Born to Dance at TIFF
“Auckland, New Zealand may seem a world away from the heart of hip-hop culture in the US, but the local dance crews featured in Born to Dance totally own it”, writes Justin Lowe for
News of New Zealanders via Global Media
Richard Taylor to Help Bring Monkey King to US
Special effects maestro New Zealander Richard Taylor will direct the design of characters in the upcoming American film version of The Monkey King, a Chinese blockbuster. “There has been a rush to bring Western-originated movies to…
Jake Mahaffy’s Rare and Valuable New Film Lauded
Jake Mahaffy’s evocation of a borderline unbearable true-life tragedy, Free In Deed is a bracing, bruising corrective to the “faith-based filmmaking” movement, according to Indiewire. The New Zealand-raised director’s third film, set in and…
NZ Star Wars Geeks Rule the Galaxy for a Day
Walt Disney’s new Star Wars toys have been released in New Zealand – the first place in the universe for the toys to go on sale in “Disney’s Apple-like round-the-globe rollout of new toys”. “It’s…
First Images of Holiday Horror Krampus Released
First images of “Michael Dougherty’s new stab at holiday horror” Krampus have been released. Krampus tells the story of Max, who stops to believe in Santa more and more when his “dysfunctional family gathers for…
Pietra Brettkelly’s Doco Premieres in Venice
Multi-award-winning director and producer Pietra Brettkelly’s documentary A Flickering Truth, filmed in Afghanistan, made its premiere at the 2015 Venice International Film Festival. New Zealand-born Brettkelly’s 2008 film The Art Star and the Sudanese Twins…
On the True Detective Set With DOP Nigel Bluck
Recently rated by Variety magazine as one of 10 cinematographers to watch, New Zealander Nigel Bluck, 43, has been working as director of photography on the second season of popular…
Flight of the Conchords Musical Is Coming
The upcoming Flight of the Conchords movie is shaping up to be a musical like no other, co-creator Jemaine Clement has promised – albeit tentatively. The film is “definitely a couple of years away,…
New Zealand Has Some Filmtastic Backdrops
Many of the grander surroundings in Craig Zobel’s new film Z For Zachariah were filmed in New Zealand. Women’s lifestyle site Bustle takes a look back at other notable films shot throughout the country…
TIFF Exclusive: Bust a Move With This Clip From ‘Born To Dance’
“While Hollywood has got the dance formula down cold, New Zealand actor/filmmaker Tammy Davisis bring(s) his own unique flavor to the genre”, writes Edward Davis for Indiewire. The New Zealand feature film Born To…
5 Reasons You Will Love ‘Fear The Walking Dead’
The Walking Dead spinoff Fear The Walking Dead featuring Kiwi actor Cliff Curtis is “a worthy successor” – “the atypical spinoff that preserves and deepens the tone of its original show”, according to Adweek,…
Rob Hall’s Final Climb Roars to Life in Everest
It’s been almost two decades since the infamous 1996 tragedy on Mount Everest in which New Zealand guide Rob Hall and seven others perished. The world’s highest mountain has seen more destructive seasons –…
What’s in Jemaine Clement’s Library?
In the film People Places Things, New Zealander Jemaine Clement plays a New York City graphic novelist and professor struggling with life as the newly single father of twin girls. In real life, he’s…
How Actor Cliff Curtis Avoids Playing ‘Repetitive Stereotypes’
New Zealand actor Cliff Curtis has played interesting roles over the years. In 1999 he “hit a kind of American cinematic jackpot” with his work on Michael Mann’s The Insider, David O Russell’s Three…
Great Reviews for Jemaine Clement’s Latest Role
Indie world veteran director James Strouse’s People Places Things “gets a lot of its infectious spirit from star Jemaine Clement, 41, the New Zealander best known for being half of the Flight of the…
Girls Producer Backs Jemaine Clement’s New Show
One of the stars of nineties cult comedy show Flight of the Conchords, Jemaine Clement says he’s excited his new HBO series will be backed by the producer behind Girls, Judd Apatow. Clement is working…
Shortland Street’s KJ Apa to Star in Blockbuster
K.J. Apa has signed on to star in A Dog’s Purpose alongside Britt Robertson and Dennis Quaid. The New Zealand actor already is being referred to as “a young Tom Cruise” and the quickness of his success is unheard…
Kerry Fox Tutors Directors on Actors in Melbourne
New Zealand actor Kerry Fox, who stars in Australian film Downriver, which premieres at this year’s Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), also gave a masterclass at the event with the film’s writer/director Grant Scicluna about the…
Jane Campion’s Daughter Acting up
As the child of New Zealand-born director Jane Campion and Australian filmmaker Colin Englert, Alice Englert – who stars in the BBC’s magician drama Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell – grew up immersed in…
