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BSS 2022 Watchlist

By June 22, 2022July 6th, 2022News

Looking for something to watch? Look through some of our speakers’ latest and greatest work and where to find them!

Nitram (2021)

Living a life of isolation and frustration, a young man develops an unexpected friendship with a reclusive heiress. When that relationship meets its tragic end, his loneliness and anger culminates into the most nihilistic and heinous of acts.

True History of the Kelly Gang (2019)

An exploration of Australian bushranger Ned Kelly and his gang as they attempt to evade authorities during the 1870s.

Jasper Jones (2017)

Fourteen-year-old Charlie’s life changes when Jasper takes his help to dispose of the body of his girlfriend, Laura. He decides to look for the murderer and falls in love with Laura’s younger sister.

Snowtown (2011)

A charismatic but violent predator takes his girlfriend’s teenage son under his wing and makes him an accomplice in a murder spree.

Writing with Fire (2021)

In a cluttered news landscape dominated by men emerges India’s only newspaper run by Dalit women. Chief reporter Meera and her journalists break traditions, redefining what it means to be powerful.

Timbaktu (2012)

A land where the soil has started to breathe again. A village that does not exist on the map. A people.who celebrate life. A no-where; no-where land – When a small farming community in South India decided to switch from their decades-old practice of chemical agriculture to organic farming; little did they know that they were planting the seeds of a silent revolution.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Shang-Chi, the master of weaponry-based Kung Fu, is forced to confront his past after being drawn into the Ten Rings organization.

Just Mercy (2019)

World-renowned civil rights defense attorney Bryan Stevenson works to free a wrongly condemned death row prisoner.

The Glass Castle (2017)

A young girl comes of age in a dysfunctional family of nonconformist nomads with a mother who’s an eccentric artist and an alcoholic father who would stir the children’s imagination with hope as a distraction to their poverty.

Short Term 12 (2013)

A 20-something supervising staff member of a residential treatment facility navigates the troubled waters of that world alongside her co-worker and longtime boyfriend.

Good Omens (2019 – 2022)

This fantasy series sees fussy angel Aziraphale and loose-living demon Crowley team up to form an unlikely duo. The two have become overly fond of life on Earth, and they are forced into forming an alliance in an attempt to stop the approaching Armageddon. To do that, they have to find the missing Antichrist, an 11-year-old boy who is unaware that he is meant to bring the end of days upon humanity.

  • Buy/Rent on Amazon (free with subscription)

American Gods (2017 – 2021)

Shadow, an ex-convict, takes up the job of guarding Mr Wednesday, who is the God Odin in disguise. Eventually, Shadow has to adjust and deal with his new reality and figure out his own place in it.

  • Buy/Rent on Amazon (free with subscription)

Lucifer (2016 – 2021)

This series follows Lucifer, the original fallen angel, who has become dissatisfied with his life in hell. After abandoning his throne and retiring to Los Angeles, Lucifer indulges in his favorite things (women, wine and song) — until a murder takes place outside of his upscale nightclub. For the first time in billions of years, the murder awakens something unfamiliar in Lucifer’s soul that is eerily similar to compassion and sympathy. Lucifer is faced with another surprise when he meets an intriguing homicide detective named Chloe, who appears to possess an inherent goodness — unlike the worst of humanity, to which he is accustomed. Suddenly, Lucifer starts to wonder if there is hope for his soul.

  • Watch on Netflix (subscription required)

Sweeth Tooth (2021)

On a perilous adventure in a post-apocalyptic world, a boy who’s half-human and half deer searches for a new beginning with a gruff protector.

  • Watch on Netflix (subscription required)

The Dead Lands (2014)

After his fellow tribesmen are slaughtered by rampaging warriors, a Maori teenager travels to a land haunted by malevolent spirits to ask a fearsome warrior to help him take revenge.

