ShowNews Academy - The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
2025-07-22 20:00 - 22:00 (Pacific/Auckland) | Academy Cinema, 44 Lorne St, Auckland, New Zealand
Directed by Jacques Demy
Starring Catherine Deneuve, Anne Vernon, Nino Castelnuovo, Marc Michel
Each month ShowNews presents a film at Academy Cinemas picked by a special film industry guest. For July, the chosen film is Jacque Demy’s musical masterpiece THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG, chosen by Geoff Fiebig who works in the Art Department!
Happy Hour drinks from 7:00pm.
Screening 8:15pm.
The angelically beautiful Catherine Deneuve was launched to stardom by this dazzling musical heart-tugger from Jacques Demy. She plays an umbrella-shop owner’s delicate daughter, glowing with first love for a handsome garage mechanic, played by Nino Castelnuovo. When the boy is shipped off to fight in Algeria, the two lovers must grow up quickly.
Exquisitely designed in a kaleidoscope of colors, and told entirely through lilting songs by the great composer Michel Legrand, THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG is one of the most revered and unorthodox movie musicals of all time.

NZ International Film Festival
2025-07-31 - 2025-08-10
The Biggest Films of 2025 — Your city’s biggest film event is here — sessions are filling. Book your picks today. See the best films of 2025 right here in Auckland. Tickets selling fast — book now.

MIFF - 37° South Market
2025-08-07 08:00 - 2025-08-10 17:00 | Melbourne
A selective event for producers to pitch their script-stage screen projects to potential financiers.
MIFF 37°South Market also includes screenings for buyers, modules for publishers and IP owners pitching their manuscripts/creative assets to producers for potential screen adaptations, writers pitching their screenplays to producers, and panel discussions.
MIFF 37ºSouth Market is the exclusive South Pacific partner of London’s Production Finance Market (PFM).

NZCS 2025 AGM and Catch Up
2025-08-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Horse & Trap, 3 Enfield Street, Mount Eden, Auckland
This is your chance to be heard, make a difference, and help shape the future of our Society.
Over the past year, we’ve been busy – hosting well-attended events, processing LONO and accreditation applications, running workshops, supporting internships, and preparing for the 8th NZCS Awards. Behind the scenes, we’ve also been building a new cinematic-look website. But we’re just getting started, and we need your voice to keep moving forward.
Your support and participation in this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) is essential as we continue to grow, evolve, and deliver on the needs of our members.
All NZCS members are warmly invited to attend. Come ask questions, share ideas, nominate someone for our committee, or even put your own name forward!
To thank you for your time and engagement, we’ll be shouting drinks and warm kai. It’s also a great chance to reconnect with your peers in a relaxed setting.
Registration is optional, yet we kindly ask that you do so in order to aid with planning. If you are not attending you may register your apologies and/or appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf. Simply follow the registration process and fill in the relevant fields.

From Warships to Dinosaurs: VFX Prep with Shelly Johnson ASC
2025-08-23 14:00 - 17:00 | Metrofilm, Unit 1/43A Linwood Avenue, Mount Albert,, Auckland, 1025
From the tense confines of a WWII destroyer’s bridge to the thunderous world of dinosaurs, Shelly Johnson ASC has navigated some of cinema’s most complex VFX challenges.
Join him in Auckland on Saturday 23 August for a behind-the-scenes look at how meticulous preparation, inventive lighting, and seamless collaboration bring large-scale visual effects to life. Shelly will share stories and insights from Greyhound, Jurassic Park III, Captain America: The First Avenger, and more.
We thank Shelly for making the trip from Wellington, where he is currently doing Mo-Cap and V-Cam work in preparation for sequences from Greyhound 2 at WETA, to spend the afternoon sharing his knowledge with the NZCS community.
This relaxed, show-and-tell style session will cover how thorough prep shapes both the creative and technical approach to a VFX shoot.
WHEN: Saturday 23 August. Doors open 2 PM for drinks and pizza. Presentation starts 3 PM sharp.
WHERE: Metro Film, Unit 1/43A Linwood Avenue, Mount Albert, Auckland 1025
Free for NZCS members | $40 for non-members
Attendance limited to 50 places — reserve your seat now.

