The Capitol

Two conspiracy obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth.

Stay for the Q&A with Dame Gaylene Preston and Chelsie Preston-Crayford When Meg buys a used Jaguar from a shady car dealer so she can visit her parents on their rural farm, she gets a lot more than she expects. Soon after getting it, she starts hearing choking sounds coming from the back seat. Things get even weirder when she picks up a pair of hitchhikers who mysteriously disappear into thin air. Cast Heather Bolton (Meg) , David Letch (Mr Wrong) , Margaret Umbers (Samantha) , Suzanne Lee (Val) , Gary Stalker (Bruce) , Danny Mulheron (Wayne) , Perry Piercy (Mary Carmichael) , Philip Gordon (Clive) , Michael Haigh (Mr Whitehorn) , Kate Harcourt (Mrs Alexander)

Poor Cow is a slice-of-life drama portraying a young mother’s repeated attempts to find love, stability, and dignity in a world stacked against her—outlined by poor choices and unfulfilled dreams.

Grace, a writer and young mother, is slowly slipping into madness. Locked away in an old house in and around Montana, we see her acting increasingly agitated and erratic, leaving her companion, Jackson, increasingly worried and helpless. DIRECTOR: Lynne Ramsay STARRING: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, LaKeith Stanfield, Nick Nolte, Sissy Spacek RUNTIME: 118 minutes RATING: TBC RELEASE DATE: 27 November 2025

In an afterlife where souls have one week to decide where to spend eternity, Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) is faced with the impossible choice between the man she spent her life with (Miles Teller) and her first love (Callum Turner), who died young and has waited decades for her to arrive.

Di Paolo spent years photographing strikingly beautiful and iconic images of postwar and the glamour of the film scene of the 1950s and ‘60s. One day, he simply ceased to photograph, shutting away his negatives, and not even his own family was aware of his extraordinary legacy until this documentary.

In the late stages of WW2, a badly burned man, with no recollection of his own identity, is nursed by Nurse Hana in an abandoned Monastery in Tuscany. As he recovers, he slowly pieces his memories together, recollecting his past's epic, passionate, fateful love affair.

On the outskirts of Napoli, Attilo’s first job is to protect a young street worker. The young couple find themselves falling for each other, but the dangerous criminal underworld they live in seems destined to challenge them.

Gloria! tells the story of Teresa, a young woman with a visionary talent who, together with a small group of extraordinary musicians, crosses centuries and challenges the dusty old world of classical music by inventing rebellious, modern music.

The extraordinary and unknown story of Josef Myslivecek -"Il Boemo"-one of the most prolific opera composers in 18th century Italy, who was a friend and inspiration to Mozart. He was sought after by the courts of Naples and Venice, while his love life was inextricably entwined with his Musical brilliance.

Chiara is an actress but not as successful as her real-life parents, Marcello Mastroianni and Catherine Deneuve. With her life and career in disarray, Chiara decides to dress like her father and speak only Italian like him, in an impersonation so convincing that people begin to call her “Marcello.”

Trudie Styler reveals and unmasks Napoli through the eyes of Neapolitans. A fascinating and stunning glimpse into an ancient city of culture, chaos, and contrast.

Hey there, it’s Promise, Zoe and Ajay from Lemon Time Studios: a youth-led film collective with the motto “when life gives us lemons, we make short films”. This screening is a chance for our amazing cast, crew and friends to come together, celebrate what we’ve made and enjoy four of this year’s key projects on the big screen: “ Screening: ‘They Call This Healing’ is a tender, bittersweet portrait of Faith, a young woman finding her way back to herself after life comes to a halt. Through quiet moments and gentle routines she slowly rediscovers her rhythm – and the quiet wholeness of letting go. ‘Part of Me’ is a music video set on a stormy night in the city. When Imani-J stumbles upon an underground dance gathering, doubt gives way to rhythm. Through music and movement, she finds the courage to take up space, experiencing a quiet awakening; a rediscovery of who she is. ‘•••’ follows Sam, a sceptical young woman who downloads a viral AI podcast app called •••, only to find its narration creeping uncomfortably close to her reality. ‘I Lamp You’ is a sweet story about two twenty-somethings who meet in a furniture store and accidentally brighten each other’s day.

An aspiring novelist on the verge of a publishing breakthrough loses his unconventional muse, a tropical fish, sending him and an unstable fisheries officer on a series of bizarre misadventures in search of the fish rumoured to hold mysterious, almost magical powers. Tuesday 2 December at The Capitol Come to mix and mingle from 6pm, screening starts at 7pm followed with a wonderful Q&A with co-directors Tom Levesque & Romy Hooper

The Allies, led by the unyielding chief prosecutor, Robert H. Jackson (Michael Shannon), have the task of ensuring the Nazi regime answers for the unveiled horrors of the Holocaust while a US Army psychiatrist (Rami Malek) is locked in a dramatic psychological duel with former Reichsmarschall Herman Göring (Russell Crowe).

