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Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland as the perfect Robin and Marian in the adventure cinema classic. "This great 1938 film exists in an eternal summer of bravery and romance." — Chicago Sun Times

Jim Broadbent, Juliet Stevenson and Colin Firth star in this heartfelt adaptation of Blake Morrison's memoir of his uneasy relationship with his country doctor father. "Likely to strike a chord in almost anybody." — Evening Standard

A spirited appreciation and colourful portrait of the great jazz singer and queen of 50s cool. Excellent clips, archived interviews and unseen footage.

An inspirational rockumentary about an aging metal band, both funny and heart-warming in equal measure. "It's a hilarious, and unexpectedly moving, documentary about the greatest metal band you've probably never heard of." — Entertainment Weekly

Samoan-born Aucklander Sima Urale brings an ebullient light touch to parallel, richly loaded domestic dramas in two families of cooks: one Sikh, the other dyed-in-the-wool Anglo.

NZer Pietra Brettkelly's Sundance-acclaimed portrait of controversial art world star Vanessa Beecroft as she attempts to adopt Sudanese twins. "Brutally honest." — LA Times

A grieving filmmaker takes to the sea and finds quiet transcendence in travel and the elemental allure of the ocean. This strangely calming film is a true original.

In the most widely praised debut at Sundance this year, a rural Mississippi family realigns after a tragic death. "Fragmentary, mysterious and poetic." — Village Voice

A lost Egyptian band spends the night in a small Israeli town in this charming comedy. "Marries goofy deadpan comedy with a conciliatory spirit... you'll weep with laughter." — LA Weekly

Engaging portrait of Alun Bollinger (Vigil, Heavenly Creatures) whose stunning cinematography has been informing the way we New Zealanders see ourselves for over 40 years.

When all the tapes in their store get wiped, Jack Black and Mos Def set out to remake every movie. Directed by Michel Gondry. "A hundred minutes of sweet-natured idiocy." — Financial Times

Are steroids really a cheaters' drug, or are they as American as Rocky Balboa? Dedicated gym rat Chris Bell weighs the evidence. "Whip-smart, funny and refreshingly honest." — CNN.com

Much-awarded and widely loved documentary about a 15-year-old hyper-engaging small-town misfit. "A movie about adolescence unlike any other." — LA Times

Andrew Garfield is mesmerising as a young man starting life anew after growing up in detention. " A poignant realist drama that will leave a big emotional impression." — Time Out

A robust village comedy with satirical bite and a pensive undertow, California Dreamin' personalises American intervention in the Balkans. "It has energy, wit and heart to spare." — IFC News

Director Manoel de Oliveira (born 1908) recreates the real-life search of Manuel Luciano da Silva and his wife Sílvia to prove that Christopher Columbus was actually Portuguese.

A lean, mean showcase for Wellington's vibrant underground hip-hop scene, following local rappers and freestylers competing for the title of Wellington's best battle emcee.

A self-confessed loser in love tracks down his numerous exes for interviews in this comedic documentary of humiliation and haplessness.

The emergence and impact of the beat-era LA art scene is examined in this lively documentary. "Smart, jazzy and unafraid to deflate egos... a fast-paced, finely critical study." — Time Out NY

This brash, attention-grabbing documentary recounts a life-long tale of violently obsessive passion that has made numerous headlines over the decades.

Neil Young's film intercuts concert footage of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's 2006 US tour with a frank documentary record of audience reactions to his political activism.

This heartbreaking doco begins as a loving scrapbook tribute to the filmmaker's dead friend before careening into a harrowing and provocative true-crime drama.

A moving celebration of the life of pioneering gay filmmaker Derek Jarman (Jubilee, Caravaggio, Blue), featuring copious film extracts and the reflections of former muse Tilda Swinton.

This documentary tale of a young Brisbane goth's five-year courtship of a beautiful Pakistani woman is a tale of cross-cultural misunderstanding that's simultaneously funny, sad and insightful.

The spectacular giant screen spin-off from the BBC's Planet Earth series. "Simply matchless... there isn't a moment that doesn't fill one with awe." — Time Out

Film-maker Werner Herzog travels to the McMurdo Station in Antarctica, looking to capture the continent's beauty and investigate the characters living there.

Inspiring and dramatic doco about Henry Marsh, celebrated British neurosurgeon who volunteers on the Ukraine. "Unforgettable portrait of a true humanitarian." — Time Out

"The Escapist... not only works as a brilliant, twisting existential expansion of the traditional prison break film; it also works as a crackerjack example." — Cinematical. Starring Damian Lewis, Joseph Fiennes, Brian Cox, Seu Jorge.

Behind the scenes with six contenders at the 2006 Kentucky Derby. "Compelling, expertly paced... Nothing short of riveting." — Washington Post

The Festival and the Vector Wellington Orchestra in a single rare screening of one of the popular comedy classics of the silent era.

A nerve-wracking thriller about two women trafficking illegal immigrants across a frozen river. Winner Grand Jury Prize (Best Dramatic Feature), Sundance Festival.

