NZ Film Festival Secures Award-Winners From Cannes

NZ International Film Festival Secures Award-Winners From Cannes

The New Zealand International Film Festival has announced that a record-breaking number of Cannes award winners will have their New Zealand premiere screenings on this year’s programme.

The list includes two New Zealand short films that won prizes at the prestigious European Film Festival.

"This is the largest haul of Cannes award-winners in the 43-year history of the Festival. New Zealand audiences will be the first outside Europe to see such a swathe of this year’s official selection from Cannes." says Festival Director Bill Gosden.

One of the most highly anticipated films is Palme d’Or winner The Tree of Life, from director Terrence Malick and starring Brad Pitt. It is confirmed as a special presentation in the programme and will play in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

"The selection is incredibly varied and reflects a stunningly strong year at Cannes. We have the birth of the world as envisioned by one filmmaker (Terrence Malick) and the death of it as envisaged by another (Lars von Trier). It’s tempting to say we also have everything else between." says Gosden.

The full list of Cannes titles in the Festival programme are:

Palme d’Or

The Tree of Life, dir. Terrence Malick, USA

Grand Prix ex aequo

The Kid with a Bike (Le Gamin au vélo), dirs. Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, Belgium

Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (Bir zamanlar Anadolu’da), dir. Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Turkey

Best Screenplay

Joseph Cedar - Footnote (Hearat shulayim), dir: Joseph Cedar, Israel

Best Actress

Kirsten Dunst - Melancholia, dir. Lars von Trier, Denmark

Caméra d’or (Best First Film)

Las Acacias, dir. Pablo Giorgelli, Argentina

International Critics (FIPRESCI) Prize

Le Havre, dir. Aki Kaurismäki. Finland/France

Competition Official Selection

Michael, dir. Markus Schleinzer, Austria

Sleeping Beauty, dir. Julia Leigh, Australia

Competition Short Films Official Selection

Meathead, dir. Sam Holst, New Zealand

Special Jury Prize, Un Certain Regard

Elena, dir. Andrey Zvyagintsev, Russia

Un Certain Regard Official Selection

Beauty (Skoonheid), dir. Oliver Hermanus, South Africa

The Day He Arrives (Book chon bang hyang), dir. Hong Sang-soo, Korea

Martha Marcy May Marlene, dir. Sean Durkin, USA

The Yellow Sea (Hwanghae), dir. Na Hong-jin, Korea

Best European Film, Directors’ Fortnight

Breathing (Atmen), dir. Karl Markovics, Austria

Art Cinema Award + Prix SACD (Best French Language Film), Directors’ Fortnight

The Giants (Les géants), dir. Bouli Lanners, Belgium

Grand Prize, Critics’ Week

Take Shelter, dir. Jeff Nichols, USA

Special distinction of the President, Critics’ Week

Snowtown, dir. Justin Kurzel, Australia

Best Short Film, Critics’ Week

Blue, dir. Stephan Kang, New Zealand

The NZ International Film Festival programme will be available in Auckland from June 22 and in Wellington from July 1.

The NZ International Film Festival runs in Auckland from July 14-31, Wellington July 28-August 14, Dunedin August 4-21, and Christchurch August 12-28. ends

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