From queer Kiwi culture to music legends Head Like a Hole, New Zealand filmmakers are boosting the New Zealand International Film Festival line-up with real-life stories from here and abroad. Out of the nine that have been announced today, eight films will make their world premiere at NZIFF 2017.
“A banner year for NZ documentaries continues with our biggest ever New Zealand documentary lineup,” says NZIFF Director Bill Gosden. “We can’t wait for NZ audiences to meet these characters on screen, and perhaps in person at NZIFF screenings.”
Along with these film announcements, NZIFF also revealed that the prestigious Hollywood Cinema in Avondale will host a number of screenings to the Auckland folk.
Here are the nine films announced:
100 Men
100 Men reflects on 40 years of gay history via a countdown of Kiwi filmmaker Paul Oremland’s most memorable shags, featuring candid and moving interviews with past lovers.
100 Men will make its world premiere at NZIFF 2017.
Bill Direen – A Memory of Others
Filmmaker Simon Ogston hits the road with NZ writer, poet, indie-rocker Bill Direen as he explores the cultural landscape and presents a series of strikingly diverse live performances.
Bill Direen – A Memory of Others will make its world premiere at NZIFF 2017.
Kobi
This warm and humorous doco about Kobi Bosshard, widely regarded as the grandfather of contemporary New Zealand jewellery, explores his philosophy of life and work, as captured by his daughter Andrea Bosshard.
Kobi will make its world premiere at NZIFF 2017.
The Free Man
World-champion freestyle skier Jossi Wells is the subject of Kiwi filmmaker Toa Fraser’s absorbing examination of extreme sportspeople and the relationship between fear and true freedom.
The Free Man will make its local premiere at NZIFF 2017.
The Free Theatre
Shirley Horrocks’ tenth NZIFF documentary relates the storied 37-year history of Christchurch’s often provocative, always daring Free Theatre, creators of countless extraordinary productions and performance events.
The Free Theatre will make its world premiere at NZIFF 2017.
No Ordinary Sheila
In Hugh Macdonald’s fascinating and inspiring doco, his aunt, writer and illustrator Sheila Natusch retraces a long life dedication to sharing her understanding and love of New Zealand’s nature and history.
No Ordinary Sheila will make its world premiere at NZIFF 2017.
Swagger of Thieves
Taking its cue from its subjects, Julian Boshier’s all-access portrait of Head Like a Hole’s Nigel ‘Booga’ Beazley and Nigel Regan at home, on the road and in full roar on stage tells it like no other NZ music doco ever dared.
Swagger of Thieves will make its world premiere at NZIFF 2017.
Team Tibet – Home Away From Home
Thuten Kesang, New Zealand’s first Tibetan refugee in 1967, recounts his fascinating and inspiring story and the environmental and political issues that have made him a tireless advocate of the Tibetan cause.
Team Tibet – Home Away From Home will make its world premiere at NZIFF 2017.
What Lies That Way
Filmmaker Paul Wolffram immerses himself in the spiritual world of the Lak people in the rainforests of southern New Ireland, Papua New Guinea in this heady combination of ethnography and lyrical expressionism.
What Lies That Way will make its world premiere at NZIFF 2017.
Three documentaries have previously been announced for NZIFF 2017: My Year With Helen from director Gaylene Preston, Florian Habicht’s Spookers, and Annie Goldson’s Kim Dotcom: Caught in the Web.
NZ films at NZIFF are proudly supported by Resene. NZIFF is run by a charitable trust and encourages lively interactions between films, filmmakers and New Zealand audiences in 13 towns and cities around the country. The full NZIFF programme will be available online from Monday 26 June 7pm, and on the streets from Tuesday 27 June for Auckland and Friday 30 June for Wellington. NZIFF starts in Auckland on 20 July and in Wellington from 28 July in 2017.
