan; Compilation of 9 music videos and 8 short films from New Zealand. Artists and bands include 'Black Seeds', 'Trinity Roots', Anika Moa and…
Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (2003): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen…; Peter Jackson's adaptation of J R R Tolkien's fantasy trilogy of 'Middle Earth' reaches its spectacular climax, drawing the story–threads…
Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Extended Edition) (2003): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen…; The final installment in Peter Jackson's epic adaptation of JRR Tolkien's fantasy classic. This version includes an extra 45 minutes of footage.
Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Limited Edition) (2003): Dir. Peter Jackson, Costa Botes; Special limited edition re–release of Peter Jackson's final installment of the monumental J.R.R. Tolkien novel. Features both the theatrical…
Murmurs (2003): Dir. Alexander Greenhough, Elric Kane
Feat. James Ashcroft, Daniel Northcott, Kristin Smith…; The daily movements of a Mt Victoria flat are wryly observed in this sophomore DV feature from the directors of KISSY KISSY. Ensconced in a…
Nature's Best (2003): Essential selection of 60 music videos of the "greatest NZ songs of all time", as judged by APRA. Tracklist: Dave Dobbyn – Loyal, The…
Nemesis Game (2003): Dir. Jesse Warn
Feat. Carly Pope, Ian McShane, Rena Owen; Twisted, overly enigmatic thriller shot in New Zealand, that concerns a student's obsession with a high–stakes game of riddles. Noticing…
Ngatahi - Know the Links (2003): Dir. Dean Hapeta
Feat. Dean Hapeta; An extended voyage by Upper Hutt Posse–founder Dean Hapeta through the self–determining cultures of many of the world’s indigenous…
Party Animals (TV Series) (2003): Young childrens TV series featuring singing and dancing with Buddy, Chopper, Snuffles, Poppy and Tippy in their party house at the edge of the…
Perfect Strangers (2003): Dir. Gaylene Preston
Feat. Sam Neill, Rachael Blake, Joel Tobeck; Thriller of possessive love, set effectively on the rugged coastline of New Zealand’s West Coast, that changes tack mid–way into blackly…
Peter Blake - Death on the Amazon (2003): Investigative documentary about the death of famed New Zealand yachtsman Sir Peter Blake, who was sailing up the Amazon River in 2001 before being…
Real Middle Earth, The (2003): Jim Hickey embarks on a journey into the making the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, touring the NZ countryside and talking with Peter Jackson (and many…
Sylvia (2003): Dir. Christine Jeffs
Feat. Gwyneth Paltrow, Daniel Craig, Blythe Danner…; A simply formed, yet resonant portrait of the brilliant, doomed poet Sylvia Plath (Paltrow), recounting her years of marriage to (also poet) Ted…
Terror Peak (2003): Dir. Dale G. Bradley
Feat. Lynda Carter, Antony Starr, Parker Stevenson…; An average telemovie set in New Zealand, in which a holidaying American family venture into the mountains but are surprised by an erupting volcano…
Test, The (2003): Television documentary celebrating 100 years of rugby with New Zealand's All Blacks. Includes interviews with various legends of the game –…
Toy Love (2003): Dir. Harry Sinclair
Feat. Dean O'Gorman, Kate Elliot; Under–rated "bedroom comedy" from writer–director Harry Sinclair about the unruly love games played by a circle of flaky, impetuous…
Whale Rider (2003): Dir. Niki Caro
Feat. Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton…; A stirring, widely–acclaimed adaptation of Witi Ihimaera’s novel about a young girl’s struggle to win the approval of her patriarchal…
Woodenhead (2003): Dir. Florian Habicht; A remarkable and surrealistic melding of New Zealand setting and Germanic sensibility, in which a sad fairytale narrative is enacted, sung and…
7 Worlds Collide (Seven Worlds Collide) (2002): Dir. Paul Casserly; Neil Finn and music–biz pals (Johnny Marr, Lisa Germano, Eddie Vedder and Radiohead's Ed O'Brien & Philip Selway) collided for this 2001…
Captain's Log (2002): Feat. Peter Elliot; Peter Elliot sails around New Zealand retracing Captain Cook's voyage of discovery in 1769. Travelling on 20 different boats, this television series…
Coffee, Tea or Me? (2002): Dir. Brita McVeigh; An engaging lowkey look at the experiences of seven woman who worked as air hostesses in the 1960s and 70s. Similiar in tone to the documentaries…
Crowded House - Dreaming (2002): Feat. Neil Finn; The complete music–videos of now defunct NZ popsters Crowded House, in which visual imagination matches Neil Finn's timeless…
Cupid's Prey (2002): Dir. Dale G. Bradley
Feat. Joanna Pacula; Low end US production filmed in New Zealand, in which a young woman holidays with her boyfriend's troublesome family. Strictly run of the mill.
