The New Zealand International Film Festival has announced more additions to its 2013 programme including screenings of a 3D digital version of an Alfred Hitchcock film and its list of international guests coming to the Auckland and Wellington events next month.
The director's 1954 film Dial M for Murder was his only 3D film, released just as the popularity of the 1950s version of the technology was waning. The festival will be showing a 4K high definition digital restoration from the original film negative.
"This high definition restoration is worth the nearly 60-year wait. Grace Kelly never looked more perfect," says festival director Bill Gosden.
Also getting screenings after a digital restoration is the Hitchcock's 1959 classic thriller North by Northwest starring Cary Grant in one of his best-loved roles, opposite Eva Marie Saint.
Joining the festival guest list to introduce their films are Denmark-based New Zealand director Daniel Borgman (The Weight of Elephants); American director Sean Baker (Starlet); Maureen Gosling (roots music record label documentary This Ain't No Mouse Music) and the directing, producing and executive producing trio behind the award-winning Australian film Rocket of Kim Mordant, Sylvia Wilczynski and expatriate New Zealander Bridget Ikin. They join previously announced guests including American pro-snowboarder Kevin Pearce who will be in town for screenings of The Crash Reel by director Lucy Walker, as well as Italian prog-rockers Goblin playing the score to Dario Argento's horror flick, Suspiria.