Terrific Top of the Lake Returns to Screens
“Last year came the exciting news that Top Of The Lake, Jane Campion’s terrific TV series, wouldn’t just be a one-off, but would return for a new round of episodes,” Indiewire reports. “Details were…
The Brokenwood Mysteries a Hit in France
New Zealand’s murder-mystery television series, The Brokenwood Mysteries, is a hit in France and was the second-most watched show on French TV on a Tuesday night with 3.7 million viewers. On Bastille Day it out-rated…
The Good Dinosaur Trailer Released – Voice Over Cast Includes Anna Paquin
The official trailer for The Good Dinosaur has been released and is starring New Zealander Anna Paquin as part of the voice-over cast. “At first glance it might look like ground similarly tread by another…
Lucy Lawless – “Xena Reboot a Rumour”
“Twenty years after it first premiered as a Hercules spinoff, Xena: Warrior Princess could be returning to television”, writes Lesley Goldberg for The Hollywood Reporter. Over the last few weeks rumours have been heard that the beloved…
Flight of the Conchords Role Models for Success
Flight of the Conchords stars Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie are California-born stand-up comedian Arj Barker’s role models, he tells the Guardian. Barker, who is best known for his role as pawnshop owner Dave in…
Karl Urban Nominates Kids Can as Part of Star Trek Beyond’s Global Omaze Campaign
Karl Urban has nominated the New Zealand charity Kids Can as one of the nine global causes chosen by the cast of Justin Lin’s Star Trek Beyond as part of the Star Trek: To Boldly…
Ash Vs. Evil Dead Trailer Released at Comic Con
The first Ash vs. Evil Dead trailer has been screened at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con. “If anyone was on the fence about bringing the cult classic horror tale to the small screen, this trailer…
Everest to Open the Venice Film Festival
“Everest, a new movie about the two rival missions up the mountain in 1996, has been chosen as the opening night film of this year’s Venice film festival – a spot which has recently proved…
Weta Smithy Peter Lyon in the Mix at Comic-Con
Amongst the colourful characters who flood the San Diego Convention Center Comic-Con was New Zealand smithy Peter Lyon, who has worked the past 16 years for Weta Workshop. “When I started at Weta…
Comedian Rhys Darby Joins X-Files Cast
Actor Rhys Darby, who played werewolf Anton in What We Do in the Shadows, will join the cast of The X-Files “event series” as a man suspected by Fox Mulder to be the perpetrator…
Andrew Niccol Gets Green Light for Monopoly Script
Writer of The Truman Show, New Zealand-born Andrew Niccol has been hired to script the Monopoly movie, which will be a co-production between the game manufacturer Hasbro and Lionsgate. The companies called it “a film…
Fear the Walking Dead Releases First Clip
AMC has released the first clip from its Walking Dead spinoff Fear the Walking Dead, which will premiere in August. The clip shows a scene in which guidance counsellor Nancy (Kim Dickens) assures…
Keisha Castle-Hughes Thinks Big for Warrior Role
Not much more than a year ago, New Zealand actress Keisha Castle-Hughes, 25, was a Game Of Thrones fan scouring Hollywood Boulevard for a long blonde wig to wear to an informal dress-up event…
New Zealand Film Festival Reveals Line-Up
The New Zealand Film Festival has revealed this year’s programme including ten New Zealand films. Act of Kindness is an “inspiring true story (that) follows a spirited young New Zealander’s search for…
Jemaine Clement Starring in People Places Things
Flight of the Conchords star Jemaine Clement stars in the new “incredibly charming and sweet” dramedy People Places Things, which will be released in New Zealand on September 10. The New Zealand actor plays Will…
7 Emerging Auckland Directors
“There’s no mistaking it; the city of sails sure does produce some talented directors thriving in the best kind of creative currents,” suggests global creative advertising site The Little Black Book in…
New Zealand Stunt Double Falls in Love at Mad Max Fury Road Set
New Zealand stunt double Dayna Grant and Dane Grant have found their soulmate at the set of post-apocalyptic action movie. “The couple that does stunts together, stays together”, writes Andrea Romano for
Martin Henderson Joins Grey’s Anatomy
New Zealand actor Martin Henderson has been cast as the new dreamboat doctor on Grey’s Anatomy, which is heading into its 12th season, to fill the void left by Patrick Dempsey’s departure in season…
Z for Zachariah – Terrifying Post-Apocalyptic Love Triangle
“Surviving the end of the world is stressful enough, but add two guys battling it out over a girl, and you’ve got trouble. But that’s exactly what the characters are stuck with in for Z for Zachariah”,…
