Best picks: The Christchurch NZIFF programme

Last night the Christchurch programme for the New Zealand International Film Festival was released and boy, are there some goodies in the mix. Not to mention that some films will be shown in the rebuilt Isaac Theatre Royal, just in case you needed any additional enticement to get along to the festival.

Film enthusiasts from The Press are already making their picks for must-sees on Twitter. Senior Reporter, Philip Matthews' (@secondzeit) top ten is -

1. Inherent Vice
2. 45 years
3. The Women of Pike River
4. The Wolfpack
5. The Lobster
6. The Look of Silence
7. Cemetery of Splendour
8. Out of the Mist
9. Clouds of Sils Maria
10. Going Clear

Whereas Charlie Gates (@nzcharliegates), Arts and Data reporter, in all his enthusiasm, can't limit himself to a top ten, preferring an unorthodox "top 12" instead.

1. Inherent Vice
2. Amy
3. The Kid
4. Out of the Mist
5. Kiss me Kate 3D
6. The Misfits
7. '71
8. Turbo Kid
9. Ex Machina
10. The Wolfpack
11. The End of the Tour
12. Banksy Does New York

And of course, my top ten is different again.

1. Turbo Kid - There is significant buzz online about this film and the trailer is gloriously over the top, both in gore and tone, which is right up my alley, thanks.
2. Going Clear - As Matthew's said yesterday "See it before the Church of Scientology stop you".
3. The Diary of a Teenage Girl - Kristen Wiig and Alexander Skaarsgard are people I would watch in anything. In a movie together? It's a no-brainer.
4. The Art of Recovery - Very much a documentary about us (Christchurch) in a particular time and place but this time it's not about destructive forces but creative ones.
5. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night - Because I'm a sucker for vampires (geddit?). And interesting takes on gender politics.
6. Women he's undressed - Documentary about camp Australian costume designer, Orry-Kelly who makes it big in Hollywood, dressing the biggest stars of the day. Am I mostly in it for the clothes and an insight into Cary Grant's secret love life? Yes.
7. Tale of Tales - Sumptuous fairy tales, dark and twisted, portrayed by an amazing cast.
8. The Price of Peace - Documentary from Kiwi journo Kim Webby explores the greater social issues at work with the Urewera Four and Tame Iti. A story that New Zealand needs to be told.
9. She's Beautiful When She's Angry - Yay for feminism and the campaigners of the 60s and 70s.
10. The Misfits - Because I've never seen Marilyn Monroe on the big screen.

The Christchurch leg of the festival runs 7 - 23 August but tickets to popular sessions do have a tendency to sell out so get booking ASAP.

Read more

• Our blog post on the literary films at NZIFF 2015
• NZIFF website

Have you had a chance to peruse the film schedule yet? What are your top picks for this year's festival?

Join the conversation.