Flying Visit, A (TV Series) (2002-2003): Former TVNZ weatherman Jim Hickey channels the heritage of his father as a WWII Spitfire pilot and flies a Cessna 182 around New Zealand airstrips,…
Georgie Girl (2002): Dir. Annie Goldson; The unique and quite remarkable life story of Georgina Beyer, born George, a Maori transsexual and former sex–worker, who recently was elected…
In a Land of Plenty (2002): Dir. Alister Barry; Described as ‘the story of unemployment in New Zealand,’ this serves as a strong companion piece for SOMEONE ELSE'S COUNTRY, dir. Barry’s…
Kiwifruit (2002): New Zealand compilation featuring 22 music videos of more recent kiwi artists. Dvd features: Rhombus (Clav Dub), Nesian Mystik (It's On), Ill…
Kung Fu Vampire Killers (2002): Dir. Phil Davison
Feat. Katherine Beresford; Low–budget genre–bender from Dunedin, takes the vampiric corpse of a 19th century Chinese goldminer and transfuses it with Hong…
Living Room, The (TV Series) (2002-2006): Nicely quirky and unpretentious TV series about different (mostly young) local artists living in New Zealand and overseas. Each episode is presented…
Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers (2002): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen…; Peter Jackson’s mammoth adaptation of J R R Tolkien’s fantasy classic continues in grand fashion, with increased visual panache and…
Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers (Extended Edition) (2002): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen…; Peter Jackson’s mammoth adaptation of J R R Tolkien’s fantasy classic continues in grand fashion, with increased visual panache and dramatic…
Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers (Limited Edition) (2002): Dir. Peter Jackson, Costa Botes; Special limited edition re–release of Peter Jackson's second installment of the monumental J.R.R. Tolkien novel. Features both the theatrical…
Manapouri - The Toughest Tunnel (2002): New Zealand's specialist documentarians 'Natural History NZ' tell the heroic story of how a team of a thousand men laboured in the 1960s to complete…
Mataku (TV Series) (2002-2005): Dir. Michael Bennett, Peter Berger
Feat. Temuera Morrison; A well–mounted anthology of contemporary one–off dramas, adapted from the unique and mystical world of Maori supernatural legends. The…
Moon TV (TV Series) (Moon Television) (2002-2006): After making a name for himself as the deadpan bloke "That Guy" on "Sports Cafe", Leigh Hart produced this absurd low–budget skit show for TVNZ…
Off (.OFF.) (2002): Dir. Colin Hodson
Feat. Colin Hodson, Gregory King, George Rose…; Locally produced DV–feature which observes the activities of several drug associates, with a style both languid and, at times,…
Orphans and Angels (2002): Dir. Harold Brodie
Feat. Emmeline Hawthorne, Christopher Brown, Cal Wilson; Risk–taking psychodrama set in a fairytale version of Auckland's seamy subcultures, and possibly NZ's most lurid excursion since ANGEL…
Salmonella Dub (2002): A series of audiovisuals from the Christchurch based dub–dance group. Part 1 is 8 videos compiled from the albums 'Killervision', 'Inside the…
Shipwreck: Deadly Harbour (2002): Dir. Christopher Rowley; Short but vivid documentary account of the disastrous voyage of the Interisland ferry 'Wahine' in April 1968, in New Zealand's worst recorded storm.…
Strip, The (TV Series) (2002): Feat. Luanne Gordon, Renée Ellwood, Jodie Rimmer…; A highly strung corporate lawyer finds her life in disarray upon discovering her husband in bed with another man, so naturally she chucks in her job…
Tomb of the Unknown Warrior (2002): A four–hour special on the opening of the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Wellington, New Zealand. This monument was planned to commerate the…
Tongan Ninja (2002): Dir. Jason Stutter
Feat. Jemaine Clement, Sam Manu, Linda Tseng; An engagingly cheesy martial–arts parody that derives freshness from its unique South Pacific flavour and the comic ingenuity of its star and…
Back of the Y - Masterpiece Television (TV Series) (2001): Dir. Chris Stapp
Feat. Matt Heath, Chris Stapp, Phil Brough; Masterfully original TV–trash that follows in the tradition of BAD TASTE, this enacts a satirical reality–TV show of…
Being Eve (TV Series) (2001): Feat. Fleur Saville; Spunky, good–natured Kiwi comedy essays the angsty teenage years of girl philosopher Eve Baxter, whose unconventional outlook on life is…
Blerta - The Return Trip... (Blerta Revisited) (2001): Dir. Geoff Murphy
Feat. Bruno Lawrence, John Clarke, Martyn Sanderson…; Less a nostalgia 'trip' than a brilliant compendium of manic moments from New Zealand's 1970's travelling roadshow of anarchic performance –…
Bound for Pleasure (2001): Dir. David Blyth; Non–sensational delve into the Auckland B&D scene from horror dir. Blyth (DEATH WARMED UP), that throws up some bizarre scenes of mistresses,…
Crooked Earth (2001): Dir. Sam Pillsbury
Feat. Temuera Morrison, Lawrence Makoare, Nancy Brunning; Vivid action–melodrama uses the dispossession of East Coast Maori to prime its tale of tribal succession, with SAS soldier Temuera Morrison…
Early Days Yet (2001): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; A quietly thoughtful and engaging look at the life and work of New Zealand poet Allen Curnow, filmed when Curnow was in his late–80s and still…
Flight 703 - The Survivors (2001): Individual stories of miraculous survival, heroism and tragedy emerge through the telling of this gripping story of the 15–hour rescue…
Her Majesty (2001): Dir. Mark J. Gordon
Feat. Vicky Haughton, Sally Andrews, Anna Sheridan…; A little–known, but sincerely crafted tale is set in 1950s New Zealand around a young girl's (Andrews) infatuation with Queen Elizabeth II,…
Hotere (2001): Dir. Merata Mita; Noted documentary on New Zealand's reclusive artist Ralph Hotere, constructed in non–linear, impressionistic style. Seven years in the making,…
Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (2001): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler…; Monumental fantasy–epic and filmmaking accomplishment for local–boy–made–good Peter Jackson, transmutes the first part of J R…
Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (Extended Edition) (2001): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler…; Monumental fantasy–epic and filmmaking accomplishment for local–boy–made–good Peter Jackson, transmutes the first part of J R…
Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (Limited Edition) (2001): Dir. Peter Jackson, Costa Botes; Special limited edition re–release of Peter Jackson's first installment of the monumental J.R.R. Tolkien novel. Features both the theatrical…