African Film Festival
2025-09-18 - 2025-09-28 | The Capitol Cinema, 610 Dominion Road, Auckland
AFFNZ is a charitable trust bringing the best of African cinema to New Zealand. Dedicated to advancing an enhanced understanding of African cultures through film and increasing visibility and recognition for African filmmakers in New Zealand.
Celebrating 10 years of African cinema at The Capitol

New Zealand Game Developers Conference
2025-09-25 - 2025-09-27 | Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre, 50 Cable St, Wellington
The NZGDC, is an annual conference that brings together industry professionals, students, and enthusiasts to share knowledge, network, and celebrate the best of New Zealand game development.
The conference features keynote speeches from international and local industry experts, panels and workshops on topics such as game design, programming, and business development, as well as a showcase of new and innovative games from New Zealand developers.
The NZGDA also provides resources and support to its members, including access to other industry events, networking opportunities and benefits and resources. Through its efforts, the NZGDA aims to foster a thriving and sustainable game development community in Aotearoa.

Industry Gathering in Memory of John Barnett
2025-09-28 15:00 - 20:00 | Longroom, 114 Ponsonby Road, Auckland

ShowNews Academy - Eraserhead
2025-09-30 19:30 - 22:30 | Academy Cinema, 44 Lorne St, Auckland, New Zealand
Directed by David Lynch
Starring Jack Nance, Allen Joseph, Charlotte Steward, Jack Fisk, Jeanne Bates, Laurel Near
Each month ShowNews presents a film at Academy Cinemas picked by a special film industry guest. For September, the chosen film is David Lynch’s haunting masterpiece ERASERHEAD, chosen by director James Fink-Jensen!
“Henry Spencer tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend, and the unbearable screams of his newly born mutant child.”

SXSW Sydney
2025-10-13 - 2025-10-19
SXSW Sydney brings together professionals from business, tech, government, health, marketing, creative industries and more for seven days of ideas, innovation and inspiration.
At its heart, the Conference offers 550+ sessions including keynotes, panels, workshops, and conversations to help you uncover emerging trends, challenge your thinking, and gain practical insights.
But SXSW Sydney is more than a conference. The city comes alive with parties, 300+ live music gigs, 120+ indie games and 95 film screenings, creating the perfect backdrop to forge new friendships, spark collaborations and keep the conversations flowing.

The New Zealand Cinematographer Awards 2025
2025-10-18 08:00 - 17:00
The 8th New Zealand Cinematographer Awards shines a spotlight on the craft, creativity, and talent behind the wide ranging and world-class cinematography in Aotearoa.
This year you will see more opportunities to cinematographers at all stages of their careers with an extended AL Guildford Awards for emerging cinematographers. With each entrant limited to one award per category the podium is further opened to a wider range of cinematographers.

Lighting through the Lighting Board
2025-10-18 12:30 - 17:00 | Pullman Hotel, Meeting room 2, Auckland
NZCS and Xytech Group invite you to an afternoon in Auckland exploring ‘Lighting through the Lighting Board’ with DP Richard Bluck NZCS, Gaffer Giles Coburn, and Lighting Console Operator Abby Clearwater.
This session is designed to give cinematographers and crew working on productions of all scales valuable insight into this evolving space, focusing on how lighting board workflows can streamline time on set and be integrated into future projects.
The panel will delve into how productions can harness the power of lighting control systems to achieve creative vision, optimise workflows, and secure budget support for the process. Richard, Giles, and Abby will share their experiences across high-profile projects, examining both the advantages and challenges of integrating a lighting board into modern production.
Expect discussion around:
Practical strategies to plan and manage lighting board workflows on set.
How to communicate the creative and budget benefits of a lighting board to production.
Pitfalls to avoid when adopting this approach.
Real-world insights from recent projects, supported by stills, clips, and lighting setups.
RSVP required. Free for NZCS Members. Non-members $45.
If you’re not yet a member, now is the perfect time to join NZCS and gain access to this event and many more at no cost. Learn more about joining here.
When: Saturday 18th October 2025, 12:30 PM
Where: Meeting Room 2, Pullman Hotel, Auckland

NZ Production Designers Muster 2025
2025-10-18 17:00 - 23:30 | AUT School of Art & Design, 40 Pauls St, Auckland
‘Production Designers translate scripted words into visual reality to build cinematic worlds’
Under the auspices of the International Production Designers Collective and as part of its International Production Design Week, New Zealand film and commercial Production Designers, Art Directors, Set Decorators and Props Masters will come together for their bi-annual gathering in Auckland on October 18th.
This will serve to celebrate and publicise the amazing professions that we work in and the variety of productions operating here in Aotearoa.
It’s rare that our profession assembles in one place and this sharing of recent experiences, technological innovations, current standards and future expectations of our industry are highly topical in these turbulent times. We will have four speakers representing a variety of levels within the profession each of whom will illuminate their specific viewpoint.
Held in association with AUT we will be gathering on their campus and sharing the event by inviting post-graduate students interested in joining the industry.