Michael Haneke (The Piano Teacher) channels his anger with mainstream media depiction of violence into a horrific and highly entertaining piece of cinema. Starring Naomi Watts, Tim Roth.

A visionary architect grapples with corporate and political meddling in a bid to build entirely self-sustained, eco-friendly communities in the New Mexico desert. Infectious and inspiring.

Gore-hounds rejoice! The Maestro returns with a new installment in his epic anthology of all things zombie. "An entirely fresh take on the inevitably impending apocalypse." — Cinematical

Definitive biography of iconic writer, drinker and lunatic Hunter S. Thompson seeks to separate man from myth. Directed by Alex Gibney (Enron, Taxi to the Dark Side).

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' 1996 album Murder Ballads is treated to a retrospective 'making of' documentary. With Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, Kylie Minogue.

Excellent objective documentary about a British boarding school for children with extreme behavioural problems – and a staff to student ratio of 108 to 40.

The 'stolen' insider emails of Nicky Hager's best-selling account of National's 2004 election campaign rise again in Alister Barry's (Someone Else's Country) new film.

Robin Greenberg's documentary introduces us to the remarkable life of New Zealand's very own T'ai Chi master, Loo-Chi Hu.

British artist Steve McQueen's formidable film about IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands is a searching and provocative deliberation of martyrdom. Winner Camera d'Or for the best debut at Cannes this year.

An intimate look into the lives of two stalkers of 80s teen pop one-hit-wonder Tiffany, Sean Donnelly's I Think We're Alone Now is absolutely disturbing, wince-inducing trainwreck viewing of the highest order.

Bloody and brilliantly funny, playwright Martin McDonagh's directing debut brings a black Irish wit to an odd couple/hitmen-on-the-lam comedy. With Colin Farrell, Brendon Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes.

In this cool and funny lo-fi romantic comedy, two love-scarred LA 20-somethings meet on Craigslist rather than spend New Year's Eve alone. "The perfect date movie." — RottenTomatoes.com

Veteran masters of social realism Ken Loach and writer Paul Laverty (My Name Is Joe) return with one of their most involving character-centred dramas. "A movie of great honesty and humanistic inquiry." — The Guardian

Estranged adult sisters are warily reunited in Athina Tsoulis' engagingly acted drama of family secrets and lies. With Sara Wiseman and Rachel Nash.

The Festival and The Trusts are proud to present the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in a single rare screening of one of the great comedy classics of the silent era.

"A true gem about rivalry amongst videogamers... a thrilling examination of the human psyche – a hugely entertaining account of good vs evil." — Time Out

This tender deadpan comedy follows 16-year-old Juan as he tries to organise a repair job on the family car he has just crashed. Selected as 'Revelation of the Year', Critics' Week Cannes 2008

This ingeniously infectious Kiwi riff on Shaun of the Dead sees three bickering layabouts enlisted in a risky scheme to save the world from a zombie apocalypse.

Director Julian Schnabel captures Lou Reed performing his 1973 album live in 2006. "Berlin gets the documentary it deserves: [it] instantly ranks as one of the great concert films ever shot." — Tribeca Film Festival

Cult director Béla Tarr's bizarre, ominous adaptation of a Simenon detective novel unfolds in amazingly choreographed mobile camera sequences. "Mesmeric." — The Guardian

This thrilling documentary recounts Frenchman Philippe Petit's 1974 attempt to walk a tightrope between the twin towers of the World Trade Centre. " Exhilarating, ecstatic and toe-curlingly vertiginous... Unforgettable." — Peter Calder NZ Herald

Pierce Brosnan, Chris Cooper, Patricia Clarkson and Rachel McAdams in a Hitchcockian tale of adultery and murder, 40s style. Slyly ironic film noir by Sundance winner Ira Sachs. "Perfectly acted." — New York Film Festival

Compelling, disquieting and droll doco explores the development in Japan and comsumption worldwide of therapeutic robots: can robots offer a substitute for human affection?

Superb portrait if the legendary saxophonist to whom even John Coltrane yielded the stage. "The ne plus ultra of free jazz.... a cause for rejoicing." — New Yorker

Guy Maddin's portrait of his native city is intensely idiosyncratic and hilariously unreliable. " Dazzlingly imagnative, flagrantly absurd and yet clearly very heartfelt." — Sight and Sound

A staggering overview of how America lost the war in Iraq with plentiful testimony from inside the Bush camp. "A mind-boggling litany of mistakes and poor judgements." — Film Comment

An affectionate, hilarious sex-and-violence studded celebration of the 'Ozploitation' films the 70s and 90s. With George Miller, Quentin Tarantino and a cast of thousands.

Engrossing step-by-step account of the production of a single Steinway concert grand piano. "A stirring symphony of specialized labor." — Village Voice

A highly entertaining portrait of Barney Rosset, one of the most adventurous English-language publishers of the 20th century and one of the great unsung heroes of free expression.

