NZIFF Back at The Isaac Theatre Royal 2026

Movie fans, get ready to feast your eyes and ears! The Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival is on again in Christchurch from 6-23 August. From the classic to the kooky, docos to drama, family-friendly fun to late-night frights and everything in between, there’s something to suit all film fanciers.

Standouts from the lineup so far include a backstage French farce (Comédie-Française), a star-studded comedy-drama about family complexities (Father Mother Sister Brother), a jazz icon’s comeback from tragedy (Everybody Digs Bill Evans), a coming-of-age tale about the awkwardness of growing up (Big Girls Don’t Cry), and the untold story of a sporting legend (Lomu).

Also on the list, a selection from the glitzy Cannes Film Festival, including Palme d’Or (top prize) winner, Fjord, Grand Prix winner Minotaur, a political thriller that peeps behind the closed doors of Russia’s wealthy elite, and closing night film, Coward, a queer romantic drama set in WW1, where the two leads shared the prestigious award for best actor.

This year, the Isaac Theatre Royal joins the list of NZIFF venues across the Garden City, alongside the Lumière Cinemas and the Jack Mann Theatre at the University of Canterbury’s Kōawa Studios.

"We're excited to share another incredible line-up of films with New Zealand audiences for  NZIFF 2026,” says NZIFF Artistic Director Paolo Bertolin. “This year's selection is diverse, free and adventurous, a line-up that represents cinematic quality, while also being big on emotional impact, fun and topicality. We're really looking forward to the moment our audiences discover them on the big screen."

Details at nziff.co.nz