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NZIFF expand 2019 program

We've got a little over a month until the 2019 New Zealand International Film Festival kicks off, and this year's program is looking topnotch.

Featuring between 150 and 170 features, the New Zealand International Film Festival programme is sure to tickle every film lovers fancy.

Some truly incredible films lead the way and display just how large the scope of the NZIFF truly is. Early announcement highlights include Francis Ford Coppola’s 40-year-old masterpiece Apocalypse Now: The Final Cut, featuring new, never-before-seen footage, the Aretha Franklin film Amazing Grace rescued from 45 years in legal limbo, and on the 50th anniversary of the moon landing audiences will experience a treasure trove of restored footage with Apollo 11.

AMAZING GRACE - Official Trailer - Aretha Franklin Concert Film

Amazing Grace

New Zealand International Film Festival’s annual New Zealand’s Best Short Film Competition’s finalists have also been announced – and as always they prove that you don’t need a feature-length slot to convey an incredible narrative. The six finalists are Nancy From Now On (dir: Keely Meechan), Krystal (dir: Briar Grace-Smith), Egg Cup Requiem (dirs: Prisca Bouchet, Nick Mayow), Golden Boy (dir: Alex Plumb), Our Father (dir: Esther Mauga) and Hinekura (dir: Becs Arahanga).

They will compete for a total of four prizes including $5000 for the title award, the Madman Entertainment Best Short Film Award, $4000 for The Creative New Zealand’s Emerging Talent Award recognising a fresh voice in filmmaking and the newly created Auckland Live Spirit of The Civic Award.

Nancy From Now On (2019) | Trailer

Nancy From Now On (dir: Keely Meechan)

Another exciting element of this year’s New Zealand Film Festival is Animation NOW! – a stand-alone festival of shorts featuring the best of local and international animation. In its fourth year, it will bring together 3D animation, illustrations mixed with abstract shapes and thought-provoking narratives across six distinct collections curated by NZIFF’s animation programmer Malcolm Turner.

About A Girl That Just Wants To Fly Away (dir: Sasha Svirsky)

Dark Hearts promises to go deeper and blacker than live-action will allow, Handmade sees drawings, paintings and puppets come to life one frame at a time, and the International Showcase celebrates some of the year’s best and brightest animated shorts. Characters takes us on an animated journey inside the rich mental states of unique characters, Places is a celebration of animation’s power to transport and Rosto is a tribute to the late great artist, musician and animator Rosto.

The New Zealand International Film Festival will kick off in Auckland on Thursday 18 July. Tickets go on sale on Friday 28 June.