The Capitol

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.

From the director of Boy and What We Do in the Shadows, Taika Waititi brings Barry Crump’s beloved novel Wild Pork & Watercress to life in the hilarious and heartfelt adventure Hunt for the Wilderpeople. When defiant city kid Ricky (Julian Dennison) is placed with a new foster family in the remote bush, he soon finds himself on the run with his reluctant guardian, the gruff Uncle Hec (Sam Neill). As a nationwide manhunt unfolds, the unlikely pair must learn to rely on each other to survive in the wild. This Easter, Hunt for the Wilderpeople returns to cinemas across Aotearoa to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its original release, with special screenings presented in 4K. The nationwide celebration begins Tuesday 31 March, inviting audiences to come together and revisit this modern Kiwi classic on the big screen. A decade on from its 2016 debut, the film remains New Zealand’s highest-grossing local film and a cherished part of the country’s cultural identity. Featuring a stellar cast including Julian Dennison, Sam Neill, Rachel House, Rhys Darby, Rima Te Wiata, Oscar Kightley, Taika Waititi, Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, Troy Kingi, Cohen Holloway, Stan Walker, Mike Minogue, Hamish Parkinson, and Lloyd Scott, it continues to capture the humour, heart, and spirit of Aotearoa.

I Swear follows the true story of Tourette Syndrome campaigner John Davidson's journey with Tourette's through his troubled teens and early adulthood, having been diagnosed at 15 years old in 1980s Britain - a time when the condition was little known and entirely misunderstood. Initially alienated from his peers and his family, Davidson perseveres in his attempt to live a 'normal' life against the odds, finding some unlikely champions along the way. The Capitol Cinema recommends I Swear for its powerful, honest portrayal of resilience and the unlikely champions who helped him pursue a normal life.

I Swear follows the true story of Tourette Syndrome campaigner John Davidson's journey with Tourette's through his troubled teens and early adulthood, having been diagnosed at 15 years old in 1980s Britain - a time when the condition was little known and entirely misunderstood. Initially alienated from his peers and his family, Davidson perseveres in his attempt to live a 'normal' life against the odds, finding some unlikely champions along the way. The Capitol Cinema recommends I Swear for its powerful, honest portrayal of resilience and the unlikely champions who helped him pursue a normal life.

Never-before-seen footage, exclusive voice messages, and accounts from Jeff Buckley's inner circle paint a captivating portrait of the gifted musician who died tragically in 1997, having only released one album.

Bread and Tulips Pane e Tulipani After being forgotten at a highway service station during a family vacation, a housewife decides to start a new, independent life in Venice. She finds a new job, friends, and romance, forcing her to choose between her old life and her newfound freedom. DIRECTOR: Silvio Soldini CAST: Licia Maglietta, Bruno Ganz, Giuseppe Battiston, Marina Massironi, Felice Andreasi COUNTRY: Italy 2000 GENRE: Comedy LANGUAGE: Italian with English subtitles PRESENTED BY: Mediterranean Foods PREMI (Awards) Winner – Best Film, David di Donatello Awards Winner – Best Actress, David di Donatello Awards Winner – Best Actor, David di Donatello Awards Winner – Best Director, Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists Winner – Best Screenplay, Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists

After the global success of 2016’s Perfect Strangers, writer/director Paolo Genovese has struck gold again with his record-breaking hit Somebody to Love, an hilarious, all-star romantic comedy that reveals the innermost thoughts and uncertainties of an Italian couple on their awkward first date. DIRECTOR: Paolo Genovese CAST: Edoardo Leo, Pilar Fogliati, Emanuela Fanelli, Maria Chiara Giannetta, Claudia Pandolfi, Vittoria Puccini, Marco Giallini, COUNTRY: Italy 2025 GENRE: Romantic/Comedy LANGUAGE: Italian with English subtitles PRESENTED BY: Island Gelato Co. PREMI (Awards) Winner – Best Comedy, Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists Winner – Best Actress Comedy, Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists Winner – Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy, Filming Italy Venice Awards Winner – Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy, Filming Italy Venice Awards