First Trailer of Everest Has Been Released
The first trailer for Everest, which tells the true story of the 1996 Mount Everest Disaster, has been released. The film follows a group of American climbers (Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Michael Kelly)…
Toa Fraser Directs 6 Days
Toa Fraser directs “embassy siege action thriller” 6 Days, starring Jamie Bell, Mark Strong and Abbie Cornish, which is currently being shot in New Zealand. 6 Days is based on the real events of the…
Fear The Walking Dead Teaser Released
AMC has released a pair of sneak peek videos to celebrate the start of production on Walking Dead spinoff Fear The Walking Dead. A behind-the-scenes look at the show, which is set…
Mad Max Stunt Star Dayna Grant Tweets Action Shots
New Zealand stuntwoman Dayna Grant, 39, who doubled for Charlize Theron’s cunning warrior Furiosa in George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road, posted some behind-the-scenes snapshots on her Twitter page. Esquire shared them with its…
Slow West Set in Dauntingly Beautiful Landscape
John Maclean’s “compelling” directorial debut Slow West set in Colorado in 1870 was shot in New Zealand and stars Michael Fassbender. South African-born New Zealander Caren Pistorius plays crofter’s daughter, Rose Ross “who even…
New Zealand International Film Festival Reveals First Titles
The first five titles of the New Zealand International Film Festival Line-up have been released, which include “a whole raft” of “films emerging from Sundance”. Umrika, written and directed by Prashant Nair won…
Michael Fassbender Channels Clint Eastwood in Slow West
Michael Fassbender channels his favourite cowboy Clint Eastwood in his performance in the newly released action western thriller Slow West, which was filmed in New Zealand’s South Island. While filming in New Zealand Fassbender took…
Jacob Tomuri – More Than Tom Hardy’s Mad Max Stunt Double
“Mad Max Fury Road spends two hours denying audiences the chance to catch their breath. Much of that is thanks to the work of star Tom Hardy and his stunt double, Jacob Tomuri”, proclaims Kim…
Ethan Hawke Stars in New Zealand Directed Movie Good Kill
New Zealand director and screenwriter Andrew Niccol’s new film Good Kill explores the post-traumatic stress experienced by drone operating military pilots. The movie, which is set in 2010, stars Ethan Hawke as Tom Egan, a…
iZombie Renewed for Second Season on the CW
DC Comics/Vertigo-based series iZombie has been renewed by the CW for a second season. “Scheduling and an episode count have yet to be determined”, according to an article in The Hollywood Reporter. iZombie stars…
Keisha Castle-Hughes Makes Memorable Debut on Game of Thrones
New Zealand actress Keisha Castle-Hughes “made a memorable debut on Sunday’s episode of Game of Thrones – The Sons of the Harpy, according to the New York Times blog ArtsBeat. Castle-Hughes’ character Obara Sand and…
Heath Cozens Grapples with Controversial Sport
New Zealand-born filmmaker Heath Cozens, 41, saw his first Japanese disabled pro wrestling match in 2010. At the time, he didn’t know what to think. Cozens, who spent 18 years in Japan as a video…
Peter Jackson Celebrates Life of Friend Andrew Lesnie
Peter Jackson has taken to Facebook to celebrate the life of Andrew Lesnie – his friend, ‘brother’ and frequent collaborator, who suffered a fatal heart attack this week. “I grew up wondering what…
Russell Crowe’s Water Diviner a Story Only He Could Tell
Growing up a New Zealander-Australian, Russell Crowe, 51, was intimately familiar with the Dardanelles Campaign, a veritable slaughterhouse battle over a tiny Turkish peninsula also known as Gallipoli. In his latest film, The Water…
Sundance TV Launches The Red Road Prequel Graphic Novel
Sundance TV’s acclaimed drama The Red Road, starring New Zealander Martin Henderson “has gotten off to quite the intense start” in its newly released second season according to tvovermind.com. In season two “Harold…
WETA Digital Helped to Complete Paul Walker’s Scenes for ‘Fast & Furious 7’
WETA Digital has helped to finish current box office hit Fast and Furious 7 after movie star Paul Walker passed away in a car accident halfway through the filming. Walker’s accident left the directors with…
Keisha Castle-Hughes Starring in Game of Thrones Season Five
New Zealand actress Keisha Castle-Hughes has joined the Game of Thrones cast in the series’ fifth season, which has just kicked off in the US and New Zealand. Castle-Hughes is starring as Obara Sand, one…
Shushila Takao Stars in Cook Island-Set Thriller Tatau
Like many of the cast of BBC3’s new supernatural thriller Tatau, Shushila Takao is a New Zealander. She stars alongside British newcomers Joe Layton and Theo Barklem-Biggs as Aumea in the television…