Filmmaker Margaret Brown find the segregated South alive and well in America's oldest Mardi Gras, in Mobile Alabama. "Vibrant and revealing." — Hollywood Reporter

From the director of The Spanish Apartment, a mult-character cavalcade of life and death and love and the lack of it in the City of Lights. "A rich and satisfying indulgence." — UrbanCinefile.com.au

An intimate, lyrical portrait of punk pioneer Patti Smith. "If Patti Smith has ever mattered to you, you'll remember why when you see Dream of Life." — Film Comment

A rousing, affectionate biographical portrait of singer/activist Pete Seeger, now in his late 80s. "As certain to get audiences singing as the man himself." — Variety

This exhilarating documentary brings us all the excitement of the 2005 break dancing Battle of the Year. Featuring insane performances and impossible choreography from the world's best b-boys.

Welcome to the fevered dream world of Daniel, 20-something and losing the plot. "Dazzling... its hip sensibility is Lynch before he went into self parody." — Ant Timpson

Vincent Ward's deeply personal and incredibly moving film unravels and re-imagines the history-tossed life of Puhi, the elderly Tuhoe woman he first filmed as a young filmmaker in 1978.

An illuminating music-filled history of Stax Records, low-down cousin to Detroit's silkier Motown. "An essential account." — NY Times

Kathy Dudding's experimental documentary – a poetic portrait of Wellington city – intercuts her grandmother's reminiscence with lyrical images of the city today and archival imagery from the past.

Memorable and revealing encounter with Yolngu woman Frances Daingangan whose part in Ten Canoes took her from traditional tribal life to the red carpet at Cannes.

Extravagant performing artist Warwick Broadhead recounts, re-imagines and re-enacts a life lived to the full and dogged by personal tragedy. Directed by Florian Habicht (Kaikohe Demolition).

In association with the Harold Lloyd Estate, the Festival is delighted to present a Live Cinema screening of one of the classic comedies of the silent era, accompanied on the piano by Tim Dodd.

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney are in peak form in this American black comedy as brother and sister obliged to care for their estranged father. "Terrific." — Entertainment Weekly

Ecowarrior Rob Stewart's spectacular film takes us swimming with the sharks, while uncovering the multi billion-dollar shark-fin trade that puts them and the world's eco-systems at risk.

This tale of adultery in a Mennonite community in rural Mexico has the power of a story from the Old Testament. "This is a film of grace and greatness." — Financial Times

From the director and star of This Is England, the comic exploits of two teenage boys adrift in London. Best New British Feature, Edinburgh Film Festival 2008. "I had a perma-grin from beginning to end." — Premiere

After committing a shocking crime, a young man decides to become a good person. Blackly humorous Kiwi suburban crime drama by NZ director Greg King (Christmas).

Documentary auteur Errol Morris (The Thin Blue Line, The Fog of War) recounts the fruit of two years of research into events surrounding the notorious photographs from Abu Ghraib.

From Japanese maverick Miike Takashi a violent orgasmically gonzo genre mash-up that screws around with Spaghetti Western conventions.

Highly entertaining portrait of 84-year-old surf legend 'Doc' Paskowitz and the nine kids he raised to live the nomadic surfing lifestyle. "Wonderfully engaging." — NY Times

Alex Gibney's Academy Award winning documentary digs deep into the systematised abuse and outright murder of 'enemy combatants' held in American prisons.

Traditional Javanese song and dance meet European free-jazz at the famous Borubudur Temple.

This fiendish, black comedy-horror updates the ancient myth of 'vagina dentata' into a high-concept social satire with a razor-sharp script and outlandish gore.

A fascinating, entertaining compilation of short films about movie-going by some of the world's greatest directors: Cronenberg, Lynch, Campion, Kitano, Salles, Kiarostami, Polanski etc etc...

A boy no bigger than a thumb can be a hero! Grimms' fairy tales were never more upbeat that this high-spirited 1958 MGM adaptation starring Russ Tamblyn and Peter Sellers.

Documentary portrait of the dedicated unconventional former assistant principal responsible for student management and discipline at Aorere College in Mangere.

Lively, affectionate portrait of graffiti-influenced 80s artist Keith Haring, who painted on every surface he could find, including cars, walls, T-shirts and the subway.

Beyond the tourist views of life on the soon-to-be-flooded Yangtze River. "An astonishing documentary of culture clash and the erasure of history amid China's economic miracle." — NY Times

A shy, disillusioned university professor retrieves his heart in this quiet, soulful drama from writer/director of The Station Agent. "A heartfelt human drama that sneaks up and floors you." — Rolling Stone

This cautionary tale set in a German high school outlines how fascism starts and takes hold – quickly leading to violence and devastation. "Seductive and horrifying." — Hollywood Reporter

Celebratory portrait of avant-garde musician and disco producer Arthur Russell. "A long-neglected cult musician gets his well-deserved moment in the limelight." — Screendaily

The music does the talking in Costa Botes' affectionate portrait of Dave Murphy, Wellington blues guitar legend.

A group of elderly choristers performs a repertoire of hipster favourites in this amazingly satisfying British documentary. "A sobering, poetic ode to joy." — New Yorker