24 Flavours 味 Q&A session with the Director & Actress After Screening 20 - 30 mins After years abroad, April returns to her homeland, discovering her divorced parents rekindling old ties. Memories of her extreme self-harm resurface as she grapples with her father's infidelity. Facing the impending demolition of the tea shop, April must decide between taking her mother Qiaozhen abroad or supporting her desire to continue the business. Struggling Yeung Tong silently raises funds for Qiaozhen's shop reopening, inadvertently falling into a scam. April also encounters her resilient half-sister Xiaojing. Amidst the challenges, she begins to reclaim the life, time, and self-reflection she had long avoided.

Hotline Beijing is a documentary film centered on Beijing’s “Swift Response to Public Complaints” reform, an innovative approach to urban governance in megacities. Through real-life stories and documentary footage, the film explores how a single hotline connects citizens with government services, addressing everyday concerns and improving city management. The film’s director, Xu Jieqin, remarked: “In this megacity of over 20 million people, with more than 60,000 calls made every day, how are citizens’ demands addressed? What kind of system underpins these efforts? What principles shaped the institutional design behind these achievements? The answers to these questions have been truly eye-opening for us, and we hope to share this sense of awe with our audience.”

Fusion Dishes with Korean sauces. Food is not just something we eat to fill our stomachs. It carries the history, climate, and stories of the people who make it. Gochujang, Doenjang, and Ganjang — these three Jang (Korean sauces) hold centuries of tradition, the very soul of Korea. Did you know that Korea’s Jang-making culture was listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2024? That’s how precious and proud this part of our heritage is. It’s a cooking competition where seven ethnic teams create their own traditional dishes using Korean sauces.

NEW ORDER YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL SCREENING 8 – 9 Short Films (TBC)

Three-time Emmy nominee Melanie Lynskey (YELLOW JACKETS, THE LAST OF US) and acclaimed NZ actress Robyn Malcolm (TOP OF THE LAKE, AFTER THE PARTY) star as Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse; two ordinary women who together stand up and take on the government, justice system and a company that will stop at nothing to protect itself, after the 2010 Pike River Mine explosion takes the lives of 29 men underground. This is a film about the powerless vs. the powerful, of people vs. money, of right vs. wrong. An inspiring true story of an incredible female friendship and together what is possible when you simply won’t give up.

Tinā is the story of Samoan teacher Mareta Percival. Struggling after the death of her daughter in the Christchurch earthquakes, Mareta reluctantly takes on the role of substitute teacher at an elite, wealthy private school and is surprised to find children crying out for guidance, inspiration, and love. Using the symphony of her culture to empower her students, she forms a choir, bringing them together while unexpectedly rediscovering her passion for being a teacher and mother.

Korean Night: Water Lilies 15min Pre Speech Screening Time: 118 mins Hyowon, who dreams of becoming an actress, runs away to Seoul with Eunseo, a high school dropout. The two girls step into the sprawling city with their fragile hopes, clutching at its promises like lifelines. Their first home is a basement room, dim and shabby, the air thick and heavy, but to them, it is a sanctuary, a nest of possibilities. Eunseo begins working odd jobs to keep them afloat, while Hyowon, drawn by her dream, takes on menial tasks at a theater company. They are buoyed by their own visions of tomorrow, their dreams threading through the cracks in the worn walls. Soon, Hyowon starts taking acting lessons from Suyeon, a lead actress at the theater. Suyeon’s voice is steady, her words sharp: "Acting is the art of embodying another’s suffering." Hyowon listens, but the weight of those words eludes her. She cannot yet grasp the depths of Eunseo’s pain, nor can Eunseo fully see hers. The two drift, parallel yet apart, their lives entangled by need and longing but marred by unspoken distance. The city presses in, relentless. Their lives fracture under the strain of survival, yet questions linger in the spaces between them. What does it mean to carry someone else’s sorrow? What does it mean to live with your own? For them, life is an unanswered question, fragile as the surface of water, trembling under the weight of its own reflections.

