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NZIFF 2026 invites New Zealand audiences and filmmakers to broaden their knowledge and connect with film festival fans, visiting filmmakers and industry professionals. 

The 2025 festival may be over, but Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival is proud to present a special one-off preview screening of Rental Family, in conjunction with The Walt Disney Company New Zealand and Searchlight Pictures.

These exclusive events give audiences the chance to experience the film ahead of its wider release, extending that festival feel just a little longer. We’re excited to welcome film lovers back to celebrate this standout title with us — see it before everyone else at our screenings on Sunday November 23 in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

To find out more about the film see HERE. To book tickets:

AUCKLAND: Sunday November 23 2.30pm, Rialto Cinemas Newmarket | Book here
WELLINGTON: Sunday November 23 2.30pm, Empire Cinemas | Book here
CHRISTCHURCH: Sunday November 23 2.00pm, Lumière Cinemas | Book here
DUNEDIN: Sunday November 23 2.30pm, Rialto Cinemas Dunedin | Book here

Film fans from across the capital flocked to Massey University Theatre on 16 August for screenings of both programmes of Ngā Whanaunga: Aotearoa New Zealand’s Best – aka, the country’s top short films. 

A jury of four – Alex Liu, Mike Jonathan, Kate Rodger and Mathias Taylor – had the difficult job of picking out the prizewinners from a stellar selection. They decided on Womb, by Ira Hetaraka for the competition's top prize, the Umbrella Best Short Film Award. See all the rest of the winners below, and check out the photos from the afternoon here.

Congratulations to everyone who entered a film this year, and applause to everyone who took home an award.

Umbrella Entertainment Best Short Film Award:
Womb by Ira Hetaraka

Auckland Live Spirit of the Civic Award:
Growing Still by Alyx Duncan

Wellington UNESCO Creative City of Film Emerging Talent Award:
Stage Challenge by Stella Reid

Letterboxd Award for Māori Pasifika Talent:
Mirumiru by Allan George
Picking Crew by Tanu Gago

Best Performance Award:
Nora Aati for I Am Not Your Dusky Maiden by Vea Mafile'o

Best Artistic Contribution Award:
Michael Cong for the Cinematography of When the Geese Flew by Arthur Gay

Special Mention:
Nausea by Elliott Louis

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This year, NZIFF is rolling out the red carpet for the people in (and behind) the films.

From intimate Q&As to powerful opening night intros, over 50 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, actors, writers, and creatives - all appearing in person at screenings, workshops and panels nationwide.

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

INTERNATIONAL GUESTS 

Dacre Montgomery 

Stranger Things star Dacre Montgomery appears in person with his haunting new feature, Went Up the Hill

Auckland – Wednesday 7 August, 6:15pm at The Civic

Appearing at the screening of Went Up the Hill

Christchurch – Friday 8 August, 8:15pm at Lumière Cinemas 

Appearing at the screening of Went Up the Hill

James Rabuatoka

A breakout Fijian talent whose performance in Bati brings strength, soul, and deep emotional power to the screen

Auckland – Saturday 9 August, 1:45pm at Hollywood Avondale

Appearing at the screening of Bati

Auckland – Sunday 10 August, 10:00am at The Bridgeway

Appearing at the screening of Bati 

Bernhard Wenger 

Austrian filmmaker making his feature

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Big name actors get plenty of time in the limelight, but who's making moves behind the camera? These internationally-acclaimed directors are ones to watch, and they all have films at this year's festival. 

Jafar Panahi
It Was Just an Accident 2025
Yek tasadef sadeh

Legendary Iranian director Jafar Panahi is just the fourth director ever to snag the top prizes at the Venice, Berlin, and Cannes film festivals. He took home the Golden Lion in 2000 for The Circle, and the Golden Bear in 2015 for Tehran Taxi, both of which have screened at the Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival. So it’s a fitting, full circle tribute to “one of the greatest artists of contemporary cinema and one of its most empathetic and committed humanists,” that this year's opening night film is the rousing 2025 Palme d’Or winning It Was Just an Accident.

A bigger accomplishment than any film festival top prize, is that despite travel bans, house arrests, imprisonment, and a 20-year ban from filmmaking, Panahi has never shied from his courageous commitment to “crafting self-reflexive works about political, artistic and personal freedom.” Ruled as “propaganda against the system” by the Iranian government, all of Panahi’s films

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