The New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF) returns to Tauranga from August 28 to September 7 with a packed programme including a hotly anticipated Jacinda Ardern documentary and eight of the most acclaimed films from this year’s Cannes Films Festival.

Tauranga is one of 10 centres around the country where NZIFF will screen in 2025.   

Headlining the Tauranga programme is Cannes Palme d’Or winner It Was Just an Accident, directed by Jafar Panahi, which sold out in days in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Cannes Palme d’Or winner It Was Just an Accident, directed by Jafar Panahi, will be screening in Tauranga as part of the NZIFF. Photo / Supplied.

Also screening is Cannes’ Grand Prix winner Sentimental Value, starring Stellan Skarsgård and Elle Fanning, the latest work by Joachim Trier, director of 2021 Cannes Palme d’Or winner The Worst Person in the World. 

The fastest selling film in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch is the US-NZ production -  Prime Minister, a revealing documentary about the former PM Jacinda Ardern spanning the highs and lows of her six years in office. 

Kiwi singer songwriter Don McGlashan is the subject of Anchor Me, a documentary from Shirley Horrocks.  Photo / Supplied.

Audiences in Tauranga can also look forward to other standout New Zealand films, including Anchor Me, a documentary from Shirley Horrocks about iconic Kiwi singer songwriter Don McGlashan.

Also set to make an impact is the visually stunning Went Up the Hill, a modern day gothic ghost story set in the Canterbury high country by director Samuel Van Grinsven starring Stranger Things actor Dacre Montgomery.  

Kiwi singer songwriter Don McGlashan is the subject of Anchor Me, a documentary from Shirley Horrocks.  Photo / Supplied.

Tauranga locals can also see Not Only Fred Dagg, a much-anticipated portrait of legendary trans-Tasman satirist John Clarke, directed by his daughter Lorin Clarke. 

NZIFF Artistic Director Paolo Bertolin said the regional line-up is not to be missed.

"World-class cinema belongs everywhere. We're so happy we are able to bring such a strong lineup of the world’s very best films to Tauranga over 11 days so audiences here can have a taste of the full festival experience." 

NZIFF will play in Tauranga’s Luxe cinemas.

Tickets are on sale now at www.nziff.co.nz. The full programme is available online now.