No One Can Hear You (2001): Dir. John Laing
Feat. Kelly McGillis, Craig Parker, Barry Corbin…; A serial–killing axe–fest set in the USA, but filmed in Auckland, New Zealand. Over the top performances almost lend camp appeal to…
Rain (2001): Dir. Christine Jeffs
Feat. Alicia Fulford-Wierzbicki, Sarah Peirse, Marton Csokas…; Adapted from the acclaimed novel by Kirsty Gunn, this visually crafted evocation of a seaside holiday in the 1970s – bach, suntan lotion, whiskey…
Snakeskin (2001): Dir. Gillian Ashurst
Feat. Melanie Lynskey, Dean O'Gorman, Boyd Kestner…; Searching for a little excitement in those hills due west of Christchurch, NZ, Melanie Lynsky and Dean O’Gorman are sucked into a series of private…
This is Not a Love Story (2001): Dir. Keith Hill
Feat. Stephen Lovatt, Sarah Smuts-Kennedy; Exploring the dynamics of a love–triangle between a soap–opera actor and two women, this local 'DV drama' from debuting dir. Hill catches…
Titless Wonders (2001): Dir. Gaylene Preston; “An upfront exploration of the emotional discoveries of women with breast cancer”, this bravely and valuably documents a subject most people…
Trio at the Top (2001): Dir. John Milligan; Playful Kiwi doco telling the story of the 'golden age' of New Zealand motor sport in the 60s, when Bruce McLauren, Denny Hulme and Chris Amon were…
Truth About Demons, The (The Irrefutable Truth About Demons) (2001): Dir. Glenn Standring
Feat. Karl Urban, Katie Wolfe, Jonathan Hendry…; A sceptical occult investigator (Karl Urban) can't shake off the increasingly grotesque visions that are seemingly the handywork of a vengeful…
Vector File, The (2001): Dir. Eliot Christopher
Feat. Casper Van Dien, Catherine Oxenberg; A scientific–political thriller concerning a mutant strain of smallpox virus sought after by Russian bio–terrorists. B–grade…
When Strangers Appear (Shearer's Breakfast) (2001): Dir. Scott Reynolds
Feat. Radha Mitchell, Barry Watson, Kevin Anderson…; A piquant little thriller set at a lonely country rest–stop – Foxton standing in for Oregon – with dir. Reynold’s (HEAVEN, THE…
Exposure (2000): Dir. David Blyth
Feat. Ron Silver, Alexandra Paul, Paul Gittins…; Moody thriller about a former war photographer, now washed up doing nude shots in New Zealand, who becomes embroiled in a murder…
Jubilee (2000): Dir. Michael Hurst
Feat. Theresa Healey, Hori Ahipene, Cliff Curtis…; Down–at–heel family man Cliff Curtis gets roped into organising the 75th jubilee party for his one–horse town, stretching his…
Kombi Nation (2000): Dir. Grant Lahood
Feat. Gentiane Lupi, Jason Whyte, Loren Taylor (Horsley)…; Four young Kiwis embark on a troubled comic road trip around Europe in the iconic Kombi van. Lupi plays a beer–swilling lass who, fresh from…
Magik and Rose (2000): Dir. Vanessa Alexander
Feat. Alison Bruce, Nicola Murphy, Oliver Driver…; Uplifting comic melodrama set during the Hokitika Wild Food Festival that rises above its familiar story of two women who, in different ways, have…
Our People Our Century (2000): Major, award–winning series tells the story of New Zealand and its people throughout the 20th century. Six episodes across three…
Price of Milk, The (2000): Dir. Harry Sinclair
Feat. Danielle Cormack, Karl Urban, Willa O'Neill…; For young–marrieds Danielle Cormack and Karl Urban, the cost of farming their 117 cows is a strange exile in the NZ backblocks... Milking…
Real New Zealand, The (2000): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; An interesting 'backpack' across New Zealand, as seen from the perspective of tourists who choose to get off the beaten trail and spend their…
Savage Honeymoon (2000): Dir. Mark Beesley
Feat. Nicholas Eadie, Perry Piercy, Elizabeth Hawthorne…; Uncomplicated domestic comedy about a family of 'Westies' – leather clad, bike–straddling, booze–swilling fun–lovers living…
Shifter (2000): Dir. Colin Hodson
Feat. Colin Hodson, Samara McDowell, Diane McAllen…; A study of loose–ended flatting relations and social paranoia directed by Aro Valley local Colin Hodson. Improvisational in its treatment…
Stickmen (2000): Dir. Hamish Rothwell
Feat. Robbie Magasiva, Scott Wills, Simone Kessell…; A crowd–pleasing and assured sports–fetish movie, this doesn't shy from being dubbed 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Pool Cues', with its…
Waiting Place, The (2000): Dir. Cristobal Araus Lobos; A carefully made 'DV–feature' about two unstable prison–escapers who traverse an overgrown rural landscape towards a rendezvous at an…
Campaign (1999): Dir. Tony Sutorius; Close–up account of the cracking political contest for the marginal seat of Wellington Central during the 1996 general election, given a…
Destination Disaster - The Sinking of the Mikhail Lermontov (1999): Compelling document of the 1986 sinking of Soviet cruise ship Mikhail Lermontov in the Marlborough Sounds. Delves into the controversial aftermath of…
Getting to Our Place (1999): Dir. Gaylene Preston, Anna Cotrell; The creation of NZ’s national museum, Te Papa, was an exciting, self–conscious and fraught journey in defining the nation’s identity, this…
Heaven (1999): Dir. Scott Reynolds
Feat. Martin Donovan, Joanna Going, Danny Edwards…; Banished into virtual anonymity by Miramax studio indifference, we can only assume they found this 'arty' thriller too slippery to pigeonhole and…
Kids World (1999): Dir. Dale G Bradley
Feat. Ryan Mitchell, Christopher Lloyd; Set–in–America, but made–in–NZ, this cute wish–fulfilment fable has 12–yr old Ryan Mitchell and his pals…
Lost World, The (TV Series) (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World) (1999-2002): Feat. Peter McCauley, William Snow, Rachel Blakely; Enjoyably cheesy Antipodean TV show based loosely on Arthur Conan Doyle's fantasy–adventure set at the dawn of the 20th century where a band of…
New Zealand Wars, The (1999): Dir. James Belich
Feat. James Belich; Praised, yet inevitably controversial documentary series on New Zealand's 19th century history, in particular the various land–wars between…
Scarfies (1999): Dir. Robert Sarkies
Feat. Neill Rea, Taika Waititi, Willa O'Neill…; Kiwi icons – Dunedin, rugby, Flying Nun music, student life – upholster a formula but well–executed crime plot in which five…
Tribe, The (TV Series) (1999-2003): Set in an post–apocalyptic future where all adults have been wiped out by a virus and children must fend for themselves by ganging up together,…
What Becomes of the Broken Hearted? (1999): Dir. Ian Mune
Feat. Temuera Morrison, Nancy Brunning; Alan Duff–scripted sequel to his novel ONCE WERE WARRIORS is as good a sequel as one could reasonably expect. Story continues some years on…
When Love Comes (1999): Dir. Garth Maxwell
