Artistic Director

The New Zealand Film Festival Trust (NZFFT) seeks an Artistic Director to lead Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival 2025.

The New Zealand Film Festival Trust (NZFFT) invites applicants for the role of Artistic Director responsible for leading Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF), its curation, programming and presentation, and for other “out of festival” NZIFF events.

NZIFF is an annual event, operated by The New Zealand Film Festival Trust (NZFFT), screening annually from July to September and is an eagerly awaited and anticipated cultural highlight of the New Zealand winter. In 2025 the festival will be presented in up to 10 centres and the programme will feature approximately 100 feature length films as well as programmes of short films in Auckland and Wellington. Selected programmes are presented in the regional centres. Additionally, NZIFF may screen one-off events during the year. The broad scope of our programme caters for members of a large range of communities and special interest groups.

This is a fixed-term contract from 1 March to 30 November 2025

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Knowledge of, and proven experience in, film festival programming at an international “A-list” level.
• Strong relationships with other international film festivals, sales agents, distributors and filmmakers as a film festival programmer.
• Strong skills in analysing the potential audience for any film and ways to attract that audience.
• Familiarity with New Zealand films and filmmakers.
• Experience working with filmmakers from a wide range of cultures to develop, complete and present their films.
• Exceptional leadership skills, especially with small multi-skilled teams.
• Ability to work with and for a Board of Trustees.
• Strong communication skills – interpersonal, oral and written – including writing about film for a wider audience.
• Strong negotiating skills.
• High level of strategic thinking and experience to ensure NZIFF values are upheld consistently.
• Ability to work within budget and schedule.
• Commitment to inclusive organisational practice.
• Respect for, and understanding and awareness of Tikanga Māori.
• Ability to cope with and manage stress in a high-pressure environment

Download the full job description here. Please ensure you read this before applying.Apply with an letter of application and CV to 2025NZIFF@gmail.comApplications close 14 March 2025