The NZIFF has named more titles, bringing its total to date for 2026 up to a dozen.
The festival has previously announced its first title for 2026, Kaouther Ben Hanias Tunisian title The Voice of Hind Rajab, and its centrepiece film, Vea Mafile’o and Gavin Fitzgerald’s Lomu.
Another NZ film is among those announced Friday, Jordan Mark Windsor & Sean Wallace’s Sundance-premiered Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant.
“We are excited to share this first batch of titles from NZIFF 2026,” says Artistic Director Paolo Bertolin. “They reflect the diverse, free and adventurous nature of a line up that promises to be high on cinematic quality but also on emotional impact, fun and topicality.
“We can’t wait to share more titles and really look forward to the moment our audiences will discover them on the big screen.”
The 12 features also include a backstage French farce (Comédie-Française), a comedy-drama that pokes a gentle stick at family complexities (Father Mother Sister Brother), and a jazz icon’s comeback from tragedy (Everybody Digs Bill Evans) join the party too.
Also named are jailhouse splatter horror (Ghost in the Cell), as well as a sizzling romance in southern Spain (Iván & Hadoum), a haunting queer indie classic re-mastered in 4K (Mysterious Skin), and a powerful documentary portrait of Lebanon (Do You Love Me).
First film announcements by strand:
Māhutonga: The place for storytellers from Aotearoa and the South Pacific, this strand also includes a selection of New Zealand’s best short films.
Lomu – Centrepiece film for 2026 (directed by Vea Mafile’o and Gavin Fitzgerald New Zealand)
Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant (directed by Jordan Mark Windsor and Sean Wallace of THUNDERLIPS, New Zealand)
Fresh: The section for bold debut features in international cinema.
Elephants in the Fog (directed by Abinash Bikram Shah, Nepal)
Frames: The home of documentaries.
Landmarks (directed by Lucrecia Martel, Argentina)
Portraits: Character-driven stories about the lives of ordinary and extraordinary people.
Ivan & Hadoum (directed by Ian de la Rosa, Spain)
Nocturnal: Kooky, frightening, awe-inspiring or undefinable, Nocturnal is our late-night strand for films that are the stuff of dreams… or nightmares.
Ghost in the Cell (directed by Joko Anwar, Indonesia)
Rhythms: A selection of films celebrating music, its makers, and their stories.
Everybody Digs Bill Evans (directed by Grant Gee, Ireland)
Visions: Works showcasing the distinct cinematic style of revered masters and emerging talents.
Father Mother Sister Brother (directed by Jim Jarmusch, USA)
Journeys: Stories that bring fresh insight to a place, identity or experience.
Do You Love Me (directed by Lana Daher, Lebanon)
Widescreen: Narrative and documentary films offering vivid snapshots from diverse realities from across the globe.
The Voice of Hind Rajab (directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, Tunisia)
Treasures: A section of hand-picked classics and recently restored films.
Mysterious Skin 4K (directed by Gregg Araki, USA)
NZIFF 2026 opens in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland on 29 July before screening in 10 other centres around the motu throughout August and into September.
See the selections so far here.