Feat. Rena Owen, Simon Prast, Nancy Brunning…; Earnest tableaux of straight, gay, lesbian and platonic relationships underscored by a music motif and sombre themes of compromise and loss.…
Zoo, The (TV Series) (1999-2006): Selected highlights from New Zealand's own animal documentary series, which looks at the goings–on at the Auckland Zoo among the various animal…
I'll Make You Happy (1998): Dir. Athina Tsoulis
Feat. Jodie Rimmer, Michael Hurst; A comical hotchpotch set among Auckland's K–Road denizens, featuring Jodie Rimmer as a peppy prositute who plots to rip–off pimp Michael…
Memory and Desire (1998): Dir. Niki Caro
Feat. Brenda Kendall, Yuri Kinugawa, Norman Forsey; Director Niki Caro pulls out the art–house stops for her feature debut: a love–story about a mismatched Japanese couple whose honeymoon…
Mouth Wide Open (1998): Dir. Jonathan Dennis; A portrait of pioneering NZ camera person and inventor Ted Coubray, who was one of the first people in Australasia to use a sound camera. Offers a…
Velvet Dreams (1998): Dir. Sima Urale; Director Sima Urale presents this short documentary investigating the world of 'velvet paintings' by traversing the Pacific to talk to artists and…
Via Satellite (1998): Dir. Anthony McCarten
Feat. Danielle Cormack, Timothy Balme, Rima Te Wiata…; Surprise hit on its cinema release, Anthony McCarten's (writer of hit stageplay "Ladies Night") small–scale comedy contrasts the kitsch…
Enid Blyton's Secret Series (TV Series) (1997): Follow–up to the popular Kiwi–produced 'Adventure Series', with the intrepid Arnold family embarking on more thrills and spills the world…
Kiwi Cartoon Collection, The (1997-2007): A showcase of homegrown children's animation, highlighting a decade of work from the award–winning Flux Animation Studios. Features episodes…
Saving Grace (1997): Dir. Costa Botes
Feat. Kirsty Hamilton, Jim Moriarty; A kind of Jesus of Upper Cuba Street, this adaptation of Duncan Sarkies' stageplay ambitiously hammers a drama of poverty in inner–city…
Telly Laughs (TV Series) (1997-1998): A spin–off of SKITZ, this irreverent Kiwi comedy hour parodies a variety of popular television shows, movies and commercials. DVD features…
Topless Women Talk About Their Lives (1997): Dir. Harry Sinclair
Feat. Danielle Cormack, Joel Tobeck, Ian Hughes…; The local sensation of the '97 year that far too few Kiwis saw on the big screen, this fresh and assured comic tableau sees various appealing…
Topp Twins, The (TV Series) (1997): Feat. Jools Topp, Lynda Topp; Choice episodes from Lynda and Jools' brazenly Kiwi hit comedy series, with Camp Mother and Leader, Ken and Ken and other beloved character pairings…
Ugly, The (1997): Dir. Scott Reynolds
Feat. Paolo Rotondo, Rebecca Hobbs, Jennifer Ward-Lealand; A local portrait of a serial killer – Auckland lad Scott Reynolds' transcends his derivative script with an audacious visual style that'll…
Whole of the Moon, The (1997): Dir. Ian Mune
Feat. Toby Fisher, Nikki Si'Ulepa, Pascale Bussieres…; Heartfelt yet uplifting story of two disparate teenage cancer patients who find strength in their misfortune. Dir. Ian Mune's talent for coaxing…
Bonjour Timothy (1996): Dir. Wayne Tourell
Feat. Dean O'Gorman, Sabine Karsenti, Angela Bloomfield; Dean O'Gorman and Sabine Karsenti get a dose of culture shock as international exchange students in this Kiwi–French Canadian…
Broken English (1996): Dir. Gregor Nicholas
Feat. Rade Serbedzija, Aleksandra Vujcic, Julian Arahanga; Racial angst and insecurities afflict an immigrant Serbian family living in the Auckland suburbs. Impassioned drama stars Slavic superstar Rade…
Cinema of Unease (1996): Dir. Sam Neill & Judith Rymer; Sam Neill essays a personal history of Kiwi film as a reflection of our national identity. From his big break in the landmark SLEEPING DOGS to the…
Enid Blyton's Adventure Series (TV Series) (1996): Kiwi–made series based on stories by Enid Blyton has four children embark on a series of adventures that takes them across land and sea.
Frighteners, The (1996): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Michael J. Fox, Trini Alvarado, Peter Dobson…; A big–budget Hollywood hootenanny made in Miramar and starring Lyttleton harbour, this is a must–see for any self–respecting…
Hone Tuwhare (1996): Dir. Gaylene Preston; The late poet laureate, Hone Tuwhare, is captured in this affectionate, candidly observed portrait of an artist. Filmed by Gaylene Preston in the…
Journeys in the New Zealand Heartland (Heartland (TV Series)) (1996): Feat. Gary McCormick; From Stewart Island to Cape Reinga, Kiwi bloke Gary McCormick exposes out–of–the–way New Zealand by way of a scenic…
Kiwi As (1996): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; The second of dir. Shirley Horrocks journey into the delightful world of 'Kiwiana' – those often quaint artifacts of New Zealand's past –…
Kiwiana (1996): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; The first of two congenial excursions into the increasingly popular genre of 20th century New Zealand cultural artifacts, collectively known as…
Someone Else's Country (1996): Dir. Alister Barry; Controversial account of the 'rise of the New Right revolution in New Zealand' was refused television broadcast on account of its 'left wing bias'.…
The Promise - Sir Tristram's Story (1996): The remarkable story of the world's most famous stud stallion Sir Tristram and his partnership with the New Zealand studmaster Patrick Hogan.
Transformers (1996): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; A short documentary about a mid–1990s international art exhibition which showcased works that 'transform' in various ways (create music, grow,…
Flight of the Albatross (1995): Dir. Werner Meyer
Feat. Julia Brendler, Jack Thompson; Teenager Julia Brendler migrates from Germany to New Zealand to renuite with her mother, a scientist studying the albatross colony on a remote island.
Flip and Two Twisters (1995): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; Exploring NZ film–maker Len Lye's other outstanding talent, this documents the ongoing quest to build full–size versions of his…
For Love or Money (1995): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; An interesting documentary about the 1990s New Zealand art scene, in particular the rise in number of those collecting art, whether for pleasure or…
Forgotten Silver (1995): Dir. Costa Botes, Peter Jackson; Costa Botes and Peter Jackson's elaborate and hilarious hoax on the groundbreaking exploits of Kiwi film–making 'legend', Colin MacKenkie.…
Hairy Maclary (TV Series) (1995): Based on Kiwi Lynley Dodd's world famous series of children's books, here's ten shaggy dog stories animated in two volumes on tape or one DVD.