Sennheiser Spectera & Merging Technologies Hands-On Showcase
2025-10-22 18:00 - 21:00 | The Oakroom, Auckland, 17 Drake Street, Auckland, 1010
Do you have an unwavering curiosity to increase your knowledge of Audio over IP? A niggling itch to hone your understanding via the latest trends, witness pioneering tech including interfaces and software solutions?
Or, do you have interest in the latest in bidirectional RF technology and how it can be applied to your current and future audio workflows?
Well, Broadtech in partnership with the Sennheiser Group has curated one single event to fulfill these desires!
Join Sennheiser ANZ Technical Applications Engineer, Brock Whitton as he delivers you the most up-to-date and groundbreaking tech in a hands on interactive arena.
We will have Exclusive Giveways, Exclusive Offers, and both Broadtech and Sennheiser experts on hand to give you the most hands-on experience of Spectera and Merging Technologies in New Zealand!

ShowNews Academy – The Naked Kiss
2025-10-28 20:00 - 22:00 | Academy Cinema, 44 Lorne St, Auckland, New Zealand
Each month ShowNews presents a film at Academy Cinemas picked by a special film industry guest. For October, the chosen film is Samuel Fuller’s classic THE NAKED KISS!
“A former prostitute works to create a new life for herself in a small town, but a shocking discovery could threaten everything.”
This month our guest is Geoff Fiebig from the Art Department

TEQ Talks Auckland
2025-10-30 18:00 - 21:00 | Media Design School, 10 Madden St, Auckland
Don’t miss TEQ Talks Auckland, our next big night for creatives working in VFX, animation, and storytelling!
Join us Thursday 30 October from 6pm at Media Design School for drinks, networking, and three sharp talks from industry leaders pushing boundaries in Aotearoa and beyond.
Speakers
Alexander Moruo, Filmmaker
Talk: Through Snow and Spirit – Crafting Winter Stories
Discover how Alex creates richly layered animated worlds blending culture, design, and snow-drenched storytelling.
Hweiling Ow, Filmmaker
Talk: The Accidental Horror Maker
From not watching horror to becoming one of NZ’s boldest horror voices — Hweiling shares how contradiction fuels creativity.
Amanda Davison, Executive VFX Producer
Talk: People Over Pixels: A Producer’s Path Through Visual Effects
Hear why people skills matter most in VFX from one of the country’s leading producers.
Doors open for networking and drinks at 6:00pm | Talks begin at 7:00pm | After-party from 9:00pm at The Blue Frog (next door)
Drinks and nibbles at MDS. After-party at The Blue Frog next door.
Free for VFXG, VES, and MDS members. $10–$20 for others.
Brought to you by:
VES NZ | Media Design School | VFX Professionals Guild | St Leonards Brewery

American Film Market
2025-11-11 - 2025-11-16 | Los Angeles
Every November, the entire global film industry converges for the American Film Market.
AFM is the premier film acquisition, development and networking event where more than $1 Billion in distribution and film financing deals are closed each year on completed films and those in every stage of development. More business-oriented than any other motion picture event, thousands of professionals from all corners of our industry come together at AFM to develop, showcase, discover, finance and license 1000s of independent films and projects destined for the world’s audiences.
At AFM, participants can also attend The AFM Sessions – 30+ world class conferences and panels, and connect with the independent film community’s decision makers, all in one convenient location.
AFM is the only sales market produced by the Independents for our industry.

Ngā Aho Whakaari AGM
2025-11-25 17:30 - 20:00 | The Bank, Cnr of Tūārangi Road & Great North Road, Grey Lynn., Auckland
Join us at our Annual General Meeting either in person or online. Following the AGM, join us for kai and whakawhanaungatanga!
Kei aku nui, kei aku rahi, kei aku whakatamarahi ki te rangi, nei rā te reo mihi a Ngā Aho Whakaari e pari atu nei ki te tai whakarunga, ki te tai whakararo, ki ngā paringa tai tangata huri i te motu, tēnā koutou katoa.
Kaua e rangiruatia te hāpai o te hoe; e kore tō tātou waka e ū ki uta!
Date: Thursday 27th November, 5:30pm.
Location: The Bank, Cnr of Tūārangi Road & Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland.
Online: AGM link will be sent to all RSVP’d members closer to the date.

