World Cinema Showcase line up announced

A world of film is open to Kiwis at a festival being held around the country from next month.

The annual mid-winter World Cinema Showcase includes the Australasian premiere of foreign-film Oscar nominee Tsotsi.

Bill Gosden, director of the New Zealand Film Festival Trust which runs the festival, said the South African drama about a troubled teen topped the audience polls in both the Edinburgh and Toronto Film Festivals.

Two films in the programme were directed by New Zealanders living overseas.

The Oyster Farmer, set in Australia and shot by Alun Bollinger, is directed by Anna Reeves and Disarm, about anti-personnel mines, is directed by Mary Wareham.

Other directors with films on show included Lars von Triers, Win Wenders and Ken Loach.

The festival runs March 16-29 in Christchurch, March 22-April 6 in Dunedin, April 6-19 in Wellington and April 20-May 10 in Auckland.

- NZPA