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (TV Series) (1995-1999): Feat. Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hurst; Hugely popular fantasy series starring Kevin Sorbo as the classic half God/half man who travels through a fantastical ancient Greece in search of…
Mirror, Mirror (TV Series) (1995): Feat. Michala Banas, Peter Bensley, Petra Jared…; Kiwi family series about two teenage girls from alternate periods who can see through identical twin mirrors and travel to one another's time. A…
Pacific Rescue (1995): Framed around the infamous 1994 rogue storm which hit 40 vessels and aircraft at sea, this is the story of the largest ever sea rescue in the South…
Putting Our Town On the Map (1995): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; An eye–opening documentary about how many New Zealand towns create prominent versions of local icons in their search for distinction and…
War Stories (War Stories our Mothers never told us) (1995): Dir. Gaylene Preston; Remarkable documentary manages to compel almost exclusively via the spoken word as seven elderly women offer candid yet articulate and boldy frank…
Xena - Warrior Princess (TV Series) (1995-1996): Dir. Charles Siebert, Anson Williams, Gary Jones
Feat. Lucy Lawless; Spinoff to the iconic 1990s 'Hercules' series, that became a cult in its own right. Mixing slapstick action and snappy one–liners into a…
Heavenly Creatures (1994): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Melanie Lynskey, Kate Winslet, Sarah Peirse; Peter Jackson follows his zombie trilogy with this Oscar–nominated tour–de–force based on the Parker–Hulme murders of the…
Jack Brown Genius (1994): Dir. Tony Hiles
Feat. Timothy Balme, Lisa Chappell, Edward Campbell…; A forgotten turkey from Peter Jackson’s ‘Wingnut Films’, this goofily offbeam tale concerns a modern–day inventor of contraptions,…
Once Were Warriors (1994): Dir. Lee Tamahori
Feat. Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Julian Arahanga…; As sensational as it is important, Lee Tamahori's adaptation managed to transform Alan Duff's relentlessly down–beat novel about domestic…
Act of Murder (1993): Dir. Shirley Horrocks
Feat. Miranda Harcourt; A riveting look at NZ actress Miranda Harcourt's impressive solo theatre show 'Verbatim' (written by William Brandt), which was derived from…
Alex (1993): Dir. Megan Simpson
Feat. Lauren Jackson, Chris Haywood, Josh Picker; Fact–based story about teenager Alex Archer, who overcame rivalry and tragedy to win selection for the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. Evocative of…
Bread and Roses (1993): Dir. Gaylene Preston
Feat. Genevieve Picot; A gracious tribute to the post–war generation of New Zealand women, Gaylene Preston does a job worthy of her forebears in charting the early…
Desperate Remedies (1993): Dir. Peter Wells, Stewart Main
Feat. Michael Hurst, Cliff Curtis, Kevin Smith…; An audacious, decadent soap–opera which proudly flaunts its contempt for traditional local film–making with drugs, kinky sex,…
Jack Be Nimble (1993): Dir. Garth Maxwell
Feat. Alexis Arquette; Alexis Arquette gets his American tongue around a Kiwi accent to portray an abused twin who finally reunites with his estranged sister. Though this…
New Zealand Trams (1993): A comprehensive look at the history of trams in New Zealand, which have been an elegant and much–admired form of public transport, although…
On Denniston (1993): Dir. Hugh MacDonald, David Sims; Nicely informative documentary on the West Coast coal–mining town of Denniston, which was notable for its ingenious railway incline access and…
Piano, The (1993): Dir. Jane Campion
Feat. Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Anna Paquin…; A romantic masterpiece set in pioneering New Zealand worthy of its reputation and phenomenal success. Worth a second glance for the cast's impeccable…
Tangiwai and Wahine Disasters (1993-2002): Dir. David Sims, John Carlaw; Released for the first time together on DVD, two in–depth documentaries detailing two of New Zealand's worst transport disasters of the last…
Braindead (Dead Alive) (1992): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Timothy Balme, Diana Penalver, Elizabeth Moody; Local prodigy's magnum opus may well be the last word in zombie film. What begins as a nervous romance for naive young Lionel soon turns into a…
Chunuk Bair (1992): Dir. Dale G. Bradley
Feat. Robert Powell, Kevin J. Wilson, Jed Brophy; Modest, reverent account of an exhausted and shell–shocked Wellington regiment of the ANZAC forces who endeavoured to gain control of the ridge…
Crush (1992): Dir. Alison Maclean
Feat. Marcia Gay Harden; A downbeat analysis of female personal politics, with Marcia Gay Harden, an American vixen in Rotorua who neglects her dear friend recently paralysed…
Emperors of Antarctica (1992): Dir. Max Quinn; Before MARCH OF THE PENGUINS, New Zealand's own dedicated documentarians 'Natural History NZ' filmed the story of the Emperor penguin's journey…
Gully-ites, The (1992): Dir. John Anderson; A slice of character–filled life filmed in our own backyard, this is a heartwarming insight into a community with a unique history, capturing…
See What I Mean (1992): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; An interesting and educative documentary about hearing loss and deafness, which follows two sets of experiences: first, of a family who are all deaf,…
Shortland Street: 15 Years Of (TV Series) (1992-2007): New Zealand's most successful primetime drama – a regular weeknight fixture for homes nationwide, and a port–of–call for almost every…
Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, The (1992): Dir. Michael Tuchner
Feat. Sam Neill, Jon Voight, Tony Barry…; Telemovie enactment of the French–sponsored bombing of the Greenpeace vessel ' Rainbow Warrior' in 1984. Solidly dramatised with Neill and…
End of the Golden Weather (1991): Dir. Ian Mune
Feat. Stephen Fulford, Stephen Papps, Paul Gittins; A delightful adaptation of Bruce Mason's one man play about a young boy's last summer holiday in 1930s New Zealand. Some glorious set pieces and a…
Old Scores (1991): Dir. Alan Clayton
Feat. John Bach, Tony Barry, Roy Billing; Affectionate comedy about an expatriate Welsh sporting hero who is roped in to a replay of a controversial 1966 test match against the All Blacks…
Pleasures and Dangers (1991): A glance at the work and lives of six women artists in New Zealand; Alexis Hunter (painter), Alison MacLean (film–maker), Julia Morison…
Rebels in Retrospect (1991): Dir. Russell Campbell; An inquiry into the aims, methods and achievments of the Progressive Youth Movement, Kiwi political activists in the turbulent '60s.
