Films confirmed

A scene from The Strength of Water. Photo / Supplied by Berlin Film Festival

As the New Zealand International Film Festival readies itself for its programme launch, some major titles have already been confirmed for the event.

Among them are Japanese films Departures, this year's Oscar winner for best foreign language film, German hit The Baader Meinhof Complex and Steven Soderbergh's epic biopic of Che Guevara, entitled Che.

Local production The Strength of Water, the debut feature by Armagan Ballantyne, will have its New Zealand premiere - after screenings in the Berlin and Rotterdam Film Festivals - at the Auckland festival, which starts on July 9. The full programme will be announced in a few weeks.