Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival

The largest film festival in the country is back!

It’s the ultimate cinematic experience. Your winter just got a whole lot warmer with a selection of over 150 feature films, short films, and documentaries — all courtesy of the New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF). 

It’s all lights, camera, and action when the annual NZIFF presents 18 action-packed days of film in August. Artistic Director Paolo Bertolin and his team of film curators have scoured the world for independent, quirky, and award-winning movies. For 2026, this includes coming-of-age drama, a Mexican erotic thriller, campy animation, a Japanese exploration of grief, and a Kiwi mockumentary.

Now celebrating 58 years, the festival never fails to deliver a huge smorgasbord of films to choose from. Catch it at multiple venues across Christchurch.