The 2017 New Zealand International Film Festival  is full of treats and showcases the pinnacle of writing for the big screen.  There are some great book adaptations: for children Swallow and Amazons and Jasper Jones (YA) are just two of the books realised on screen as well as the stunning and poignant A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, written from an idea passed to him by Siobhan Dowd before she died, with Weta Workshop called in to provide special effects and bring the original artwork (below) to life.  A Monster Calls scooped the double prizes of both the Kate Greenaway Medal  and Carnegie Award in 2012.

Also adapted from books are No Ordinary Sheila, Don’t Tell, A Woman’s Life, Ethel & Ernest, A Gentle Creature, Manifesto, Lady Macbeth and the NZIFF 2017 also features  a documentary about one of our members Bill Direen. 

The NZIFF begins in Auckland next week and then travels around the country visiting another 12 centres.

https://www.nziff.co.nz/2017/auckland/