Te Rua (1991): Dir. Barry Barclay; Dir. Barry Barclay's second feature film concerns a group of Maori who travel to Germany to reclaim sacred 'taonga' from a museum, a century after…
Adventures of the Black Stallion, The (TV Series) (1990): Feat. Mickey Rooney; Fine televisation of Walter Farley’s famous thoroughbred novels, chronicling the learning curve of a 15–year–old jockey and his…
An Angel at My Table (1990): Dir. Jane Campion
Feat. Kerry Fox; Multi–award winning adaptation of Janet Frame's three autobiographies, deserving of its big reputation through compassionate storytelling and…
Billy T Live (1990): Feat. Billy T. James; A posthumous performance from the vaults by one of New Zealand's most distinguished comic talents. Featuring one of Billy T's best live…
Meet the Feebles (1990): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Donna Akesten, Stuart Devenie, Mark Hadlow; "The Muppets meets Blue Velvet in hell" was Fangoria's accurate description of this perversely funny satire featuring an all–puppet cast. From…
New Adventures of Black Beauty, The (1990): Feat. Amber McWilliams; The continuing adventures of Black Beauty, this time shot on location in picturesque New Zealand. Series One: 12 episodes across four discs.
Ruby and Rata (1990): Dir. Gaylene Preston
Feat. Yvonne Lawley, Simon Barnett; A cantankerous landlord, a would–be rock singer and a delinquent child have more in common than they realise when they unwittingly share the…
Soldier's Tale, A (1990): Dir. Larry Parr
Feat. Gabriel Byrne; A tragic love story between a British soldier and a beautiful French woman who is accused of Nazi collaboration by the French resistance. Gabriel…
User Friendly (1990): Dir. Gregor Nicholas
Feat. William Brandt, Alison Bruce, Judith Gibson; An exuberant comic jaunt in which a mysterious kanine statuette becomes the object of hot pursuit for a number of crackpots, each keen to exploit its…
Billy T James Show, The (TV Series) (CUZ FM) (1989): Feat. Billy T. James, Ilona Rogers, Mark Hadlow…; Episodes from the hit sitcom "CUZ FM", centred around the unique persona of NZ's best loved entertainer. Billy plays a radio personality who…
Flying Fox in a Freedom Tree (1989): Dir. Martyn Sanderson
Feat. Richard Von Sturmer; A Western Samoan youth finds himself caught between traditionalism and the freedoms of Western culture. Albert Wendt's novel is given the…
Kitchen Sink (1989): Dir. Alison Maclean
Feat. Theresa Healy, Peter Tait, Anagretta Christian; Three shorts from director Alison Maclean. Her 1989 award–winning Gothic horror is here paired with two earlier works, TALKBACK (1987), and the…
Magical World of Margaret Mahy, The (1989): Dir. Euan Frizzell; Five stories from New Zealand’s premier children’s writer gets nicely animated – “Keeping House”, “The Three–Legged Cat”, “The…
Send a Gorilla (1989): Dir. Melanie Read
Feat. Carmel McGlone, Katherine McRae, Perry Piercy; Valentine's Day spells chaos for three women who run a singing telegram company. A whimsical comedy set and filmed on location here in Wellington.
Starlight Hotel (1989): Dir. Sam Pillsbury
Feat. Greer Robson, Bruce Phillips, Alison Fraser; A young runaway in search of her father and a reluctant fugitive become unlikely partners who manage to keep one step ahead of the police. Shot on…
Mauri (1988): Dir. Merata Mita
Feat. Anzac Wallace, Eva Rickard, James Hayward; Rural slice–of–life centres around an embittered man's search for fulfilment by returning to his roots. It gently illuminates the…
Navigator, The (A Medieval Odyssey) (1988): Dir. Vincent Ward
Feat. Bruce Lyons, Chris Haywood, Marshall Napier; A group of 14th Century Cumbrians experience future shock when their mining expedition leads them to contemporary New Zealand. A terrific adventure…
Bad Taste (1987): Dir. Peter Jackson
Feat. Peter Jackson; New Zealand's entry into the splatter comedy genre, shot on consecutive Sundays over a four year period, is among the best ever made. Outrageously…
Dangerous Orphans (1987): Dir. John Laing
Feat. Peter Stevens, Michael Hurst, Jennifer Ward-Lealand; Three orphans act on their plan to avenge the death of their father but must undermine an elaborate crime ring to carry it out. With Peter Stevens,…
Footrot Flats - A Dog's Tale (1987): Dir. Murray Ball
Feat. John Clarke, Peter Rowley, Rawiri Paratene; Murray Ball brings his indigenous comic strip to animated life – Dog, Wal, Jess, Horse and the villainous Murphys provide corka entertainment…
Funny Business (TV Series) (1987-1989): Feat. Dean Butler, Willy de Wit, Ian Harcourt…; Popular yet smart Kiwi comedy show from the 80's, based on a sketch format and starring some of New Zealand's favourite comics.
Illustrious Energy (1987): Dir. Leon Narbey
Feat. Shaun Bao, Peter Hayden, Peter Chin; Cinematographer Leon Narbey's debut as a director is a real gem, revealing one of New Zealand's 'hidden societies', that of Chinese gold–miners…
Wellington Fringe Film Festival - A Retrospective (20 Films, 20 Years) (1987-2003): Dir. William Toepfer, Scott Reynolds, Stuart McKenzie; The Wellington Fringe Film Festival commemorates its 20th anniversary with this selected anthology of Fringe shorts, all shot on film. –…
Leading Edge, The (1986): Dir. Michael Firth
Feat. Billy T. James; Adventure docu–drama that's little more than an excuse to show off some wonderful South Island scenery and awesome ski theatrics. Billy T.…
Pallet On the Floor (1986): Dir. Lynton Butler
Feat. Bruce Spence, Peter McCauley; A black comedy of errors ensues when a fallen aristocrat and mate cause the accidental death of a notorious criminal.
Queen City Rocker (1986): Dir. Bruce Morrison
Feat. Matthew Hunter, William Edwardson, Sarah Douglas; Four days in the life of a young Auckland punk looking to escape the treadmill of violence and crime.