ShowNews Academy - Mood Indigo
2025-11-25 20:00 - 22:00 | Academy Cinema, 44 Lorne St, Auckland, New Zealand
Directed by Michel Gondry
Starring Romain Duris, Omar Sy, Audrey Tautou
Each month ShowNews presents a film at Academy Cinemas picked by a special film industry guest. For November, the chosen film is Michel Gondry’s epic romance MOOD INDIGO!
Wealthy, inventive bachelor Colin endeavors to find a cure for his lover Chloe after she’s diagnosed with an unusual illness caused by a flower growing in her lungs.

Combined Guilds Xmas Party CHRISTCHURCH
2025-12-09 17:00 - 21:00 | Dux Central, 144 Lichfield Street, Christchurch
It’s been another interesting year for Aotearoa’s screen industry, now it’s time to reflect, raise a glass, and celebrate together!
Join the writers, directors, editors, actors, stunties, crew, producers, postproduction and VFX magicians and all the screen creators who keep the cameras rolling and the stories flowing.
The Combined Guilds Xmas Parties are your chance to reconnect with old friends, meet new collaborators, and enjoy a well-earned festive catch-up with good people who get it.
What’s included:
Your $10 ticket covers a bar tab and snacks
A warm, welcoming mix of industry whānau across all screen guilds
The perfect chance to unwind, swap stories, and toast to another creative year
Whether you’ve been on set, in post, behind the scenes, or in front of the camera, come celebrate the people who make Aotearoa’s screen industry what it is, one big circus family.

Combined Guilds Xmas Party AUCKLAND
2025-12-11 18:00 - 22:00 | Longroom, 114 Ponsonby Road, Auckland
It’s been another interesting year for Aotearoa’s screen industry, now it’s time to reflect, raise a glass, and celebrate together!
Join the writers, directors, editors, actors, stunties, crew, producers, postproduction and VFX magicians and all the screen creators who keep the cameras rolling and the stories flowing.
The Combined Guilds Xmas Parties are your chance to reconnect with old friends, meet new collaborators, and enjoy a well-earned festive catch-up with good people who get it.
What’s included:
Your $10 ticket covers a bar tab and snacks
A warm, welcoming mix of industry whānau across all screen guilds
The perfect chance to unwind, swap stories, and toast to another creative year
Whether you’ve been on set, in post, behind the scenes, or in front of the camera, come celebrate the people who make Aotearoa’s screen industry what it is, one big circus family.
Tickets: $10 per person – includes bar tab + snacks
Dress code: Come as you are (festive flair welcome!)

Doc Edge Festival 2026 - Regular Submission Deadline
2025-12-15
NZ filmmakers — submissions for Doc Edge Festival 2026 are now open!
Doc Edge invites Aotearoa’s documentary community to submit films for the 21st edition of the festival. They are looking for powerful New Zealand stories across shorts and features, as well as immersive, from emerging voices to established creatives working in the factual and hybrid space.
Selected films will screen as part of New Zealand’s Oscar®-qualifying documentary festival, and top local awards include major cash prizes and Oscar® consideration for 2027.
🏆 Best NZ Feature: $10,000 cash prize + Oscar® consideration
🏆 Best NZ Short: $2,500 cash prize + Oscar® consideration
Submissions via FilmFreeway.
📅 Regular deadline: 15 December 2025
📅 Late deadline: 31 January 2026
Be part of Aotearoa’s leading documentary platform and showcase your work to local and international audiences.

Combined Guilds Xmas Party WELLINGTON
2025-12-18 18:00 - 22:00 | Southern Cross Garden Bar, 39 Abel Smith Street, Wellington, 6011

Doc Edge Pitch 2026 - Early bird Submission Deadline
2026-01-16
Submissions are now open for Doc Edge Pitch 2026 — New Zealand’s premier platform for developing and showcasing new documentary projects.
Doc Edge is seeking compelling factual projects (shorts, features, and series) in development, production or rough-cut stage. Selected teams will pitch to international and local decision makers and receive mentoring, industry access, and networking opportunities during the festival.
Open to both NZ and international filmmakers.
📅 Early Bird deadline: 16 January 2026
📍 Pitching takes place during Doc Edge Festival 2026
🔗 Full details & application: https://docedge.nz/programme/industry/pitch/

