The Capitol

Five Films For Freedom Join us for special screening of Five Films For Freedom, the world’s widest reaching LGBTQIA+ online celebration. This is a free screening. A partnership between the British Council and BFI Flare, London’s LGBTIQIA+ film festival, Five Films For Freedom makes five international LGBTQIA+ short films available to watch online for free anywhere in the world as well as free public screenings. Since its launch in 2015, the films featured in the programme have been watched online and in person by over 26 million people in more than 202 countries and principalities, celebrating global stories in support of LGBTQIA+ communities around the world. The Capitol Cinema is delighted to host this free public screening of the films in collaboration the British Council New Zealand and the Pacific. The films selected for this year’s programme will be announced in late February. https://film.britishcouncil.org/about/work/fivefilmsforfreedom

African Film Festival New Zealand Presents: Captain Ibrahim Traore, The Last African Hero, Director: Frank Gharbin, GHANA, 2025 Duration: 94MIN drama feature Akan/Tui/English/English subtitles This is a dramatised version of the work/life of Ibrahim Traore, the president of Burkina Faso, in protest against the realities of West African politics today. Ibrahim Traore’s vision to free Africa is shaking the ruling class of Africa and mobilising the African youth to free themselves of the post-colonial economic yoke of Europe. Ibrahim represents the spirit of the founding fathers of African unity in the name of survival, and self-determination, such as Kwame Nkrumah, Sekou Toure, Modibo Keita and others. He follows in the footsteps of Thomas Sangara, 40 years after the assassination of his countryman, with his inspiring vision of mass education, self-reliance, respect for African culture and fighting corruption. Currently the most watched film this year in Ghana, the film was made on a small budget in Ghana with Ghanaian actors, with the approval of both Ghanaian and Burkinabe governments. It can be expected to have a highly controversial reception in Europe.

Elvis sings and tells his story like never before in a new cinematic experience from visionary filmmaker Baz Luhrmann. This is more than a concert film. It is EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert. A one-of-a-kind cinematic experience from Academy Award-nominated Baz Luhrmann. EPiC features long-lost footage from Presley’s legendary Vegas residency in the 1970s, woven together with rare 16mm footage from Elvis on Tour and treasured 8mm film from the Graceland archive, along with rediscovered recordings of Elvis telling 'his side of the story,.'

From the director of `Boy` and `What We Do In the Shadows`, Taika Waititi’s new film is a hilarious and heartfelt adventure based on Barry Crump`s novel, ‘Wild Pork & Watercress`. Ricky (Julian Dennison) is a defiant young city kid who finds himself on the run with his grumpy foster uncle (Sam Neill). A national manhunt ensues and the two are forced to work together to survive.

Live At The Void captures the DIY nature of the local music scene, with full sets filmed at a Mount Roskill flat during a 21st birthday bash. Featuring Neither Do I, Park Flyers, CCTV, and 花溪 Flowerstream, this concert film is a modern snapshot of the Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland City indie scene. It blends performance with on-screen commentary from film-makers Corey Fuimaono and Liam Hansen.

Wallflower Colin (Harry Melling) leads a humdrum existence until he meets the impossibly handsome Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), a mysterious biker he is soon desperately devoted to. As Colin submits to Ray and enters an exciting new world of desire, he must decide the limits of his devotion. Hilarious, subversive and sexy, PILLION is the acclaimed and surprisingly tender love story from writer-director Harry Lighton, starring Melling and Skarsgård in fearless performances as a mild young man and his leather-clad lover.

