The New Zealand International Film Festival must reduce the number of films it screenes and the places it will screen this year as part of a financial crisis.
This year, only 50 to 60 feature films will be shown in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin, compared to 164 films shown last year in Wellington, and 95 in Christchurch and Dunedin. The Auckland Festival was canceled last year.
In Wellington, the festival will be held in only two venues this year – the Embassy and Roxy, while Auckland will be shown in only three venues this year – the Civic, ASB Waterfront Theater, and the Hollywood Avondale.
“We are taking a responsible approach to reducing financial risk … while continuing to support the film industry,” said New Zealand Film Festival Trust President Catherine Fitzgerald.
MONIQUE FORD / Saachen
The Embassy Theater in Wellington, pictured, will be one of only two venues for the festival this year in the capital.
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Last year it was revealed that the festival had gone from a surplus of almost $ 300,000 to a deficit of $ 600,000 in a year, and its former director Marten Rabarts left the organization.
MONIQUE FORD / Saachen
Catherine Fitzgerald, president of the NZ Film Festival Trust, says that while the NZIFF will be showing fewer films this year, it will have a stronger focus on films directly from Cannes and other major worldwide festivals.
The festival will open at Auckland’s The Civic on July 28 and run until August 7, with Wellington shows opening next week at the embassy. Dunedin and Christchurch screenings begin on August 11th.
In Christchurch, the festival would this year only show films in the light cinemas, abolishing the Isaac Theater Royal from its lineup, while in Dunedin also the regent was cut, leaving Rialto as the only festival venue.
Exact locations are still being confirmed for regional areas, but the festival said that between August 11 and September 4, there will be a smaller number of films in Hamilton, Tauranga, Hawke’s Bay, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Masterton, Nelson, Timaru and Gore would show up. Matakana Cinemas are a possible fourth Auckland venue.
There was potential for Auckland to show some additional films from last year’s program that it missed, said Festival General Manager Sally Woodfield.
MONIQUE FORD / Saachen
Former festival director Marten Rabarts left last year.
“Careful consideration” was given to venues, and the smaller festival was “a unique one” while building its foundation for the future, she said.
Five cinemas in Wellington have missed the film festival. “Not being part of the biggest festival in the NZ film calendar leaves a big gap in our program,” said Iain Macleod, the manager of one of them, the Wellington Penthouse Cinema.
A lack of festival goers would financially damage the cinema permanently with Covid-19 restrictions, he said. “It’s more lost income.”
Lighthouse cinemas have also been missed. Owner Simon Werry said he would be disappointed not to be part of this year’s festival, but said it looks like it will be part of the next iteration.
Matthew Tso / Saachen
Lighthouse Cinemas owner Simon Werry says he is disappointed it will not be part of the festival this year.
Fitzgerald said while fewer films would be shown, there would be a stronger focus on films direct from Cannes and other major worldwide festivals. It would continue to show New Zealand films.
The cancellation of last year’s Auckland and Hamilton festivals, and Hybrid Online / Personal Festival with reduced capacity due to distancing demands in 2020, both had a “significant impact” on the festival’s revenue, she said. About 50 percent of the festival’s box comes from Auckland.
Recruitment for the replacement of Rabarts would take place this year, and the festival hopes to be back in all its usual places by 2023.
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