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It's the 1870s, and charismatic Māori leader Te Wheke is fed up by brutal land grabs. He takes up arms and leads a bloody rebellion against the colonial NZ Government. In the process he provokes everyone affected by his actions — threatened...

"Here's a film about a place you've probably never been to; possibly never heard of. A place of peace and beauty surrounded by the South Pacific Ocean.It has snow-covered mountains, lakes, sub-tropical beaches and a modern economy. Its 3...

Death Warmed Up was a grand prize-winner at a French fantasy festival, David Blyth's splatterfest marked the first of many horrors funded by the NZ Film Commission. It was also the first local showcase of the smoothly-flowing Steadicam camera.

Sam Jamieson, Basil Beaumont-Foster, Brendon O'Keefe, Spud McGhee and Shorty Larsen eke out an existence in the small town of Kurikino, working seasonally at the local freezing works. The end of each day sees them gather in the local pub, the...

Life for Liz is circumscribed by the respectable veneer of an affluent community. The streets she walks are clean and safe. She sleeps between matched sheets, eats at good restaurants. She has never told a deliberate lie or used foul language in public...

The screenplay for Mr Wrong was based upon the story by well-known English writer Elizabeth Jane Howard. Director Gaylene Preston used the genre of thriller to examine sexual violence towards women, and what she calls 'the cinderella...

Part of the About Face series.

This series of seven contemporary dramas showcases the fresh, up-and-coming filmmakers of the 1980s.  The seven stories fit into various genres and of the seven filmmakers, five went on to make feature films. My First Suit - directed by Stewart...

An obsession with the the American cowboy as portrayed in countless westerns attracts members of both sexes to a club in the outer suburbs of Auckland. Dressing up in western garb, complete with holsters and guns, is a weekly form of escapism for club...

Sculptor-Composer Phil Dadson and his two musical colleagues, Wayne Liard and Don McGlashan overwhelm the senses by producing percussive and other sounds from musical instruments of their own devising - large plastic tubes combined with drums and other...

The feature film Should I Be Good is based on the actual events of the New Zealand based drug scandal which exploded into the news media with the brutal murder of Martin Johnstone in Britain in the early 1980s. He had already been dubbed 'Mr...

She deposited the letter in a bank security box with instructions that it be given to her husband in the event of her death. Five months later, Katherine Mansfield died. Unknown to Murry, she had also left a copy of the 'last letter' with...

The Silent One tells the story of Jonasi, a uniquely gifted young Polynesian man sent from the sea as a baby to grow up in an islolated Pacific village. Separated from the villagers by his silence and their prejudices, Jonasi finds solace in his...

Sylvia Ashton-Warner's childhood was spent in poverty. Her father was crippled. Her mother, with nine other children, taught at an endless succession of schools, to which her growing family trailed after her, sharing hardships and domestic chores...

In director Geoff Murphy's cult sci-fi feature a global energy project has malfunctioned and scientist Zac Hobson (Bruno Lawrence) awakes to find himself the only living being left on earth. At first he lives out his fantasies, helping himself to...

What follows is a riotous comedy of errors as ferry strikes, stolen vans and storms rage against the efforts of the two country lads. As a last ditch stand they call on their Aunty Bird for help. This turns out to be a mixed blessing as Aunty Bird is...

Rosie, a tubby sausage dog, sits on the verandah couch having a sunabthe. Her owner, Mrs Walker, comes out of the house and tells Rosie she'll have to go to the vet and be put on a diet. Mrs Walker calls Rosie to take her to the vet. Rosie imagines...

Beginning in Kathmandu, Trekking with the Gods echoes the experiences of a group of 17 visitors who have come to Nepal to walk in the Himalayan foothills, weaving their way through a country entwined with ancient customs and cultures.

A dramatised documentary based on the experiences of a group of young Māori women in New Zealand. The film tells the story of four street kids' encounters with various government departments, institutions and figures of authority. these include...

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT - Robert Jahnke "The Māori of New Zealand is a member of the Polynesian race whose origin is still a subject of much argument. The consensus of opinion today suggests that the Polynesians reached Oceania from the Asian...

Keskidee, a small Jamaican bird resilient in the face of hardship, is also the name of a self-help black arts centre in London, and the theatre group who work there. Keskidee's actors and musicians were brought to New Zealand to work with...

Karemoana was the final destination of Malfred Signal, retired teacher of drawing, whose life was dedicated to nursing her dying mother, and instructing generations of young girls in the art of accurately depicting shadows. But now her mother has died...

Director's Statement The characters of Ross and Beth were inspired by my childhood neighbours in the small rural Northland community of Tauraroa. They’re in their 80’s now and still living on the same farm that they’ve had all...

DIRECTOR'S NOTES - Stephanie Donald "Henry lives a detatched, voyeuristic lifestyle - interpreting reality via her video camera. Josephine, a reporter, unknowingly becomes an object of Henry's study. The tables, however, are turned,...

Rabbit's loyalties to his delinquent brother and the eccentric Mr and Mrs G are put to the test when an unexpected order arrives to bake 330 dozen hot-cross buns by 6:30 the following morning. Familial relations are severely strained as the minutes...

One man's life is waylaid by a brief encounter. It will take his best friend to guide him back to love. Director Armagan Ballantyne's last film, Whistle She Rolls, was selected for the 1996 Venice Film Festival and went on to win second prize ar...

Phil Hearn is pushing 40 and feels every minute of it. He didn’t plan to have six kids and work a second job driving taxis to feed them all but that’s how his life is shaping up.   One stormy night in the city, Hatu...

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT - Robert Sarkies "I got to the movies to enjoy the movie. Others go to chat or eat or sleep or make out. Am I weird?" "We all love going to the movies. There's a romance to it (yes even when you go alone)....