Set in the 1970s, this film follows the lives of the Canova sisters and their employees in a prestigious Roman dressmaker's shop. It explores their personal and professional struggles within a world of high fashion and glamour. DIRECTOR: Ferzan Özpetek CAST: Luisa Ranieri, Jasmine Trinca, Stefano Accorsi, Geppi Cucciari, Anna Ferzetti, Kasia Smutniak COUNTRY: Italy 2024 GENRE: Drama/Comedy LANGUAGE: Italian with English subtitles PRESENTED BY: Studio Italia PREMI (Awards) Winner – David of The Spectator Award, David di Donatello Awards Winner – Film of The Year, National Syndicate of Film Journalists Winner – Best Actress, Golden Ciak Awards Winner – Best Director, Golden Ciak Awards Winner – Best Director, Filming Italy Venice Award

Against the racy backdrop of Italy in the 1980s and ‘90s, Riccardo Schicchi and his agency translate free love into the phenomenon of porn. This raunchy comedy follows antics at porn studio Diva Futura as fresh-faced ‘girls next door’ such as Ilona Staller, Moana Pozzi, Eva Henger and others become stars thanks to the video tape boom. Staller – better known as ‘Cicciolina’ – gets elected to Parliament and Pozzi runs for Mayor of Rome, with the film offering a fascinating insight into Italian society. DIRECTOR: Giulia Louise Steigerwalt CAST: Pietro Castellitto, Barbara Ronchi, Denise Capezza, Tesa Litvan, Lidija Kordić COUNTRY: Italy 2024 GENRE: Comedy LANGUAGE: Italian with English subtitles PRESENTED BY: Edit

Giuseppe Tornatore (Cinema Paradiso NZIFF 1990) pays tribute to legendary composer Ennio Morricone and his prolific career that spanned over seven decades and included the scores to more than 70 award-winning films. “INSIGHTFUL & ENTERTAINING.” SIGHT AND SOUND “THERE’S SO MUCH TO ENJOY HERE” HOLLYWOOD REPORTER Revolving around an interview between Tornatore and Morricone recorded shortly before his death in 2020, aged 91, ENNIO - THE MAESTRO is a “fantastically entertaining deep dive” on one of the world’s most beloved composers, whose discography exceeds a mind-blowing 500 soundtracks. Skilfully weaving through interviews and footage of Ennio’s star studded filmography and collaborators, including Bernardo Bertolucci, Dario Argento, Oliver Stone, Clint Eastwood and Quentin Tarantino, Tornatore explores Ennio’s staggering career in intimate detail, starting with Morricone’s early works in TV commercials and pop music, to his iconicwork Sergio Leone’s Spaghetti Westerns and Dario Argento’s Giallo films and finally his move to Hollywood, which saw mainstream success. An intimate look inside the musical genius that was Morricone, Ennio intimately recounts details and inspirations behind his most beloved works. Leaving viewers with dozens of films to add to their watchlist, ENNIO - THE MAESTRO is a must for all cinema and music fans alike. DIRECTOR: Giuseppe Tornatore CAST: Ennio Morricone, Dario Argento, Bruce Springsteen, Bernardo Bertolucci, Lina Wertmüller, Marco Bellocchio, Joan Baez COUNTRY: Italy 2021 GENRE: Documentary LANGUAGE: Italian with English subtitles PRESENTED BY: Istituto Italiano di Cultura Sydney PREMI (Awards) Winner – Best Documentary, David di Donatello Awards Winner – Best Sound Design, David di Donatello Awards Winner – Best Editing, David di Donatello Awards Winner – Silver Ribbon, National Syndicate of Film Journalists Winner – Best Documentary, Golden Globes Italy

Set in the late 19th century, this surreal Italian-American anti-Western follows Rosa and her lover, the outlaw-turned-folk-hero Santino, as they flee across the Italian wilderness after a deadly confrontation, pursued by an American showman (John C. Reilly). As their tale grows into a legend, it transforms into a whimsical, and sometimes ghostly journey that merges local folklore with the myth of the American Wild West. DIRECTOR: Alessio Rigo de Righi, Matteo Zoppis CAST: Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Alessandro Borghi, John C. Reilly, Peter Lanzani, Mirko Artuso, Gabriele Silli, Gianni Garko COUNTRY: Italy, USA 2015 GENRE: Western LANGUAGE: Italian with English subtitles PRESENTED BY: Rialto "A spectacularly photographed, wittily written, romantic Western ..." Carlos Aguilar, ThePlaylist (Cannes 2025 Review) PREMI (Awards) Winner – Best Film, Melbourne International Film Festival Winner – Best Directors, Tokyo International Film Festival Winner – Jury Prize, Festival du Film Italien de Villerupt Winner – Jury Prize, Fabrique du Cinéma Premiered – Un Certain Regard, Cannes Film Festival

