Festival:
The 50th New Zealand International Film Festival
Dates:
July 19-August 12 (Auckland)
About:
Originally home to several events in different regions but combined in 2009, the festival takes place in 13 cities through mid-September. Auckland, the longest-running fest, offers more than 50 new and recent documentary features among its lineup.
BLUDGEON
Among the world premiere’s at this year’s event are: Paora Te Oti Takarangi Joseph’s
MAUI’S HOOK, exploring suicide within both indigenous Māori and white communities; Costa Botes’
ANGIE, about survivors of child sexual abuse at a now-disgraced commune; Jack Nicol’s
SHE SHEARS, which focuses on female competitive sheep shearers; Heperi Mita’s
MERATA: HOW MUM DECOLONISED THE SCREEN, about the filmmaker’s mother, a Māori filmmaker and activist; and Ryan Heron and Andy Deere’s
BLUDGEON, which offers an inside look into the subculture of modern day medieval combat competitions.
DOG’S BEST FRIEND
Other docs on offer include: Joe Stephenson’s
MCKELLEN: PLAYING THE PART, a biography of acclaimed British actor Sir Ian McKellen; Rebecca Tansley’s
THE HEART DANCES – THE JOURNEY OF THE PIANO: THE BALLET, which looks at the culture clash that results when Czech creators bring their ballet adaptation of Jane Campion’s acclaimed film back to New Zealand; Laetitia Carton’s
LE GRAND BAL, about an annual dance festival in France that draws hundreds of musicians and dancers; and Eryn Wilson’s
DOG’S BEST FRIEND, a profile of an Australian canine rehabilitation center.
