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Our centerpiece this year is... Prime Minister 

Directed by Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Utz, the documentary takes a highly personal, behind the scenes look at former PM Jacinda Ardern’s time at the helm of Aotearoa. Using candid voiceovers and home videos, the doco charts her time in office as she navigates imposter syndrome, first time motherhood, unprecedented crises, and a sharp turn in NZ's political landscape.

“World leaders have rarely been captured with as much intimacy... As a portrait of struggles in the seat of power, the film presses all the right emotional buttons.”—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety.

An NZIFF multi-trip pass is the best way to secure your seat - learn more here.

See more films and save with an NZIFF Multipass

Multipasses are the best-value way to experience the Festival. Available in both 5-Trip and 10-Trip options (with student pricing in select centres), they give you the flexibility to curate your own NZIFF experience and save while doing it.

In Auckland and Wellington, all 10-Trip Multipasses come with Earlybird access, which means:

• Exclusive entry to our ticket pre-sale before general sales open

• A digital NZIFF programme delivered to your inbox as soon as it's released

With some of our most in-demand titles likely to sell out fast, Earlybird access gives you the best chance to secure seats to your top picks if you're in Auckland or Wellington.

Whether you're planning a few highlights or a full Festival immersion, there’s a Multipass to suit your schedule and your budget:

• 5-Trip Multipass

• 5-Trip Student Multipass

• 10-Trip Multipass (includes Earlybird access in Auckland and Wellington only)

New This Year: Online Booking with Your Multipass 

In Auckland and Wellington, Multipass holders can now book their tickets directly through our website - no need to visit the cinema in person. We’re excited to roll this out to more centres in the future as we continue improving the

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A politically charged near-future drama from Brazil, an acclaimed Norwegian trilogy exploring intimacy and desire, an Australian animated queer space opera, a haunting psychological drama set in remote Aotearoa, and a 70s horror classic restored to its full glory are among the first films revealed for Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF) in 2025.

Artistic Director Paolo Bertolin says these films offer an early glimpse of the energy, ideas and themes shaping this year’s festival and a taste of the adventurous and memorable stories awaiting audiences this year.

“These films reflect the pulse of contemporary cinema and speak powerfully to the moment we are living in. They ask big questions, take risks, and remind us why cinema matters more than ever.

“Thanks to the exceptional work of the NZIFF programming team, we are shaping this year’s festival as a chance to experience that urgency, curiosity and beauty together on the big screen,” Bertolin says.

Bertolin is joined in the selection of films by a renewed programming team composed of Programme Manager Michael McDonnell and programmers Carmen Gray, Heperi Mita, Amanda Jane Robinson and Jordan Salomen.

Each of the first films revealed is part of one of the ten

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Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival will return to six regional centres in 2025, with screenings confirmed in Kirikiriroa Hamilton, Ahuriri Napier, Whakatū Nelson, Ngāmotu New Plymouth, Whakaoriori Masterton, and Tauranga-moana Tauranga this August and September.

This completes the national rollout for NZIFF 2025, following the earlier announcement of festival dates in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, Ōtautahi Christchurch, and Ōtepoti Dunedin.

We’ve worked closely with regional cinemas and film societies to ensure the festival continues to reach audiences across Aotearoa in 2025. There’s a strong appetite for NZIFF in the regions, and we’re excited to return this year and build on the partnerships that make it all possible.

NZIFF 2025 will screen in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland (31 July – 10 August), Ōtautahi Christchurch (8 – 24 August), Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington (14 – 24 August), Ōtepoti Dunedin (15 – 31 August), Kirikiriroa Hamilton (28 August – 10 September), Whakatū Nelson (28 August – 10 September), Ahuriri Napier (28 August – 7 September), Ngāmotu New Plymouth (28 August – 7 September), Tauranga-moana Tauranga (28 August – 7 September), and Whakaoriori Masterton (28 August – 7 September).

Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival will return this year with a bigger and bolder programme, bringing more films to audiences across Aotearoa.

NZIFF 2025 will feature a selection of around 100 films curated by international film programmer and critic Paolo Bertolin, continuing in the role of Artistic Director for a second year. 

Bertolin will lead the NZIFF 2025 team, headed by former NZIFF Production and Events Manager Matt Bloomfield as Festival Manager. 

NZIFF 2025 will screen in Auckland (31 July – 10 August), Christchurch (8 – 24 August), Wellington (14 – 24 August), and Dunedin (15 – 31 August). 
Regional programmes and venues will be confirmed in April.

Bertolin says NZIFF 2025 will offer a strong and diverse lineup including films from major international festivals, independent filmmakers, and local productions.

“This year’s international festival circuit is delivering some of the most thoughtful and striking films in recent memory.  

“It will be a privilege to share these films with New Zealand audiences, work that deserves to be seen and experienced together on the big screen,” Bertolin says. 

Alongside standout international titles, the 2025 programme will continue to champion New Zealand films and help them reach wider audiences both here and overseas.

“NZIFF continues

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