OPENING NIGHT EVENT Opening Night Tickets $25. Includes Peroni, San Pellegrino, Prosecco, Island Gelato Outgoing Italian President Mariano De Santis navigates his final term while grappling with moral dilemmas, including a bill on euthanasia and personal petitions for presidential pardons. Amidst the political pressure, he faces intense personal grief and nostalgia for his late wife, bringing to light questions about love and memory. "Sorrentino has made some beauties in his career. This is one of his best." Pete Hammond, Deadline DIRECTOR: Paolo Sorrentino CAST: Toni Servillo, Anna Ferzetti, Orlando Cinque, Massimo Venturiello, Milvia Marigliano, Giuseppe Gaiani COUNTRY: Italy 2025 GENRE: Drama LANGUAGE: Italian with English subtitles PRESENTED BY: Embassy of Italy Wellington PREMI (Awards) Winner – Best Actor, Toni Servillo, Venice Film Festival Winner – Best Film PasinettiAward, Venice Film Festival Winner – Best Film Italian Film in Venice, Venice Film Festival Winner – Best Screenplay, Chicago Intern

The Sleeper - The Lost Caravaggio Il Caravaggio Perduto (2025) is a documentary-thriller tracking the frantic, high-stakes hunt for a lost Caravaggio masterpiece, Ecce Homo, discovered in 2021 in a Madrid home, valued at over €300 million. Directed by Álvaro Longoria, the film documents the intense, three-year process of authentication, restoration, and auction. DIRECTOR: Álvaro Longoria COUNTRY: Spain, Italy 2025 GENRE: Documentary Thriller LANGUAGE: English, Spanish, Italian with English subtitles PRESENTED BY:Bof "In this entertaining, thrillerlike documentary, Álvaro Longoria immerses us in the hushed yet ruthless world of international art dealing." Till Brockmann, Cinefile

Umberto Eco – A Library of the World Umberto Eco – La Biblioteca del Mondo The documentary serves as a loving portrait of a brilliant mind and a testament to the enduring power of literature and knowledge, often featuring scenes of the author navigating his labyrinthine, book-lined shelves. DIRECTOR: Davide Ferrario CAST: Giuseppe Cederna, Niccolò Ferrero, Paolo Giangrasso, Walter Leonardi, Zoe Tavarelli, Mariella Valentini COUNTRY: Italy 2022 GENRE: Documentary LANGUAGE: Italian with English subtitles PRESENTED BY: Istituto Italiano di Cultura Sydney "A doc about old books might sound stuffy, but A Library of the World is surprisingly fun." Pat Mullen, POV Magazine

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: 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.

Science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up on a spaceship light years from home with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: solve the riddle of the mysterious substance causing the sun to die out. He must call on his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas to save everything on Earth from extinction… but an unexpected friendship means he may not have to do it alone. The Capitol Cinema recommends this thrilling, big-idea sci-fi adventure for its clever science, high stakes, and an unexpected friendship that proves hope can come from the most unlikely places.

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

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’).

A couple, in the days leading up to their wedding, faces a crisis when unexpected revelations derail what one of them thought they knew about the other.

A couple, in the days leading up to their wedding, faces a crisis when unexpected revelations derail what one of them thought they knew about the other.

THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE follows Polly and Tim and their children Beth, Joe and Fran – a modern family who find themselves forced to relocate to the remote English countryside. Soon after the family’s arrival in the countryside, the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric residents including treasured characters Moonface, Silky, Dame Washalot and Saucepan Man. At the top of the tree, they are transported to spectacular and fantastical lands and, through the joys and challenges of their adventures, the family learn to reconnect and value each other for the first time in years.

Two old friends are walking 600 kilometers through the Scottish highlands, to reconnect with each other, with nature and with parts of themselves they have lost.

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