9th World Cinema Showcase 2007

The New Zealand Film Festival Trust brings us the ninth annual World Cinema Showcase, the little film festival in between the seasons for International Film Festivals. The objectives remain the same: to provide exposure for exceptional films and filmmakers in New Zealand's small, but crowded market.

Top recommendations include Mira Nair's adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri's novel The Namesake, which opens the Auckland and Wellington showcases, and Todd Field's Little Children, an intelligent and scathing satire on American middle class suburban life, which opens the Christchurch and Dunedin showcases.

Nationwide Schedules, Four Cities - New Zealand World Cinema Showcase

March

• Auckland: Academy Cinema, 15 Mar-4 Apr

April

• Wellington: Paramount, 29 Mar-11 Apr
• Christchurch: Rialto Cinemas, 12-25 Apr
• Dunedin: Regent Theatre, 19 Apr-5 May

You can view more information about accommodation options in key city centres:

• Auckland accommodation options
• Wellington accommodation options
• Christchurch accommodation options
• Dunedin accommodation options

Recommended Films - World Cinema in New Zealand

Sabah (2005, Canada)

Arab-Canadian director Ruba Nadda offers up an unlikely romantic comedy about Sabah, a 40-year-old Arabic woman living in Toronto, who has no life outside of serving her overbearing family. One day, on a rare trip outside the house, see meets someone and her family is against it. Nadda captures the in-between lives of Syrians in Toronto, showing us her sympathy and understanding of her characters.

Time To Leave (2005, France)

French director Francois Ozon strikes again with Le Temps qui reste. A top Parisian fashion photographer learns he has terminal cancer and rages against the world. This is considered the most personal, deeply-felt film from Ozon, while stripping the melodrama of all sentimentality. With sparse dialogue and marvellous acting, critics hail this as the best work so far from the director of Swimming Pool (2003) and 8 femmes (2002).

Wordplay (2006, USA)

Director Patrick Creadon's film about the story of the NY Times crossword puzzle and takes us to the American Crossword Puzzle Convention, founded by famous crossword editor Will Shortz. The highlight of the film is the competition among crossword geeks for the top prize. A superbly watchable documentary film, this film will appeal to all those addicted to doing the NY Times crossword puzzles.

Movies You Can't Miss - New Zealand World Cinema Showcase

• The African Queen (1951, UK/USA) - dir. John Huston
• Heartbreak Hotel (2006, Sweden)
• Infamous (2006, USA)
• Like Minds (2006, Australia/UK)
• Pierrepoint (The Last Hangman, 2005, UK)
• Rampage (2006, Australia) - dir. George Gittoes
• Razzle Dazzle (2007, Australia)
• Suburban Mayhem (2006, Australia)
• We Feed the World (2005, Austria)

For further information about screening schedules and booking tickets, please visit the official 9th World Cinema Showcase 2007 Web site.