不再退缩 Never Back Down A realistic sports-themed film that focuses on the struggles and growth of ordinary people in the new era. The film tells an inspirational story: the protagonist Liu Zhonghua adheres to his beliefs in adversity and encourages his daughter Liu Xingyu, who has a leg impairment, to break the prejudice of others and bravely pursue ice hockey. With an unyielding spirit, Liu Xingyu overcomes various difficulties and challenges, and finally transcends herself to become an excellent ice hockey player. The film conveys the core spirit of bravely taking responsibility and never giving up, and showcases the tenacity and commitment of ordinary people amid the tide of the times.

Special Party Branch 堡垒 The movie tells the story of an underground party member fighting a life-and-death battle with enemy agents on the invisible battlefield. Communist party member Mao Jiaxuan and Shen Zhuoyi, the special representative of Nationalist government both used code name “Pang Defu” to carry out their secret missions. Who is the real Pang Defu, and what does this code name mean? The multiple reversals of character identities make the truth elusive.

Salt Lake Project 盐湖计划 Truck driver Liu Ji accepts a job to deliver a sheep to the Northwest, only to unintentionally become entangled in a drug deal. Sheep farm owner Uncle Ying and drug dealer De Yi plan to exchange goods at Salt Lake, while Lao Xiang, who has been undercover at the farm, is actually searching for his missing wife—a narcotics officer. During the journey, Liu Ji meets Li Jiaojiao, sent by De Yi, and the three continue their trip to Donghe together. The deal spirals out of control, resulting in Uncle Ying’s death, and Lao Xiang ultimately sacrifices himself in a final confrontation with De Yi. As the police close in, the tragic truth is revealed: Lao Xiang’s wife has been in a coma all along. Through these events, Liu Ji gains a deeper understanding of love and the value of life.

西藏见闻 INSIDE TIBET Including After Screening Director Meeting Q&A Session – 30 mins For fifteen years, no Western camera had been able to enter Tibet. After tough negotiations, Jean-Michel Carré and his team were able to obtain official authorization allowing a unique insight into this autonomous region. A journey lasting several months filmed the human, economic, and political realities of a region deeply marked by an extraordinary religion and culture. Thanks to the revelation of archives that had been completely hidden until now, it is finally possible to break down prejudices and misconceptions surrounding this roof of the world, which seems timeless, yet constantly evolving toward modernity. To understand such a dichotomy, historians, sinologists, and Tibetologists have collaborated on this film to provide an illuminating vision of this part of China, which has unwittingly become a site of geopolitical power struggles that continue to affect future world

解密 Decoded Life is an ongoing journey of unraveling mysteries. The story commences with an interview, as the interviewees piece together the legendary life of Rong Jinzhen through recollections. Turning back the clock to the early 20th century, during the chaos of warlords and political unrest, the twelve-year-old Rong Jinzhen displayed exceptional mathematical talent. At the age of sixteen, he was admitted to N University, where his mentor, Professor Hayes, recognized and cherished his abilities. Their relationship evolved into a deep friendship. Upon discovering Rong Jinzhen's extraordinary talent in code- breaking, Hayes cautioned him against becoming overly fixated on "decode." With the outbreak of war, the two sympathetic individuals had to choose vastly different paths. Hayes returned to his homeland, responsible for "creating" codes, while Rong Jinzhen joined the 701 Unit, specializing in "deciphering" codes. At that time, the looming concern for everyone at 701 was the enemy's "Purple Code." Some even went mad due to the inability to find a solution. In less than a year, Rong Jinzhen successfully cracked the "Purple Code." However, faced with ensuing love, he chose to delve deeper into the path of "decode." Through correspondence with Hayes, Rong Jinzhen gradually realized that his former mentor had become his adversary. The destinies of the two ultimately intertwined, and the final showdown between master and disciple would unfold around a code more advanced, sophisticated, and weighty than the "Purple Code" – the elusive "Black Code."

追梦南半球 Chasing Dreams In The Southern Hemisphere Chasing Dreams in the Southern Hemisphere is an inspirational feature film about graduates who have studied and immigrated to New Zealand, Lin Junkai (played by Ren Zhongjie), Shao Feng (played by Shuai Di) and David (played by Cui Xuitong). After graduating from New Zealand, the three students overcame the cultural differences, challenges in the workplace and all kinds of constraints in their different workplaces, and finally realized their ideals and harvested their love, and at last, they won praise from mainstream society for their hard work, commitment, and sincere In the end, they won the recognition and praise of the mainstream society with their hard work, commitment and sincere work attitude. They proved their best selves with their final success.

The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru 里斯本丸沉没 Including After Screening Director Meeting Q&A Session – 30 mins Through detailed historical investigation, the crew tried their best to find the core parties and descendants from UK, US, Japan and China, getting close to the truth about the sinking of the "Lisbon Maru", aka "ship of death" in WW II.

