Explore our country's world class regional scenic cycle trails and meet people who's lives have been transformed by opting to change their primary way of getting around to bikes. Hosted by Justin Newcombe and Carolyn Keep.
TVNZ ON DEMAND
Director: Teddy Grennan
Writer: Teddy Grennan
Stars: Bruce Dern, Ross Partridge, Annabelle Dexter-Jones
Preservation is a way of life.
Harper, a young nature photographer on assignment in the woods of the Watchatoomy Valley, shoots a disturbing event she stumbles upon but doesn't quite comprehend. After reporting what she has seen to the local sheriff, all hell breaks loose and she's forced to fight for her life against sadistic locals who've made torture a tradition...but as clever and resourceful as she is, Harper's journey is cursed.
IMDB
Director: Kirby Atkins
Writer: Kirby Atkins
Stars: Lucy Lawless, Rhys Darby, John Rhys-Davies
“Mosley” follows the eponymous hero and his family of four-legged “Thoriphants,” intelligent creatures with the ability to speak like humans but that have been cursed to live a life of servitude. In an attempt to free his family, Mosley embarks on a perilous journey to find the mythical land of Kinesareth.
The feature’s voice cast includes Rhys Darby (“Trolls”), John Rhys Davies (“Lord of the Rings”), Temuera Morrison (“Aquaman”) and Lucy Lawless (“Xena: Warrior Princess”).
“It’s a visually stunning movie, and I’ve been in awe of the collaborative work of artists in New Zealand and China,” producer Daniel Story said. “The film has scope and power and can easily stand alongside any big studio project. I think we’re about to break the rules for what an animated feature film can do in the independent space.”
IMDB
A series of eight documentaries telling the stories of unorthodox Kiwis pursuing their American dream, begins Monday 13th August on TVNZ OnDemand (NZ only).
Director: Corey Baker
Star: Madeleine Graham
The film, 'Antarctica: The First Dance', was created by Kiwi choreographer Corey Baker, and Royal New Zealand Ballet star Madeleine Graham.
The creative duo both spent 12 days on the ice for the film.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be there dancing. It was incredible," Ms Graham said. The Australian-born ballerina started dancing at age seven.
'Antarctica: The First Dance' features Ms Graham suspended within a glacier and sliding down mountainsides as temperatures reached as low as -16 degrees. "As dancers, we're used to looking out into the complete darkness, so to be dancing and looking out into something so spectacular and inspiring gave me that extra kind of feeling and reason to do what I was doing," she said.
For choreographer Corey Baker, the film has been a project two years in the making.
Mr Baker said the film is "hopefully beautiful but also powerful to be able to share a message around climate change that sticks with people in a different way".
Creators: Mike Luciano, Phil Matarese
Stars: Phil Matarese, Mike Luciano, Katie Aselton
Whether it's lovelorn rats, gender-questioning pigeons or aging bedbugs in the midst of a midlife crisis, the awkward small talk, moral ambiguity and existential woes of non-human urbanites prove startlingly similar to our own.
After the apocalyptic events of Season 2 leave New York City human-less, every dog has his day — literally. The show continues its unique approach to comedy, with a blend of live-action and animated episodes for Season 3. Plus, the cast is set to be as star-studded as ever.
Fans should listen up in Season 3 for the tones of a wide range of performers, including Tracy Morgan, John Mulaney, Natasha Lyonne, Lucy Liu, Michael Sheen, Awkwafina (Nora Lum), Demi Moore and Edie Falco.As always, creators Phil Matarese and Mike Luciano will voice many of the animated series’ offbeat personalities.
New episodes premiere Friday, August 3 2018 at 11:30 PM
IMDB
HBO/ANIMALS
Jarman, co-directed by Ella Becroft and Tama, and produced by Ilai Amir of Votre Arme.
It tells the story of Kevin, a young man who works in Quality Control at the town sardine factory. One day, on hearing the call of the wild, Kevin remembers his childhood dream of becoming a deep-sea sailor, and decides to leave his old life behind and launch into the unknown. He begins to build a fantastical boat in his backyard, much to the disdain of his family and friends.
Sail Away is about following your dreams, and being true to yourself - even if it means ignoring what conventionally equates to a successful or meaningful life.
The film is inspired by the cinematic techniques and clowning style of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, but in full colour and sound and with Tama's particular brand of humour. It's unique voice and style has captured the imagination of the New Zealand Film Commission as something fresh in the current landscape of filmmaking in New Zealand.
IMDB
SECRET WORLD OF BUTTERFLIES
FRI 9 JUN - SUN 27 MAY
SAINSBURY HORROCKS GALLERY
AUCKLAND MUSEM
FREE
Enjoy a kaleidoscope of colours and patterns in our upcoming butterfly exhibition. Secret World of Butterflies features thousands of butterflies from the Shannon Collection, on display for the first time.
Be amazed by these stunning insects in this family-friendly exhibition that reveals unbelievable butterfly facts and is packed full of interactive activities. Zoom in on nature’s designs or create your own butterfly and unleash it into a magical digital garden.
