The 2023 New Zealand Asia Pacific Film Festival (NZAPFF) kicked off here on Saturday, showcasing eight films from China, South Korea, Japan and New Zealand.
Chairman of NZAPFF Bo Li said,
"We hope the festival will contribute to the well-being and integration of the diversified communities in New Zealand."
"Muru" was rewarded the best film of this year's NZAPFF. The highest-grossing New Zealand film of 2022 is one of the highlights of this year's film gala.
The action-thriller aims to retrospect a cultural and social collision in New Zealand and promote the Maori culture and language as well. The film is ranked top 20 on the all-time Kiwi film list, according to New Zealand local media.
While "Journey to the West" tells a different story, Li said, "this is not a Monkey King story actually, but an experimental science-fiction comedy."
The small-budget Chinese film showcases a ragtag team of UFO enthusiasts searching for alien life. "The filming of the story is absolutely cool, keeping me thinking though," Ara Boyar, a spectator, said. The film has won 18 awards at festivals in China, Japan and South Korea.
Other films from China including "Never Say Never," "Cyber Heist," "Raid on the Lethal Zone," and "The Procurator," as well as South Korean film "2 Percent", Japanese film "Offbeat Cops" will also be screened from Oct. 28 to Nov. 4 in Auckland.
The annual NZAPFF has been held since 2013, only paused in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is co-organized by the New Zealand Asia Trust, the New Zealand Culture and Arts Foundation, and the New Zealand Maori Tourism. This year's opening ceremony was attended by around 500 people, including representatives from the Maori Tourism Board, diplomatic envoys and community leaders.