ShowNews Academy - The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
2026-01-27 19:30 - 22:00 | Academy Cinema, 44 Lorne St, Auckland, New Zealand
Directed by John Ford
Starring Vera Miles, James Stewart, John Wayne, Lee Marvin, John Carradine
Come along and hear Chris Short introduce John Ford’s Oscar-nominated western, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, starring John Wayne, James Stewart and Lee Marvin as Liberty.
Why this film? Because the screening is a tribute to Lee Tamahori, and the film was a favourite of his – in fact it was the last film he watched before passing away last month. The Academy will be donating the evening’s takings to the Vista Foundation.
“Director Ford brings us to the lawless frontier village of Shinbone, a town plagued by a larger-than-life nemesis, Liberty Valance (Marvin). Stewart plays the bungling but charming big-city lawyer determined to rid Shinbone of Valance, and he finds that he has an unlikely ally in the form of a rugged local rancher (Wayne). The two men also share the same love interest (Miles). But when the final showdown becomes inevitable, one of the two will attempt to get the gunman . . . and the other one will wind up getting the gal.”

Doc Edge Festival 2026 - Late Submission Deadline
2026-01-31
NZ filmmakers — submissions for Doc Edge Festival 2026 are now open!
Doc Edge invites Aotearoa’s documentary community to submit films for the 21st edition of the festival. They are looking for powerful New Zealand stories across shorts and features, as well as immersive, from emerging voices to established creatives working in the factual and hybrid space.
Selected films will screen as part of New Zealand’s Oscar®-qualifying documentary festival, and top local awards include major cash prizes and Oscar® consideration for 2027.
🏆 Best NZ Feature: $10,000 cash prize + Oscar® consideration
🏆 Best NZ Short: $2,500 cash prize + Oscar® consideration
Submissions via FilmFreeway.
📅 Late deadline: 31 January 2026
Be part of Aotearoa’s leading documentary platform and showcase your work to local and international audiences.

Doc Edge Festival 2026 - Extended Submission Deadline
2026-02-15
NZ filmmakers — submissions for Doc Edge Festival 2026 are now open!
Doc Edge invites Aotearoa’s documentary community to submit films for the 21st edition of the festival. They are looking for powerful New Zealand stories across shorts and features, as well as immersive, from emerging voices to established creatives working in the factual and hybrid space.
Selected films will screen as part of New Zealand’s Oscar®-qualifying documentary festival, and top local awards include major cash prizes and Oscar® consideration for 2027.
🏆 Best NZ Feature: $10,000 cash prize + Oscar® consideration
🏆 Best NZ Short: $2,500 cash prize + Oscar® consideration
Submissions via FilmFreeway.
📅 Extended deadline: 15 February 2026
Be part of Aotearoa’s leading documentary platform and showcase your work to local and international audiences.

Doc Edge Pitch 2026 - Regular Submission Deadline
2026-02-20
Submissions are open for Doc Edge Pitch 2026 — New Zealand’s premier platform for developing and showcasing new documentary projects.
Doc Edge is seeking compelling factual projects (shorts, features, and series) in development, production or rough-cut stage. Selected teams will pitch to international and local decision makers and receive mentoring, industry access, and networking opportunities during the festival.
Open to both NZ and international filmmakers.
📅 Regular deadline: 20 February 2026
📍 Pitching takes place during Doc Edge Festival 2026
🔗 Full details & application: https://docedge.nz/programme/industry/pitch/

Doc Edge Pitch 2026 – Late Submission Deadline
2026-03-29
Submissions are open for Doc Edge Pitch 2026 — New Zealand’s premier platform for developing and showcasing new documentary projects.
Doc Edge is seeking compelling factual projects (shorts, features, and series) in development, production or rough-cut stage. Selected teams will pitch to international and local decision makers and receive mentoring, industry access, and networking opportunities during the festival.
Open to both NZ and international filmmakers.
📅 Late deadline: 29 March 2026
📍 Pitching takes place during Doc Edge Festival 2026
🔗 Full details & application: https://docedge.nz/programme/industry/pitch/

Doc Edge Festival 2026 - Auckland
2026-06-24 - 2026-07-12
Experience the 21st edition of New Zealand’s premier, Oscar-qualifying Doc Edge Festival!
From 24 June to 12 July, Auckland will come alive across various venues with an extraordinary celebration of documentary storytelling.
This year’s festival features world-class screenings, thought-provoking talks, prestigious awards, industry networking events, and an immersive exhibition that pushes the boundaries of documentary art. Plus, the Doc Edge Schools Programme inspires the next generation of filmmakers and storytellers.
Stay connected for the latest updates: sign up for the Doc Edge newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