The exhibition explores the science of butterflies such as metamorphosis, anatomy and habitat and is perfect for young explorers and lovers of the natural world.
LINK
Director: Abigail Greenwood
Writer: Kate Prior
Stars: Catherine Wilkin, Caitlin Bossley, Olivia Luxon
Alzheimers is pushing Meredith out of her home, but Theodora may not leave her kingdom.
IMDB
Director: Suzi Yoonessi
Writers: Charlene deGuzman, Sarah Adina Smith
Stars: Charlene deGuzman, John Hawkes, Melissa Leo
A sex and love addicted woman learns what real intimacy is when she starts making music with a reclusive man.
The dramedy follows sex and love addict Joy (Charlene deGuzman), who moves in with her sponsor Maddie (Melissa Leo) during her recovery.
Joy begins to discover what true intimacy is after she joins a garage band with Maddie’s reclusive brother Jim (John Hawkes).
IMDB
ISLANDS OF THE GULF (2018)
Islands of the Gulf was New Zealand’s first locally made TV documentary series and Shirley Maddock – as well as writing, presenting and directing – became the country’s first female television producer.
Intended as a one-off programme, the series ran to five half-hour episodes, screened when local faces were still a novelty on NZ television.
Maddock’s subsequent book of the same name became an instant bestseller, providing a snap shot of life in the 1960s Hauraki Gulf.
It has recently been reprinted to coincide with a remake of the television series by actress and writer Elisabeth Easther, the daughter of Shirley Maddock.
Director - Pete Circuitt
Story - Pete Circuitt
Written by Pete Circuitt & Steve Best
Director of Photography - Dave Cameron
Robot Design, T.D & Execution - Dan Brown
Editor - Jared Kahi & Pete Circuitt.
Producer - Rob Linkhorn
Line Producer & Studio Local Manager - Tania Smiler
Executive Producers - Robin Scholes & Andrew Adamson
Cast
Alan - Josh Thomson
Gary - Rohan Glynn
Mum - Robyn Malcolm
Directors: Madeleine Sami, Jackie van Beek
Writers: Madeleine Sami, Jackie van Beek
Stars: James Rolleston, Cohen Holloway, Celia Pacquola
Two women cynical in love, set up an agency to break couples up as a way to avoid letting go and moving on with their lives.
IMDB
Nine’s new crime thriller, Bite Club, boasts a killer star cast: Todd Lasance (Spartacus: War of the Damned, The Vampire Diaries, Underbelly Files: Chopper), Ash Ricardo (Offspring, Party Tricks), Damian Walshe-Howling (Underbelly, Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms, Janet King), Deborah Mailman (Redfern Now, Offspring), Robert Mammone (Underbelly, Fat Tony & Co, Janet King), Pia Miller (Home and Away), Marny Kennedy (Janet King), Darcie Irwin-Simpson (Love Child) and Dominic Monaghan (Lost, The Lord of The Rings, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Wild Things).
After surviving a shark attack two detectives join forces to hunt the ultimate predator, the serial killer who is also hunting them.
Bite Club is currently in production in Sydney, produced by Playmaker for Nine with major production investment from Screen Australia, in association with Create NSW.
IMDB
Director: Dorthe Scheffmann
Writer: Dorthe Scheffmann
Stars: Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Will Wallace, Theresa Healey
Vermilion tells the story of a group of women who are close to each other – mothers, daughters,
friends and neighbours. Some of their relationships are good and some are broken. When the central character, Darcy, is confronted by a challenging truth, she finds herself driven to organise the wedding of her only daughter Zoe. Her best friend Sarah falls in love and twelve-year-old Issy just wants to be a bride too.
IMDB
Studio: Rough House Pictures/Studio T
Team: Carson Mell,, Danny McBride, Jody Hill, David Gordon Green, Brandon James
Stars: Carson D. Mell, Jacob Vargas, Dan Bakkedahl
Tarantula is an animated half hour comedy written by Carson Mell (Silicon Valley, Eastbound & Down) and executive produced by Danny McBride and Rough House Pictures. Set at the Tierra Chula Resident Hotel aka the Tarantula, it centers on Echo Johnson, a respected but uncertified tattoo artist, who delivers absurd yet introspective monologues. Echo’s poetic ramblings tell tales of misadventures with the other residents including Lucas the sci-fi writer and bread truck driver, Booty the sensitive lead singer, and Bess, a lady whose toughness was forged in the local honky-tonks, as they partake in party crashing, dumpster diving, and other socially dubious acts of mischief.
IMDB
Creators: Ivan Raimi, Sam Raimi, Tom Spezialy
Stars: Bruce Campbell, Ray Santiago, Dana DeLorenzo
Ash has spent the last 30 years avoiding responsibility, maturity and the terrors of the Evil Dead until a Deadite plague threatens to destroy all of mankind and Ash becomes mankind's only hope.
IMDB
Stars: Jiajia Deng, Sam Hayden-Smith, Nathaniel Kelly
Chosen is a psychological thriller about an ordinary loving family caught in an extraordinary and deadly game. Mandarin-language three-part series, adapted from the US drama of the same name.
