NZIFF 2018: The First 9 Films Announced

Today, the New Zealand International Film Festival announced five more films in the 2018 programme. This brings the total to nine films announced.

It looks like NZIFF has seen all those crossed fingers from film fans as the new announcements contain heavily-awaited features that make us sweaty with anticipation.

Here are today’s announcements.


Disobedience

Sebastián Lelio (A Fantastic Woman) directs Oscar winner Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams in this adaptation of Naomi Alderman’s novel.


Lucky

The late, great Harry Dean Stanton leads this small-town tale as a 90-year-old atheist placed on a journey to find some acceptable meaning to his life.


RBG

A look at the life and work of US Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who, at 84, continues to fight for equal rights for all citizens.


You Were Never Really Here

Joaquin Phoenix won Best Actor at Cannes for his role as a brutal enforcer out to rescue a teenage girl in this thriller from the writer-director of We Need to Talk About Kevin.


Zama

17th Century period piece about a Spanish officer stuck in the outskirts of colonial South America, feverishly awaiting transfer to Buenos Aires.


NZIFF last week announced the first four films for the programme. They are:


Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

Award-winning documentary on the life and career of the hailed Hollywood movie star and underappreciated genius inventor, Hedy Lamarr.


Leave No Trace

A small mistake derails the ideal lives of a father and his 13-year-old daughter in this drama from Oscar-nominated director Debra Granik.


Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.

Sundance award-winning documentary on controversial musician M.I.A., drawn from a never-before-seen cache of personal footage spanning decades.


Yellow Is Forbidden

New Zealand documentarian Pietra Brettkelly (A Flickering Truth) chronicles designer Guo Pei’s attempt to break into the exclusive and mostly European club of elite fashion designers.


NZIFF screens in Auckland from 19 July and in Wellington from 27 July. Find out more at the official NZIFF website.