Pitchblack Playback: Fugees 'The Score' (30th Anniversary) Please arrive by event start time as latecomers will not be admitted and refunds will not be offered Immerse yourself in one of the greatest albums of the '90s at Pitchblack Playback's listening session in the dark, celebrating 30 years since its release. Hear this immense record played loud in uncompressed audio on our powerful cinema sound system. No distractions; just you and the music. "This sounds great” — Rick Rubin "A fabulous idea" — Jay Kay, Jamiroquai "The optimal way to listen to an album" — Max Richter "This might just be my favourite new thing to do" — Nihal, BBC Radio 5 Live Ticket includes Pitchblack Playback eye mask for extra darkness. As recommended by The Guardian, GQ, Time Out and BBC 6 Music. Album duration: 60 minutes

Pitchblack Playback: Massive Attack 'Blue Lines' (35th Anniversary) Please arrive by event start time as latecomers will not be admitted and refunds will not be offered! Immerse yourself in Massive Attack's incredible 1991 debut at Pitchblack Playback's listening session in the dark, celebrating 35 years of 'Blue Lines'. Hear this immense record played loud in uncompressed audio on our powerful Screen One sound system. No distractions; just you and the music. "This sounds great” — Rick Rubin "A fabulous idea" — Jay Kay, Jamiroquai "The optimal way to listen to an album" — Max Richter "This might just be my favourite new thing to do" — Nihal, BBC Radio 5 Live Ticket includes Pitchblack Playback eye mask for extra darkness. As recommended by The Guardian, GQ, Time Out and BBC 6 Music. Album duration: 45 minutes This event is not affiliated with Massive Attack or Universal Music.

SOLD OUT - Thank you for the generous support. DESIRE. LEATHER. LAUGHTER. PILLION RIDES INTO THE CAPITOL FOR A ONE-NIGHT-ONLY PREVIEW FUNDRAISER An evening of seduction, subversion, and cinema - all in support of Aotearoa’s Rainbow communities. The Capitol Cinema and the Rainbow New Zealand Charitable Trust invite audiences to surrender - joyfully - to the year’s most intoxicating cinematic surprise. PILLION, the acclaimed and unexpectedly tender love story from writer-director Harry Lighton, screens in an exclusive New Zealand Preview at The Capitol. Film begins at 8:00pm. Doors open at 7:00pm. Arrive early. Arrive curious. A LOVE STORY THAT MISBEHAVES Hilarious, provocative, and disarmingly romantic, PILLION pairs Melling and Skarsgård in fearless performances as a mild young man and his leather-clad lover. What begins in kink unfolds into something startlingly human - a film that is as funny as it is raw, and far more tender than it first appears. This isn’t shock for shock’s sake. It’s desire, examined. Devotion, negotiated. Identity, unbuttoned. CINEMA WITH PURPOSE This special screening supports the Rainbow New Zealand Charitable Trust, Aotearoa’s longstanding champion of LGBTTQIA+ communities. For over 25 years, the Trust has raised and distributed nearly $80,000 in grants to more than 130 organisations and awarded over 80 scholarships to emerging Rainbow leaders. This is glamour with generosity. Pleasure with purpose. CHOOSE YOUR DEVOTION Because every romance deserves options. THE REBEL PACKAGE - $50 Ticket + Soho Mara Méthode Rosé Bubbles + Duck Island Ice Cream + Popcorn Decadence with a wink. THE RIDE TOGETHER PACKAGE - $35 Ticket + Duck Island Ice Cream + Non-alcoholic drink Sweet, steady, irresistible. THE VELVET RIDE - $25 Ticket + Popcorn Just you, the dark, and the screen. TICKETS WON’T LINGER This is a one-night-only preview. Seats are limited. Devotion is not. Secure a ticket now. Claim a package. Take the ride. Book before someone else does.

A father, accompanied by his son, goes looking for his missing daughter in North Africa.

This music-packed documentary tells the story of Pene Pati and his brother Amitai Pati, and their against-the-odds journey from Samoa to platinum-selling success in the trio Sol3 Mio and on to the world’s greatest opera stages. Bursting with humour, heart and soaring performances, the film reveals the resilience born of adversity, the richness of family and culture, and the rewards that come from following an unlikely dream.