Came a Hot Friday (1985): Dir. Ian Mune
Feat. Billy T. James; Billy T. James stars in this comic yarn about a pair of inept bookmakers whose greed leads them to losing (and trying to recoup) their…
Islands of the Empire (1985): Dir. Alister Barry, Rod Prosser, Russell Campbell; Documentary from Wellington production company Vanguard Films (SOMEONE ELSE'S COUNTRY) offering a valuable examination of military relationships…
Journeys Across 45 Degrees Latitude South (1985): Unique documentary series tracing Peter Hayden's journey from the east of the South Island to the rugged west coast. Made by the same creative team…
Lost Tribe, The (1985): Dir. John Laing
Feat. John Bach, Darien Takle, Martyn Sanderson…; John Bach's performance is the highlight of this mysterious drama in which he plays a man suspected of murdering his anthropologist brother who has…
Mesmerized (1985): Dir. Michael Laughlin
Feat. Jodie Foster, John Lithgow, Michael Murphy…; Jodie Foster plays a young woman in colonial NZ who flees an orphanage but finds herself trapped in an arranged marriage to a much older business man…
Mr. Wrong (1985): Dir. Gaylene Preston
Feat. Heather Bolton; A young woman acquires a Mark 2 Jaguar that appears to be harbouring the ghost a past owner. Some well executed thrills keep Heather Bolton…
Quiet Earth, The (1985): Dir. Geoff Murphy
Feat. Bruno Lawrence, Alison Routledge; New Zealand's best attempt yet at the sci–fi genre. Bruno Lawrence wakes one morning to find himself apparently the only person left on earth.…
Shaker Run (1985): Dir. Bruce Morrison
Feat. Cliff Robertson, Leif Garrett, Lisa Harrow…; Cult film sees Kiwi scientist Harrow steal a biological weapon that some mercenaries are keen to get their hands on. She enlists daredevil drivers…
Sylvia (1985): Dir. Michael Firth
Feat. Eleanor David; Eleanor David plays Sylvia Ashton–Warner, educational cruasader and best–selling author in the 1940s.
Children Of The Dog Star (TV Mini-series) (1984): Feat. Sarah Dunn, Jason Wallace, Hamish Bartle…; Beloved New Zealand sci–fi series following 12–year–old Gretchen (Dunn) who discovers a link to an extra–extraterrestrial…
Grasp Of Wind, A (1984): Dir. Robert Franken, Russell Campbell
Feat. Neal Gunn; Dutch born New Zealand visual artist Robert Franken's one–and–only directorial effort is a quietly surreal, wordless fable in which a…
Heart of the Stag (1984): Dir. Michael Firth
Feat. Terence Cooper, Bruno Lawrence; A harrowing drama that deals frankly yet sensitively with the subject of incest. Terence Cooper plays a brutish farmer whose dreadful secret is soon…
Silent One, The (1984): Dir. Yvonne MacKay
Feat. George Henare, Pat Evison, Teraki Tokorangi; An endearing and visually striking tale of a gifted young mute boy who becomes ostracised by his isolated Pacific community, but finds solace in the…
Trial Run (1984): Dir. Melanie Read
Feat. Annie Whittle; Eerie occurences manifest into the worst nightmare for a wildlife photographer posted at an isolated cottage. Annie Whittle gives it heck as the…
Vigil (Incl. In Spring One Plants Alone & A State Of Seige) (1984): Dir. Vincent Ward
Feat. Penelope Stewart, Frank Whitten, Bill Kerr…; A young girl's world is transformed when her father dies and a enigmatic stranger arrives in his wake. Our unique landscape provides a magnificent…
Constance (1983): Dir. Bruce Morrison
Feat. Donogh Rees; Donogh Rees gives a restrained performance in this post–war period drama as a school–teacher whose fanciful dreams are realised and then…
Death Warmed Up (1983): Dir. David Blyth
Feat. Michael Hurst; Hell–bent on exacting revenge on a loony scientist, Michael Hurst leads his friends to a secret island where toxic abominations run riot. This…
Making Utu (1983): Dir. Gaylene Preston; Exemplary behind the scenes documentary observes the making of Geoff Murphy's groundbreaking 'puha western' UTU, revealing both the insistence on…
Patu! (1983): Dir. Merata Mita; The 1981 protests against the South African Rugby tour of New Zealand are documented here by M?ori director Merita Mita, providing a landmark in…
Utu (1983): Dir. Geoff Murphy
Feat. Anzac Wallace, Bruno Lawrence, Tim Elliott…; After the great success of GOODBYE PORK PIE, dir. Geoff Murphy and his team get their fingernails dirty with this indigenous 'Western' that addresses…
Utu - Redux (1983-2013): Dir. Geoff Murphy
Feat. Anzac Wallace, Bruno Lawrence, Wi Kuki Kaa…; With lavish technical enhancement and narrative streamlining, this 'Redux' version of the 1983 epic restores its rightful place in the canon of great…
Battletruck (Warlords of the 21st Century) (1982): Dir. Harley Cokeliss
Feat. Michael Beck, Annie McEnroe, James Wainwright…; In the 21st Century oil wars have left civilisation verging on collapse. Lawlessness and anarchy are the order of this day in this…
Carry Me Back (1982): Dir. John Reid
Feat. Grant Tilly, Kelly Johnson; Spirited silliness ensues when plans for a trio of South Island farmers go awry when one of them carks it en route to a Wellington rugby match. Worth…
Next of Kin (1982): Dir. Tony Williams
Feat. Jacki Kerin, John Jarratt, Alex Scott; Moody Australian haunted house flick about a young woman who inherits a retirement home possibly contaminated with a malevolent spirit. Not a classic…
Scarecrow, The (1982): Dir. Sam Pillsbury
Feat. Jono Smith, Tracey Mann, Daniel McLaren…; A fine film adaptation of Ronald Hugh Morrieson's classic New Zealand novel about a crazed killer who instills fear and paranoia in a small rural…
Under the Mountain (TV Series) (1982): Feat. Kirsty Wilkinson, Lance Warren, Roy Leywood; Disquieting, dark–hued tele adaptation of Maurice Gee's beloved sci–fi fantasy, about a pair of twins with latent psychic powers,…
Bad Blood (1981): Dir. Mike Newell
Feat. Jack Thompson, Carol Burns, Denis Lill; A gripping drama based on the factual account of Stan Graham, who in 1941 murdered four policemen and sparked one of the greatest manhunts in New…
Dead Kids (Strange Behaviour) (1981): Dir. Michael Laughlin
Feat. Michael Murphy, Louise Fletcher; Minor cult item concerning a series of nasty murders in a small town, which may be connected to a deranged scientist and his psychology experiments.…
Goodbye Pork Pie (1981): Dir. Geoff Murphy
Feat. Tony Barry, Kelly Johnson, Claire Oberman…; This little beauty was the first Kiwi film to make international inroads. An amoral tale about a gang of misfits who travel the length of the country…
Our Heritage (TV Series) (1981): A unique series of television snippets, in which seven ballads by legendary Waitakere historian Jack Diamond are recited over historical imagery and…
Pictures (1981): Dir. Michael Black
Feat. Kevin J. Wilson, Peter Vere-Jones, Helen Moulder; Two rival photographer brothers clash ethics over their respective portraits of the native Maori. Colonialist parable explores the value of art and…
Race for the Yankee Zephyr (1981): Dir. David Hemmings
Feat. Ken Wahl, Lesley Ann Warren, Donald Pleasence…; Ken Wahl, Lesley Ann Warren, Donald Pleasance and George Peppard cavort on and over the South Island in search of a 'McGuffin'.
