Subgenre Sampler
New Zealand > Drama: 207 Films to Buy & Rent
- 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…
- 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,…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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.
- Vermilion (2018)
- Dir. Dorthe Scheffmann
Feat. Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Theresa Healey, Emily Campbell
- The story of a group of women – mothers, daughters, friends and neighbours – set over a summer month. Jennifer Ward–Lealand…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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"…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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.
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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.
- 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.
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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.
- 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…
- 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.
- 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…
- 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…
- 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.
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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.
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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..
- 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…
- Sunshine Man, The (2006)
- Dir. Peter Tonks
- A dark parable in short–film form from Wellington dir. Peter Tonks, concerning a seriously–odd telephone salesman whose frustrations in…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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,…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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,…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- Shirt, The (2000)
- Dir. John Laing
Feat. Brian Sargent, Kirsty King-Turner, Jeff Szusterman…
- Chiefly the creation of Wellingtonian writer/producer Ross Bevan, this hits hard as a raw study of three career–junkies ‘led’ by a…
- 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…
- Channeling Baby (1999)
- Dir. Christine Parker
Feat. Danielle Cormack, Kevin Smith
- 'First sight' romance between a blind pacifist and a shell–shocked soldier in the 70s ended in heartbreak after the tragic 'disappearance' of…
- Lunatics Ball, The (1999)
- Dir. Michael Thorp
Feat. Michael Daly, Jane Irwin, Sarah Ashworth…
- Idiosyncratic indie set around a doctor’s efforts to apply his unorthodox ideas in a psych–ward which is slowly coming unstuck.
More…
- 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.…
- Wild Blue (1999)
- Dir. Dale G. Bradley
Feat. Nicola Murphy, Judge Reinhold
- The wilds of Otago serve as a backdrop for this modern drama, with young Nicola Murphy (MAGIK AND ROSE) returning to NZ to assume a postponed role of…
- 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…
- Serious Shorts (Five NZ Short Films) (1998)
- Dir. Charlie de Salis, Neil Pardington, Stuart McKenzie
- A collection of 5 short films from New Zealand. Specially compiled for educational purposes, this tape includes film analysis material between each…
- Duggan (TV Series) (Death in Paradise, Sins of the Fathers) (1997-1998)
- Dir. Yvonne MacKay
Feat. John Bach
- Detective inspector John Bach heads up these made–for–TV policiers as a recluse drawn into a murder cases near his Marlborough Sounds…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- Loaded (1996)
- Dir. Anna Campion
Feat. Oliver Milburn, Dearbhla Molloy, Danny Cunningham…
- Fans of Trainspotting will connect with this compelling snapshot of the E–generation – an acid–inflected psychodrama that unfolds…
- 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.
- 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…
- 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…
- 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,…
- 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…
- Secrets (1993)
- Dir. Michael Pattinson
Feat. Noah Taylor, Willa O'Neill
- During the Beatles' Melbourne tourdate of 1964, four Beatle–maniacs and an Elvis fan find themselves trapped together in a hotel basement,…
- Typhon's People (1993)
- Dir. Yvonne MacKay
Feat. Alfred Molina, Sophie Lee, Michael Hurst…
- Capable sci–fi thriller, scripted by Margaret Mahy, concerning dodgy genetic–engineering in a remote NZ research station. Stars local…
- Absent Without Leave (1992)
- Dir. John Laing
Feat. Craig McLauchlan
- Craig McLauchlan from Neighbours stars as a love–struck newly–wed on the run from the army during WW2. Slight nostalgia with lots of…
- 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…
- Footstep Man, The (1992)
- Dir. Leon Narbey
Feat. Michael Hurst, Jennifer Ward-Lealand
- An ambitious psychological drama about a forlorn sound–effects man who becomes obsessed with the woman in a film he is working on. Technically…
- Short Reels: Ten New Zealand Short Films (1992-2004)
- 1. Watermark (2001) 12m.
2. The Platform (2001) 5m.
3. The Little Things (2004) 12m.
4. The Man Who Couldn't Dance (2004) 10m.
5. Lovelock (1992)…
- 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…
- Married (1991)
- Dir. Gaylene Preston
Feat. Jed Brophy, Tracey Moore
- Jed Brophy and Tracey Moore play newlyweds coping with sex roles and a communication breakdown one day in mythical NZ suburbia. Preston directs a…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- Beyond Gravity (1989)
- Dir. Garth Maxwell
Feat. Iain Rea, Robert Pollock
- Gay romance blossoms for a astronomy–obsessed technician when he encounters a free–spirited Italian.