Be the first to see THEY WILL KILL YOU … the blood-soaked action-horror-comedy, with epic kills and wickedly dark humour! The film’s killer cast (pun intended) includes Zazie Beetz, Patricia Arquette, Tom Felton, and Heather Graham. Kirill Sokolov’s epic ’Why Don’t You Just Die!’ played at Terror-Fi in 2018 as our Secret Screening. Come early to enjoy our limted-edition cocktail and custom pre-show. -- A woman takes a job as a housekeeper in a NYC high-rise, unaware of the building's history of disappearances. She soon realises the community is shrouded in mystery, causing her to survive the night at the Virgil, a demonic cult’s mysterious and twisted death-trap of a lair, before becoming their next offering. -- Directed by Kirill Sokolov, the film stars Zazie Beetz (‘Deadpool 2’, ‘Joker’), Patricia Arquette (’True Romance’, ‘Severance’), Tom Felton (the ‘Harry Potter’ films), Heather Graham (‘The Hangover’, ‘Suitable Flesh’), Myha'la (‘Industry’), and Paterson Joseph (‘Wonka’).

What happens when you cross 'Bonnie & Clyde', 'Frankenstein', & 'Rocky Horror' - and throw in some overt but heartfelt references to classic Warner's gangster flicks to boot? You end up with THE BRIDE: a truly original film that might just be this year's 'Sinners'. Killer cast (soon-to-be Oscar-Winner, Buckley; previous winner Bale); Killer monsters; Killer Soundtrack (what an end song!!!); Killer styling and period detail; scale, powerful feminist overtones, and a couple of Busby Berkeley numbers featuring deft dancing from the undead and reanimated. 2026's first 'can't -miss' movie. A genre monster-mashup with heart and soul to boot! (And like Sinners - something to say!) The film stars Buckley, Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, with Bening, Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal, and Oscar winner Penélope Cruz. Maggie Gyllenhaal directs from her own screenplay and produces alongside Oscar nominee Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Talia Kleinhendler and Osnat Handelsman Keren. The executive producers are Carla Raij, David Webb and Courtney Kivowitz. Gyllenhaal is supported behind the camera by a team of award-winning film artisans, including director of photography Lawrence Sher, production designer Karen Murphy, editor Dylan Tichenor, music supervisor Randall Poster, composer Hildur Gudnadóttir and costume designer Sandy Powell.

Serena Giovanna Stevenson | 2025 | 74 min | New Zealand Special Splore Screening – Three Days in February After an overwhelming response from the Splore community following this year’s festival, we are thrilled to present a special screening of Three Days in February at The Capitol Cinema — with a little extra Splore spirit in the room. Filmed over seven years, Three Days in February is a non-conventional documentary set against the backdrop of Aotearoa’s most colourful and diverse outdoor music and arts festival, Splore. Through long-held cinematic shots and a uniquely crafted multi-genre score, the film invites audiences to slow down, breathe, and notice the space between each other, ourselves, and the natural world. Immersive, playful, and quietly profound, the film captures the raw, vibrant essence of collective celebration - a gentle reminder of connection, creativity, and what it simply means to be human. Join fellow Splorers for this special one-off screening and step back into the magic. YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2025 GENRE: DOCUMENTARY DURATION: 80 MINUTES COUNTRY FILMED: NEW ZEALAND PREMIERE: DOC EDGE NEW ZEALAND LANGUAGE: ENGLISH FORMAT: 16:9 Director Serena Stevenson Producer Serena Stevenson Producer Lani Feltham Creative Producer Susan Leonard Executive Producers Serena Stevenson, Suzanne McNamara, John Minty Editor Sarah Grohnert Cinematography Mark Lapwood NZCS ACS, Conan Fitzpatrick, Ainsley Calderwood Composer & Music Director Michael Hodgson Composer & Composition Engineer Paddy Free Composers Ed Zuccollo, Nikita 雅涵 Tu-Bryant, Dylan Chase, Jessie Leov with the Arcus String Quartet, Takerei Komene with the New Zealand Youth Choir, Charles Royal