New Zealand International Film Festivals
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The New Zealand International Film Festivals are a series of film festivals held annually across New Zealand throughout the latter half of the year, consisting of the Wellington Film Festival, the Auckland International Film Festival, the International Film Festival, Dunedin, and the International Film Festival, Christchurch, as well as a travelling festival that plays in provincial cities and university towns. The festivals are organised by the New Zealand Film Festival Trust, based in Wellington, and the principal sponsor is Telecom New Zealand.
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[edit] History
[edit] Auckland International Film Festival
The Auckland festival was founded in 1970 as part of the Auckland Festival as a fund-raiser to subsidise the live arts. The Federation of Film Societies took over the festival in 1984, and shifted its focus from a supporting role to becoming its own self-sustaining entity. Since 2000, the main venue for the festival has been the Auckland Civic Theatre.
[edit] Wellington Film Festival
The Wellington festival was inaugurated in 1972 with seven films, and its programme has grown steadily over the years. In 2005, the festival featured more than 130 films to a total audience of 71,000. The main venues are the historic Embassy Theatre and Paramount Theatre.
[edit] International Film Festival, Dunedin
Founded in 1977, the Dunedin festival is held in the city's Regent Theatre. Organisers say it is the world's southernmost film festival.
[edit] International Film Festival, Christchurch
Also founded in 1977, the Christchurch festival essentially duplicates Dunedin's programme.
[edit] Travelling festivals
After the festivals in Dunedin and Christchurch, a selection of up to 30 films travels to provincial cities and university towns, beginning with Hamilton and Palmerston North. Other cities covered by the festival are Gisborne, Greymouth, Levin, Masterton, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Tauranga and Whangarei.