The Lychee Road 长安的荔枝 During the Tang Dynasty’s Tianbao era, Li Shande (played by Dapeng) had spent his middle years grumbling through endless tasks, pinching every coin he could, yet remained nothing more than a nameless minor official. But then, a summons seemed to change everything. One day, an opportunity landed in his lap—a lucrative post as the “Lychee Envoy.” If he succeeded, wealth and prestige awaited, a chance to finally turn his life around. But if he failed... well, that was a risk he couldn’t afford to take.

爷爷奶奶那些事 Never Too Late Director After Screening Q&A Session 30 mins In a small country town of Huaihua city, Hunan province, China, Deng divorces her husband Yang at the age of 80 after 60 years of marriage. In order to understand the story behind the divorce, their granddaughter Yang Lizhu comes into their life. Deng Guiying and Yang Qiaoyuan have been separated for more than thirty years, and they have settled down in one south and one north of their respective units. The two people with vastly different personalities argued as soon as they met, and they finally divorced at the age of eighty. Nevertheless, Deng Guiying occasionally visits Yang Qiaoyuan. Under the curiosity and step-by-step exploration of their granddaughter, the dusty past and the overlooked inner side of each of them were gradually uncovered. As time passed, Deng Guiying developed Alzheimer's disease and her memory deteriorated. Yang Qiaoyuan also passed away in 2017. At the end of her life and memories, Deng Guiying forgot many things, including the conflicts she had with her husband.

Twelve Screen Delights: A Celebration of Black Creativity in NZ Join us for an 80-minute cinematic journey showcasing twelve stunning works from our talented Black creatives and allies across Aotearoa. From short films and documentaries to music videos and animations, this curated collection explores themes of love, hope, race, grief, celebration, relationships, identity, sexuality, and more. Expect a rich tapestry of vicarious vision, sweet sounds, and amazing animation—each piece a testament to the depth and diversity of Black storytelling in New Zealand. The evening concludes with a short Q&A session, offering you the chance to hear directly from some of the brilliant minds behind the screen. Tickets: $25 Online / $30 Door Sales Doors open: 1:00pm Screening Starts: 2:00pm Curated by Graham Vincent Featuring: Imani Jola Jane Kelly Jeanell Frontin Jen Van Epps Jennifer Onyeiwu Jujulipps Justin Benn Jzayla Hughey Keven Souza Marrisa Holder Quentin Warren Theo Shakes Troy Blackman

Pitchblack Playback: Smashing Pumpkins 'Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness' (30th Anniversary) *Please arrive by event start time as latecomers will not be admitted and refunds will not be offered* Immerse yourself in this epic at Pitchblack Playback's listening session in the dark, celebrating 30 years of one of the Pumpkins' finest moments. Hear this immense double-LP played loud in uncompressed audio on a 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, Metro and Newsweek. This event is not affiliated with Smashing Pumpkins or Virgin Records. Duration: 132 minutes (including 10-minute interval)

- OFFICIAL SELECTION: Tribeca Film Festival 2025 - Part courtroom drama, part true crime documentary, the extraordinarily inventive Re-Creation delves into one of Ireland’s most shocking unsolved crimes. In 1996, French filmmaker Sophie Toscan Du Plantier was murdered at her holiday home in West Cork. English journalist Ian Bailey was investigated by Irish authorities, but never faced trial in Ireland - despite the fact he was tried and convicted in absentia by the French government. Re-Creation directors Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, In the Name of the Father) and David Merriman have constructed a fascinating mix of fiction and reality that explores the question: what if Bailey had been tried in Ireland? The film skilfully brings audiences into the room as a fictional jury sorts through the facts, inconsistencies and inconvenient truths that make the case so intriguing to this day. With spectacular performances from the ensemble cast, headed by the remarkable Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread), Re-Creation is an unmissable entry in this year’s line-up.

Finland’s #1 Drama Series Betrayed. Bankrupt. Ready for Revenge. A darkly comedic, female-driven crime saga. Queen of F***ing Everything Finland’s most-watched drama series of all time. On Sunday, 23 November – 10:45 AM (screening begins at 11AM) Like Happy Valley and Mare of Easttown, this is prestige television with bite - a darkly funny, female-led story of ambition, betrayal, and revenge. A bold, stylish crime saga that puts a morally complex woman at the centre of her own downfall and rise. Coffee and Cupcake