- 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…
- Kiwi Shorts Volume 2 (1989-1993)
- Dir. William Toepfer, Anthony McCarten, Jessica Hobbs
- Another good sampling of eight short films funded by the NZ Arts Council and Film Commission – also compiled by the good folk at…
- 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…
- Kiwi Shorts Volume 1 (1988-1992)
- Dir. Grant Lahood, Scott Reynolds, Nicky Marshall
- A good sampling of eight short films funded by the NZ Arts Council and Film Commission, including the classic "The Lounge Bar". Compiled by the good…
- 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…
- Ngati (1988)
- Dir. Barry Barclay
Feat. Tuta Ngarimu Tamati, Iranui Haig, Tawai Moana…
- A moving and powerful drama about an Australian immigrant who encounters the spiritual home of the local 'Ngati' or tribe, which triggers his own…
- 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,…
- 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…
- Mark II (1987)
- Dir. John Anderson
- Three unemployed Maori youth embark on a bumpy ride south in their Mark II Ford Zephyr. The young novice actors exude charm and raw energy that…
- Arriving Tuesday (1986)
- Dir. Richard Riddiford
Feat. Judy McIntosh, Peter Hayden
- An estranged couple try to rekindle their romance by taking a holiday which only seems to make matters worse. A poignant love story.
- 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.…
- 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.
- Leave All Fair (1985)
- Dir. John Reid
Feat. John Gielgud, Jane Birkin
- A rewarding drama set among the memories of John Middleton Murray (John Gielgud), husband of NZ writer Katherine Mansfield (Jane Birkin). Well worth…
- 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…
- Should I Be Good or Should I Be Evil? (1985)
- Dir. Graham McLean
Feat. Beaver , Harry Lyon
- Musos Beaver and Harry Lyon from Hello Sailor have a bash at acting in a story based on the Mr Asia drug–ring. Music by Hammond Gamble.
- Sylvia (1985)
- Dir. Michael Firth
Feat. Eleanor David
- Eleanor David plays Sylvia Ashton–Warner, educational cruasader and best–selling author in the 1940s.
- Among the Cinders (1984)
- Dir. Rolf Haedrich
Feat. Paul O'Shea, Derek Hardwick, Yvonne Lawley
- A tender chronicle of a 16–year–old's rite–of–passage who finds first love with an older woman embittered by her experience…
- 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…
- King Pin (1984)
- Dir. Mike Walker
Feat. Nicholas Rogers, Junior Amega, Mitchell Manuel
- Polynesian juveniles experience bonding, rivalry and violence at a child welfare training facility. Though budget constraints are evident, it's…
- Other Halves (1984)
- Dir. John Laing
Feat. Lisa Harrow, Mark Pilisi
- An unlikely relationship blossoms between a 32–year–old white woman and a polynesian street–kid half her age.
- 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…
- Issues Facing Women (1983-1987)
- Dir. Patricia Robins, Diana Rowan, Melanie Read
Feat. Judy McIntosh, Elizabeth McRae, Bridgette Allen…
- Three short films from New Zealand made by and about women.
Instincts (1987) 20 mins
The story of a woman in a communal relationship in the 70's…
- 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…
- Stories on Film (1982-1986)
- Dir. Larry Parr, Costa Botes, Lynton Butler
Feat. Bruno Lawrence, Annie Whittle
- Three short films from New Zealand.
The Makutu On Mrs. Jones (1986) 25 mins
Based on a story by Witi Ihimaera, this short film is about a boys'…
- Strata (1982)
- Dir. Geoff Steven
Feat. Nigel Davenport
- Bold but failed attempt to emulate the arthouse cinema of European directors like Bergman, Tarkovsky and Antonioni in a New Zealand setting. Staged…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- Skin Deep (1979)
- Dir. Geoff Steven
Feat. Ken Blackburn, Alan Jervis, Deryn Cooper
- When an urban masseuse sets up at a legitimate health bar in a small South Island town she attracts as much demand for special services as…
- 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…
- Roger Donaldson Collection, The (Sleeping Dogs, Smash Palace) (1977-1981)
- Dir. Roger Donaldson
- Roger Donaldson's first two features – both Kiwi classics – in a 2–disc set, including substantial retrospective featurettes and…
- 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…
- 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…
- Don't Blink
- A compilation of short films and videos from students and independents in the South Island. Features 'Zero Graphic', 'Tuning In' and 'Domestic…
- Walking Past Midnight / The Terrorist
- Dir. Andrea Bosshard, Shane Loader
- A pair of underseen short films from two Aro Valley film–makers.