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BIG SCREEN SYMPOSIUM 2026

 

Will be held on Friday 3rd & Saturday 4th July

University of Auckland, City Campus – Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

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Two-days of conversations, workshops, panel discussions and case studies with a stellar line-up of local and international speakers, BSS2026 is not to be missed.

Past speakers

PAST  SPEAKERS

Big Screen Symposium
Photos!

View photos from every Big Screen Symposium since 2012.

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 ALL NEWS | NGĀ KAUPAPA O TE WĀ  >

News

EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE, ALL AT ONCE + SNEAK PEEKS

FILM Promotion – BSS 2025 Although BSS was originally focused on the BIG screen, for many years it has been a screen agnostic hui, meaning we have had hundreds of…
News

REAL-TIME: WAR IS OVER!

Animation Meets Real-Time WAR IS OVER! brings the classic John Lennon and Yoko Ono song to life in this highly stylized, Oscar-winning short animation. The Wētā FX team went to…
News

The Aotearoa Screen Debate: “Ai Will Save Our Screen Industry”

In an industry in flux, where creativity collides with disruption, the role of artificial intelligence is being hotly contested. Is Ai a revolutionary tool that will supercharge storytelling, unlock new…
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LUKE DAVIES

“THANK YOU so much for having me at Big Screen Symposium! I’m really glad I made it — it was an awesome weekend, I met great people, the sessions (both the ones I was in and the ones I watched) were wonderful, the Saturday pōwhiri welcome was really moving, and I had a good time. Thanks for making all that so smooth and fun! Invite me back some time!”

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OPEYEMI OLUKEMITRIBECA FILM INSTITUTE

“Big Screen is a breath of fresh air. Literally traveling halfway across the world to attend, I met some of the most interesting, and interested, filmmakers.”

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LULU WANGWriter, Director, Showrunner - 2024 Guest Speaker

“Thank you so so much for your generous hospitality. I had such an incredible time and haven’t been able to stop talking about it. When I got back to LA, I bought a feijoa tree because I loved them so much!!! Now I’ll always have a bit of NZ at home. Thank you for the tremendous work you do, inspiring so many future filmmakers!”

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JENNIFER KENT

“The Big Screen Symposium was a wholly inspiring weekend devoted to independent filmmaking and the power of voice. I was struck by the positive energy of both the speakers and the participants. It reminded me of one of the core reasons why we make films - to share (and experience) a unique point of view. I can heartily recommend it to any filmmaker wanting inspiration and confidence that their particular voice is something worth listening to.”

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JOHN LANDAU

“The Big Screen Symposium encapsulates the passionate and creative spirit of the New Zealand film industry, and it was my absolute pleasure to participate.”

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ALIX MADIGAN

“The Big Screen Symposium was a wonderful experience for me in every possible way. Aside from being introduced to many members of the exciting, prolific New Zealand film community, it was a terrific way to meet new filmmakers, become aware of their work and be immersed in a vibrant, eclectic group of artists.”

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ROLF DE HEER

“What I found most satisfying about speaking at the Big Screen Symposium is the degree to which I was infected by the enthusiasm of the participants, the audiences and other speakers alike. I went back to my own projects refreshed and energised, and with new perspectives and renewed passion.”