Aotearoa is the contemporary Māori-language name for New Zealand.

Join us on March 16th, 19th and 22nd 2026, and witness the magic of Kiwi cinema with 3 unmissable films.

AIFFHK2026
March 16, 19, 22

The Aotearoa International Film Festival AIFFHK2026 will offer a world-class film experience, right here in Hong Kong, to celebrate and showcase the art of filmmaking in New Zealand with an exclusive lineup of New Zealand’s most powerful films, fine wines, and thrilling giveaways. This is more than a movie night.

Tickets for the festival will be available from the 1st of March 2026 through the Emperor Cinemas box office and its online platform.

It’s a premium cultural experience you won’t forget.

Aotearoa International Film Festival is a unique cultural film festival in Hong Kong that brings together two cultures heavily influenced by movies, during an exciting 3-day event. It is proudly supported by, the New Zealand Film Commission, Emperor Cinemas, and the New Zealand Consulate-General in Hong Kong

March 16th, 2026

THE CONVERT

The Convert (2023), directed by Lee Tamahori, is a tense historical drama set in 1830s New Zealand. It follows Thomas Munro (Guy Pearce), a former soldier turned lay preacher seeking redemption from his violent past, who arrives at the fledgling British settlement of Epworth. Amid escalating tribal warfare between rival Māori chiefs and rising colonial tensions, Munro intervenes to save Rangimai (Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne), the daughter of a Māori chief, from execution. As he attempts to spread Christianity and promote peace, he grapples with prejudice, cultural clashes, brutal violence, and profound tests of his faith and identity.《轉化者》 (2023)，由李·塔馬霍里執導，係一部緊張嘅歷史劇情片，背景設喺1830年代紐西蘭。故事講述Thomas Munro（蓋·皮爾斯飾），一個有暴力過去嘅前士兵轉做傳教士，嚟到新建立嘅英國殖民地Epworth尋找救贖。喺毛利部落之間激烈戰爭同殖民衝突加劇嘅情況下，Munro救咗一位毛利酋長女兒Rangimai（Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne飾），免佢被處決。佢試圖傳播基督教同促進和平，但卻面對種族偏見、文化碰撞、殘酷暴力，同埋對自己信仰同身份嘅深刻考驗。

March 19th, 2026

TINĀ

Tinā (2024), directed by Miki Magasiva, is a heartfelt New Zealand drama following Mareta Percival (Anapela Polataivao), a grieving Samoan music teacher whose daughter was killed in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Reluctantly accepting a substitute teaching position at an elite, mostly white private school, she rediscovers purpose by forming a school choir, drawing on her cultural heritage to inspire, mentor, and unite the students while healing her own profound loss.
《Tinā》（母親） (2024)，由Miki Magasiva執導，係一部溫暖感人嘅紐西蘭劇情片。故事講述Samoan音樂老師Mareta Percival（Anapela Polataivao飾），佢嘅女兒喺2011年基督城地震中喪生，令佢陷入巨大悲痛。佢唔情願咁接受咗一間精英、私立、白人為主嘅學校嘅代課老師工作，但喺嗰度透過組成學校合唱團，利用自己嘅文化背景去啟發、指導同團結學生，同時慢慢療癒自己嘅傷痛，重拾人生意義。

March 22nd, 2026

HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE

HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE (2016), directed by Taika Waititi, is a heartfelt and hilarious New Zealand adventure-comedy. It follows Ricky Baker, a rebellious city orphan placed with foster parents in the remote bush. When his kind-hearted foster aunt Bella suddenly dies, Ricky—facing return to the child welfare system—runs away into the wilderness. His gruff, reluctant foster uncle Hector (Sam Neill) sets out to find him, sparking a chaotic nationwide manhunt as the mismatched pair bond through survival, mishaps, and quiet moments of connection.
《野人追緝令》 (2016)，由Taika Waititi執導，係一部溫暖又搞笑嘅紐西蘭冒險喜劇。故事講述城市孤兒Ricky Baker，被安排去鄉下同養父母住。佢好心嘅養姨Bella突然過身之後，Ricky唔想再返福利院，於是逃入叢林。佢脾氣唔好嘅養叔Hector（森·尼爾飾）追出去搵佢，結果搞到全國通緝，兩個唔啱key嘅人一齊喺野外求生、闖禍，又慢慢建立咗感情。

• 2025 edition

Sponsors

A big thank you to our sponsors and partners, who left their permanent mark on the Aotearoa International Film Festival AIFFHK2025 celebrating New Zealand in Hong Kong. During the 3-day event, festival goers participated in raffles with a chance to win Lucky Draw prizes worth $25,000, courtesy of our generous sponsors.
Sponsors of the 2026 edition will be announced soon!

Contact

For any queries about the Aotearoa International Film Festival in Hong Kong, the sponsorship packages, partnership opportunities and any collaborations for the event, get in touch with the organizing team.

March 10th, 2025

Whina

The story of Dame Whina Cooper, the beloved Māori matriarch who worked tirelessly to improve the rights of her people, especially women. Flawed yet resilient, Whina tells the story of a woman formed by tradition, compelled by innovation, and guided by an instinct for equality and justice whose legacy as the Te Whaea o te Motu (Mother of the Nation) was an inspiration to an entire country.維娜庫柏夫人 (Dame Whina Cooper) 的故事，她是深受愛戴的毛利女族長，為改善人民特別是婦女的權利而不懈努力。惠娜雖然有缺陷，但堅韌不拔，講述了一個受傳統塑造、受創新驅動、受平等和正義本能引導的女性的故事，她作為Te Whaea o te Motu（國家之母）的遺產激勵了整個國家。

March 12th, 2025

Red, White, and Brass

Maka, a Tongan superfan, will do whatever it takes to get tickets to the Tonga vs France Rugby World Cup game – even if it means promising to deliver a brass band for the pre-match entertainment. Only problem is, the band doesn’t exist and Maka has four weeks to make one. Inspired by a true story.馬卡是東加的超級球迷，他會不惜一切代價獲得湯加對法國橄欖球世界盃比賽的門票，即使這意味著承諾在賽前娛樂中派出銅管樂隊。唯一的問題是，樂團並不存在，而 Maka 有四個星期的時間來製作一支樂團。靈感來自一個真實的故事。

March 14th, 2025

Once Were Warriors

In a violent relationship, it takes a mother's strength to save herself and her children from the man she loves. Temuera Morrison and Rena Owen star in this critically acclaimed drama, following the lives of the troubled Heke whānau. Based on the bestselling novel by Alan Duff.喺一段暴力關係入面，需要一個母親嘅力量去救自己同佢啲仔女從佢愛嘅男人手中。這部廣受好評的劇集由Temuera Morrison和Rena Owen主演，講述了陷入困境的Heke whānau的生活。改編自Alan Duff的暢銷小說。