New Massey Cinema to host 32 films at NZ International Film Festival

For the first time, Massey’s state-of-the-art cinema in the former Dominion Museum building on the Pukeahu Wellington campus has been chosen as a venue for the Whanau Marama New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF), giving students an invaluable opportunity to learn on the job.

Massey Cinema will host 32 screenings of films from around the world and Aotearoa during the 10-day Wellington festival season, which runs from 14 to 24 August.

Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts’ Director Technical and Commercial Services James Coyle says the 150-seat Massey Cinema, which was designed to optimise teaching and screening opportunities, opened just over a year ago along with new film studios and other screen facilities. It has 4000 pixel resolution and includes the latest in immersive Dolby Atmos sound technology.

The Massey Cinema is in use daily as a core resource for the Bachelor of Screen Arts, a three- year degree with specialisations in film, factual, VFX, animation, game development and a new Masters of Screen Arts launched this year.

“Students have lectures here, run a student film club, watch daily rushes, develop audio and screen their work, it’s incredible to have this resource on campus,” Coyle says.

National Academy of Screen Arts programme lead, Professor Karen Loop says students will be working in various roles at the NZIFF in paid positions as projectionists, as café staff, or volunteering during the event as ushers.

Hosting the festival is part of a broader relationship between Massey’s National Academy of Screen Arts and NZIFF. The Massey Cinema will screen the only Wellington presentation of the 13 finalists in NZIFF’s Ngā Whanaunga competition for short films from Aotearoa and the Pacific.

Three highly-regarded filmmakers are presenting their work at the Massey cinema: Chain Reactions director Alexandre O Philippe from the United States, Toitu: Visual Sovereignty director Chelsea Winstanley from Aotearoa New Zealand and A Useful Ghost director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke from Thailand.

New Zealand’s leading documentary maker Dame Gaylene Preston will also speak at the Massey Cinema before the screening of her landmark documentary War Stories our Mothers Never Told Us, which is being shown to mark 30 years since it premiered.

About the NZIFF at Massey University National Academy of Screen Arts Cinema

The Massey cinema is a 12-minute walk from Courtenay Place, along Tory St, with access up through Pukeahu Park, Massey University Entrance D. Located on the east side of the Former Dominion Museum building, the cinema can be reached through the large double doors.

The cinema is fully accessible, with entry available at street level via wheelchair access. The cinema includes two wheelchair spaces, and an accessible toilet is conveniently located on the ground floor directly opposite the cinema entrance. There is unrestricted free car parking space on the grounds of the Dominion Museum Building (during festival screening times).

To view full NZIFF programme click here.

Films and screening times at Massey Cinema: