NZIFF Announces Live Cinema Screening of Alfred Hitchcock thriller in collaboration with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra

The New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF) today reveals the much-anticipated 20th Live Cinema Screening in collaboration with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

This year we celebrate the 120th birthday of Alfred Hitchcock with the sparkling new 2K restoration of his moody morally ambiguous thriller The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog, described by the filmmaker as “the first true Hitchcock movie”.

Restored by the British Film Institute with a propulsive and atmospheric new score by Neil Brand, conducted by Peter Scholes, The Lodger will screen for one night only at The Civic in Auckland on Sunday 4 August with tickets on sale on Thursday 6 June.

Also announced today is a 14-hour epic movie event screened in three parts, La Flor. Easily the longest film programmed by the festival, the film from Argentine director Mariano Llinás spans six episodes and a multitude of genres, languages and destinations.

Within the constantly surprising 14 hours, a cursed mummy attacks a team of scientists, an estranged musical couple reunite to record another hit ballad, a secret society schemes over the elixir of youth, and an outfit of secret agents awaits a showdown with rival assassins. Later, we meet a filmmaker who’s obsessed with shooting trees, and there’s even a silent black-and-white remake of Renoir’s A Day in the Country.

Screening dates and details for La Flor are still to be confirmed.

“We’re excited to announce these two special events for the 2019 Festival in Auckland,” said NZIFF Programme Manager Michael McDonnell. “La Flor is ambitious and risky, and quite unlike anything we’ve ever screened in the film festival before.

“The Lodger is a treat for all Hitchcock fans offering the pleasure of spotting the early occurrences of many of the themes and characteristics of his later classics: dark humour, erotic obsession and a serious lack of faith in the competence and goodwill of the police.”

First screened in 1927, The Lodger takes place in London, a city plagued by a killer who only strangles beautiful young blondes. Matinee idol Ivor Novello plays a mysterious stranger who emerges from the London fog to seek lodgings with the family of Daisy, a beautiful young blonde. When he isn’t prowling the city by night, he paces the floor in his upstairs room. Surely he couldn’t be …

Conductor Peter Scholes said he was looking forward to conducting the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in this performance. “I had so much fun conducting The General last year and can’t wait to be back in front of the screen in The Civic with the APO for The Lodger. Alfred Hitchcock is one of the greats of the film world and it’s very exciting to be working with the brand new version of Neil Brand’s score.”

“Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Dreamy colour tints. Billowing love smoke… Yes, Hitchcock’s most underrated movie… has just become even more beautiful, more devious and more emotionally satisfying, courtesy of a lavish restoration.” — Kevin Maher, The Times (UK)

This year NZIFF in Auckland is also proud to be part of Auckland’s winter festival Elemental AKL and is partnering with Elliott Stables bringing together ethnic and local cuisine with international and homegrown cinema. NZIFF ticketholders are invited to show any NZIFF 2019 ticket at any restaurant in the Elliott Stables dining village to receive a 10 per cent discount off their meal during the NZIFF season.

NZIFF is run by a charitable trust and encourages lively interactions between films, filmmakers and New Zealand audiences in 13 towns and cities around the country. The full NZIFF programme will be available from Tuesday 25 June for Auckland, Friday 28 June for Wellington, Tuesday 9 July for Dunedin, and Tuesday 16 July for Christchurch. NZIFF starts in Auckland on 18 July, Wellington from 26 July, Dunedin from 1 August, and Christchurch from 8 August in 2019.