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We’re making the most of our time in Auckland by adding a raft of encores for some of our most popular flicks.

Encore sessions include: Fjord, Minotaur, Late Fame, All of a Sudden, Whispers in the Woods, Rose of Nevada, Calle Malaga, Dead Man’s Wire, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, Father Mother Sister Brother, AnyMart, The Fox, The Black Ball, Elephants in the Fog, La Gradiva, The Wizard of the Kremlin, The Ungrateful Tenant, Ghost in the Cell, The Samurai and the Prisoner, and Lomu.

If you missed out the first time, this is your sign! But move fast as these sought-after seats won’t stay empty for long.

UPDATED LIST | 6 August:

Paper Tiger
A crowd favourite at Cannes this year, starring Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller, this film follows a suburban New York family who get caught up with the Russian Mob.

Perfect Strangers
Director Gaylene Preston describes this 2003 movie starring Sam Neill as her “wild child”. It’s easy to see why in this tense exploration of the fine line between love and pursuit, romance and danger, fear and obsession. 

The Red Hangar
A tightly-controlled Chilean thriller set in the 1970s reconstructs the tense hours following the coup d’etat that brought the Pinochet regime to power.

The Friend’s House is Here
In Tehran’s underground art scene, two young women build a blissful world of freedom and sisterhood. But when their creative circle is exposed, they must fight to save each other. 

Congo Boy
In Bangui, Central African Republic, 17 year-old Robert dreams of a career in music, but both his parents are thrown into prison and he is left to look after his four younger siblings while remaining determined to follow his dream.

Looking for Alibrandi
A classic Aussie panelwagon-angst coming-of-age movie from 2000 that’s funny, relatable and achingly sad at the same time. Now

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The spot to land before the lights go down or unwind once they come back up. Grab a seat, order a bite, a brew or a cold beverage, and dissect that final scene with fellow festival-goers who get it.

This year, Mezze Bar is also hosting our local and international guests throughout the festival, so keep an eye out — you never know which director, actor or programmer might be perched at the next table.

And here's the bonus: NZIFF subscribers who present their ticket stub at the bar get 10% off their bill, so there's even more reason to make Mezze Bar your festival home base.

Mezze Bar

• 9 Durham Street East, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010

This year we’re trying something a little different… Auckland and Wellington audiences will be treated to a secret screening presented in association with our friends at Letterboxd. We’ll also be hosting a Letterboxd meet-up at the Civic before the Auckland screening, your opportunity to meet likeminded Letterboxd die-hards!

Your clues for the film 👀
* This film will NOT be playing elsewhere in the festival.
* It was released in 2026.
* And it played at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

We’ll leave you to figure out the rest! Secret screenings are on in Auckland on 8 August and Wellington on 15 August - details and tickets below:

Surprise Film

Saturday 8 August 8.30pm, The Civic

Saturday 15th August, 8.45pm, Embassy Theatre

Letterboxd Meet-up

Saturday 8 August 7.45pm, The Civic

This year, NZIFF is rolling out the red carpet for the people behind the films. From intimate Q&As to captivating opening night intros, our live events across Aotearoa will bring filmmakers out from behind the camera and into the spotlight. You'll get the chance to see, hear from, and connect with an incredible line-up of local and international directors and creatives - appearing in person at screenings and workshops nationwide.

Please note that guest appearances and live events may be subject to change.

International guests

Abinash Bikram Shah
Director of Elephants in the Fog

• Screenings:
  Auckland – Sunday 9 August, 3:45 p.m. at Academy Cinemas
  Christchurch – Wednesday 12 August, 5:45 p.m. at Lumière Cinemas (Bernhardt)
  Christchurch – Thursday 13 August, 10:00 a.m. at Lumière Cinemas (Bardot)
  Wellington – Friday 14 August, 6:00 p.m. at Massey University National Academy of Screen Arts Cinema
  Wellington – Saturday 15 August, 3:55 p.m. at Light House Cinema Cuba

James J. Robinson
Director of First Light

• Screenings:
  Auckland – Thursday 6 August, 1:15 p.m. at Rialto Cinemas Newmarket
  Auckland – Friday 7 August, 6:00 p.m. at Academy Cinemas

Sophie Hyde
Director of Jimpa

• Screenings:
  Auckland – Saturday 1 August 2:45 p.m. at The Civic
  Auckland – Sunday 2 August, 1:15 p.m. at Bridgeway

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