New Zealand Film
Welcome to the New Zealand Film archive. Most New Zealand films have been made by small independent film-makers, often on a low budget and sometimes with sponsorship from the private sector or the NZ Film Commission. Only recently have international film companies used the New Zealand film industry as a source of feature films. However, the independent tradition of filmmaking in New Zealand dates back to the end of the 19th century, when film was first shot in New Zealand. The first feature film made in Godzone was "Hinemoa". It premiered on August 1, 1914 at the Lyric Theatre, Auckland.
The documentary film Cinema of Unease, by Sam Neill, presents an accessible history of film in New Zealand.
Most films are able to be accessed below, however some Films have been seperated into sub-categories, ie "New Zealand Documentaries", "Short Films" and "Peter Jackson Directs". The mother-lode can be prospected below.
Right: An artists rendition of Geoff Murphy's "Goodbye Pork Pie".
Offensive Behaviour (2004)
5.1/10
Director: Patrick Gillies
Starring: Richard Allom Cosgrove, David Sheard, Janice Gray, Elizabeth Moody, Yvonne Dawso...
Destitute filmmaker, Quentin (Richard Allom Cosgrove) has resorted to making homegrown porn flicks to fulfill his celluloid dreams, and Nigel (David S... Read more
The Insider's Guide To Happiness (2004)
Director: Various
Starring: Fasitua Amosa, Will Hall, Sally Stockwell, Ben Barrington, Samantha Jukes, Paolo...
Arguably the most original drama series to have come out of New Zealand, this quirky, black-humoured show follows the paths of six different people as... Read more
Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby: Series 1 (2004)
8.9/10
Director: Danny Mulheron
Starring: Geraldine Brophy, Jason Hoyte, David McPhail, Tandi Wright
David McPhail plays the eponymous old crock of a secondary teacher who takes a relieving job at the highly dysfunctional Te Papawai Boys High. The inc... Read more
Our People, Our Century (2004)
"Our people, Our Century" is a rich mix of contemporary interviews, archive film and photos, home movies and stills, letters and diaries. Using this m... Read more
Grass Roots (2004)
8.6/10
Deep within the "Grass Roots" of New Zealand film culture can be found a rare breed: the Kiwi short film. Here a celebration of emergent Kiwi film-mak... Read more
Bro' Town: Series 1 (2004)
Starring: Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Mario Goa, David Fane
New Zealand's first prime time animation series comes to DVD. Vale, Valea, Jeff da Maori, Sione and Mack are mates living in the fictional suburb of... Read more
Spooked (2004)
5.1/10
Director: Geoff Murphy
Starring: Cliff Curtis, Christopher Hobbs, John Leigh, Miriama Smith
Investigative journalist Mort Whitman (Cliff Curtis) is onto the story of his lifetime, the most important story in the nation. A big pay-off from a m... Read more
In My Father's Den (2004)
7.6/10
Director: Brad McGann
Starring: Matthew Macfadyen, Miranda Otto, Emily Barclay, Colin Moy, Jodie Rimmer, Vicky H...
Paul (Matthew Macfadyen), a prize-winning war journalist, returns to his remote New Zealand hometown due to the death of his father, battle-scarred an... Read more
Fracture (2004)
6.9/10
Director: Larry Parr
Starring: Kate Elliott, Jared Turner, John Noble, Miranda Harcourt, Liddy Holloway, Jennif...
From the novel "Crime Story" by Maurice Gee comes a revealing, emotional drama which illustrates the traits that push us apart and pull us together as... Read more
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ( Blu-ray ) (2003)
8.9/10
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Bernard Hill, Cate Blanchett, David Wenham, Elijah Wood, Hugo Weaving, Ian Holm,...
Director Peter Jackson's triumphant finale to fantasy cinema's most acclaimed series has Frodo, Sam and the treacherous Gollum attempt to destroy the... Read more