Smash Palace (1981): Dir. Roger Donaldson
Feat. Bruno Lawrence, Grier Robson; One of local cinema's finest hours is this rural tale of a brusque auto–mechanic (Bruno Lawrence) whose estrangement from his family leads him…
Beyond Reasonable Doubt (1980): Dir. John Laing
Feat. David Hemmings, John Hargreaves; Probing account of events surrounding the much–publicised Crew murders that put an innocent farmer, Arthur Allan Thomas, behind bars for ten…
Angel Mine (1979): Dir. David Blyth
Feat. Derek Ward, Jennifer Redford, Myra De Groot; A punk, Bunuel–esque social satire in which a married couple escape their material lives through anarchic fantasies, staged as dream–like…
Children of Fire Mountain (TV Mini-Series) (1979): Dir. Peter Sharp
Feat. Terence Cooper, Mark Hadlow; Fondly–remembered Kiwi period drama set in 1900 New Zealand, depicting the conflict between Maori and British settlers from the point of view…
Middle Age Spread (1979): Dir. John Reid
Feat. Grant Tilly, Dorothy McKegg, Peter Sumner…; Grant Tilly is priceless as the philandering high–school deputy who reluctantly hosts a dinner party for six. Based on the play by Roger Hall,…
Sons for the Return Home (1979): Dir. Paul Maunder
Feat. Uelese Pataia; Compassionate screen adaptation of Albert Wendt's autobiographical novel, the first published by a Samoan. Uelese Pataia plays the shy young academic…
Kiwi Gold (feat. Letter to Blanchy, Gliding On, Pete & Pio, A Week of It, More Issues, Rabbiter's Rest, Radio Times Theatre) (1977-1994): Feat. David McPhail, Jon Gadsby, Pio Terei…; Three tasty samplers of Kiwi television sitcoms and current affairs skit shows featuring some of our best known comic talents. VOLUME 1 contains…
Sleeping Dogs (1977): Dir. Roger Donaldson
Feat. Sam Neill, Warren Oates; Roger Donaldson's nihilistic action–thriller in which Sam Neill finds himself alone between two opposing extremist groups. A trail–blazer…
Solo (1977): Dir. Tony Williams
Feat. Vincent Gil, Lisa Peers, Martyn Sanderson; Emotional isolation is the theme of this moody drama in which a lonely fire patrol pilot balances his life with that of his introverted son and a…
Hunter's Gold (TV Series) (1976): Feat. Ken Blackburn, Andrew Hawthorn, Ian Mune…; Classic kidult series follows young Scott Hunter as he searches for his father amidst the Otago Gold Rush in thismagnificent recreation of early New…
Off the Edge (1976): Dir. Michael Firth; This breathtaking film captures both the grandeur of the Southern Alps and some spectacular skiing and handgliding feats performed by an American…
Fred Dagg - All Purpose (1974-2006): Feat. John Clarke; Fred Dagg finally makes it to DVD in this “Authorised Daggography” from legendary Kiwi comic (and now honorary Australian) John Clarke, collating…
Mururoa 1973 (1973): Dir. Alister Barry; Documentary filmed on the protest boat "The Fri" which visited Mururoa Atoll in 1973 to protest the testing of nuclear weapons by the French…
Split Enz 1972 - 1992 (1972-1992): Feat. Neil Finn, Phil Judd; Near–definitive career–spanning video compilation of the much loved quirky kiwi band, ranging from the early Phil Judd–led…
Wild South (TV Series) (1972-1982): Acclaimed nature series from renowned wildlife documentary makers NHNZ. Includes the best episodes from the series covering the lives of a range of…
This is New Zealand (1969): Dir. Hugh MacDonald; A long–awaited DVD release of the landmark three camera/three projection spectacle, produced by the National Film Unit for the New Zealand…
Children of the Sun (1968): Dir. Andrew McAlpine; A nostalgic time capsule from the 1960s about the burgeoning surf culture of New Zealand and Australia during the heyday of longboarding. Filmed…
Country Calendar (TV Series) (1966-2015): The iconic New Zealand series that unveils the doings of our rural populace – their innovations, traditions and eccentricities. 'Very Best…
Until They Sail (1957): Dir. Robert Wise
Feat. Jean Simmons, Joan Fontaine, Paul Newman…; 1950s Christchurch is the novelty star of this MGM prestige picture set entirely in Canterbury, New Zealand, with landmarks such as the Christchurch…
Time to Remember, A - New Zealand Edition (Movietone Edition) (1930-1975): Comprehensive archive of New Zealand Cinesound and Movietone newsreels, from 1930–1975. Surveying five decades of Kiwi history and heritage,…
Colour Box: 19 films by Len Lye (1929-1979): As it says on the tin, a 19–film compilation by the New Zealand–born master of ‘direct’ animation, made between 1929 to…
Coast New Zealand (TV Series): New Zealand chapter of the picturesque BBC documentary series exploring the world's coastlines. Neil Oliver returns as presenter, and explores…
Exiles - The Story Of A Polish Journey: Dir. John Anderson; A 30 year old writer and historian endeavours to uncover more about her Polish mother's harrowing life prior to arriving in Wellington in 1944, as…
Maori - Culture, Traditions and History: Historical doco presented by NZ historian Don Stafford tracing the history of Maori from their arrival on the fair shores of Aotearoa to traditional…
Pop - The Conspiracy of Popular Culture: Dir. Aaron Keown; Laughable, local–made conspiracy ‘doco’ concerns a dubious Larry Loungehard galavanting around the world with various pop cultural icons in…

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