- OFFICIAL SELECTION: Toronto International Film Festival 2025 - From BAFTA-and-Tony-winning writer Alan Bennett and director Nicholas Hytner, the team behind The History Boys and The Lady in the Van, The Choral explores the humour and humanity at the heart of a community facing an uncertain future. Academy Award® nominee and BAFTA-winner Ralph Fiennes heads up a cracking cast of character actors in this touching period piece. As war rages on the Western Front, the Choral Society in Ramsden, Yorkshire has lost most of its men to the army. The Choral’s ambitious committee, determined to press ahead, decides to recruit local young males to swell their ranks. They must also engage a new chorus master, and despite their suspicions that he has something to hide, their best bet seems to be Dr. Henry Guthrie (Fiennes) – driven, uncompromising, and recently returned from a career in Germany. As conscription papers start to arrive, the whole community discovers that the best response to the chaos that is laying waste to their lives is to make music together. With a knockout performance from the always-reliable Fiennes, and a compelling story to boot, The Choral is guaranteed to be a hit at this year’s Festival. Book your tickets quickly to avoid disappointment!

- OFFICIAL SELECTION: Locarno Film Festival 2025 - Witness British screen-legend Emma Thompson as you’ve never seen her before in this tense, gripping, and icy thriller... When she’s unexpectedly hit by a blizzard, grief-stricken loner Barb (Thompson) gets lost among the backroads near a Minnesotan lake. While stopping to ask for help at a remote cabin in the woods, Barb discovers a young woman (Laurel Marsden), who has been kidnapped by an armed and desperate couple (Judy Greer, Marc Menchaca), intent on murder. Isolated in the desolate frozen wilds and without cell service, Barb realises she is this woman’s only hope of survival. From Irish director Brian Kirk (My Boy Jack) and featuring a career-best performance from Thompson, this gritty, pulse-pounding trip is guaranteed to have you on the edge of your seat.

- OFFICIAL SELECTION: Edinburgh International Film Festival 2025 - - OFFICIAL SELECTION: Telluride Film Festival 2025 - Dating back to neolithic times, few culinary traditions have survived as long as the hearty bowl of morning porridge. Despite its simple recipe of oats, salt and water there is a lot that can vary. Each year the sleepy highland village of Carrbridge awakens with excitement as locals and competitors from around the globe vie for the honour of winning The Golden Spurtle in the World Porridge Making Championships. For ageing, charismatic, and soon-to-retire protagonist Charlie Miller, this competition means so much more than just a bowl of steaming oats. With ailing health but a responsibility to his fellow porridge committee members, Charlie is on a mission to secure the future of the championships – and his own legacy. Against the backdrop of the breathtaking Scottish Highlands and infused with whimsical humour of an eclectic cast, The Golden Spurtle captures the humanity of village life and those who visit with spurtle in hand.

Purchase tickets to THE PROMISE and support FREE WEST PAPUA ACTION TAMAKI MAKAURAU fundraising for a speaking tour of West Papua guests, covering air fares and related costs. Film maker Daan Veldhuizen exposes the betrayal of West Papua by the Netherlands, the United Nations and the United States. A forgotten struggle, a lost future. In the 1960s, West Papua was on the path to independence. But international interests, geopolitical power struggles, and economic motives dictated otherwise. Through uniquely restored and colourised 35mm archival footage, the film brings this untold history back to life, revealing how an entire people is systematically betrayed and oppressed.  West Papua activists in exile tell their gripping stories as they explain why their struggle for self-determination continues despite more than 60 years of suffering and the world’s neglect. Mix and Mingle 2:15pm and the movie will screen at 3pm after a short introduction from Maire Leadbeater who will outline Aotearoa’s role in this story. Tickets are $25 each. Director: Daan Veldhuizen Duration: 115 min When West Papua was betrayed, the world looked away.

In a near-future society, The Running Man is the top-rated show on television—a deadly competition where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite—and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.

Auckland Red Carpet Premiere Meet and Greet at 6.30pm Screening from 7.30pm Matt is a 29 year old slacker that works part time at his best friend’s famous older brother’s Cambridge Laundromat. Despite not being in his dream job Matt has a seemingly good life. He has a lovely long-term girlfriend Kelly (whose dad Phil conveniently owns the tavern), a tight knit group of mates, and a local tavern which keeps him entertained. The Tavern is a run down, eye-sore frequented by few customers with only the annual stripper night drawing a crowd. When Matt and his mates enquire about the date of the stripper night, Phil tells them that it won’t be happening this year. He’s set to sell the pub to slick Ponsonby property developer Vick Preston who plans on turning it into an upscale food court called IFD (International Food District). After a few beers Matt and his mates hatch a plan to buy the pub (with the blessing of Phil who ‘gives them a week’) with a series of bizarre fundraising ideas that test the strength of their relationships.