No. 2 (2006)

Nanna Maria, the ageing matriarch of her family struggles to get her grandchildren together for a traditional feast in which she means to name her heir, who will take over the house when she dies.

The Power of the Dog (2021)

A domineering rancher responds with mocking cruelty when his brother brings home a new wife and her son, until the unexpected comes to pass.

  • Watch on Netflix (subscription required)

Cowboy Bebop (2021)

A ragtag crew of bounty hunters chases down the galaxy’s most dangerous criminals; they’ll save the world for the right price.

  • Watch on Netflix (subscription required)

Mulan (2020)

A young Chinese maiden disguises herself as a male warrior in order to save her father.

The Dead Lands (2014)

After his fellow tribesmen are slaughtered by rampaging warriors, a Maori teenager travels to a land haunted by malevolent spirits to ask a fearsome warrior to help him take revenge.

King Kong (2005)

Filmmaker Carl Denham and his crew encounter a giant ape in Skull Island and imprison it to bring it to New York. However, they land in trouble when the giant ape is set free in the city.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

The former Fellowship members prepare for the final battle. While Frodo and Sam approach Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring, they follow Gollum, unaware of the path he is leading them to.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Frodo and Sam arrive in Mordor with the help of Gollum. A number of new allies join their former companions to defend Isengard as Saruman launches an assault from his domain.

Whale Rider (2002)

A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings (2001)

A young hobbit, Frodo, who has found the One Ring that belongs to the Dark Lord Sauron, begins his journey with eight companions to Mount Doom, the only place where it can be destroyed.

Kid Sister (2022 – )

Lulu is a young woman navigating big issues in this comedy set in Auckland, New Zealand, where more people identify as Jedi than Jewish.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

Our Flag Means Death (2022 – )

Stede Bonnet, a pampered aristocrat, abandons his life of privilege to become a pirate in the early 18th century.

  • Stream on Neon (subscription required)

Kid Sister (2022 – )

Lulu is a young woman navigating big issues in this comedy set in Auckland, New Zealand, where more people identify as Jedi than Jewish.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

One Lane Bridge (2020)

During a murder investigation at Queenstown’s infamous One Lane Bridge, ambitious young Maori Detective, Ariki Davis, inadvertently reawakens a spiritual gift that endangers the case, his career and his life.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

Outrageous Fortune (2007 – 2010)

The West family rely on crime to make a living, with a proud tradition in thievery, larceny and petty crime.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

Creamerie (2021 – )

In the near future, a virus plague spreads around the globe, killing 99 percent of men, with the survivors sent to The Facility in New Zealand.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

Shadow in the Cloud (2020)

A female WWII pilot traveling with top secret documents on a B-17 Flying Fortress encounters an evil presence on board the flight.

Do No Harm (2017)

In an aging private hospital, a single-minded surgeon is forced to break her physician’s oath when violent gangsters attempt to stop a crucial operation.

Mahana (2016)

From the author of “The Whale Rider”, a tale of family rivalry and reconciliation, set against the stunning backdrop of rural New Zealand in the 1960s.

Juniper (2021)

When a self-destructive teenager is suspended from school and asked to look after his feisty alcoholic grandmother as a punishment, the crazy time they spend together turns his life around.

Creamerie (2021 – )

In the near future, a virus plague spreads around the globe, killing 99 percent of men, with the survivors sent to The Facility in New Zealand.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

Black Hands (2020)

On June 20, 1994, five members of the Bain family were found dead in their Dunedin home. The atrocity captured the nation, and it remains one of New Zealand’s most controversial cases. This dramatised version tells the story of each of the family members in the months leading up to their deaths.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

The Luminaries (2020)

An intricately woven, suspenseful tale of love, murder, magic and revenge set in New Zealand at the height of the 1860s gold rush, based on the Man Booker prize-winning novel.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)
  • Buy/Rent on Amazon (free with subscription)

Fresh Eggs (2019)

A black comedy with a deliciously twisted sense of humour, this six-part drama follows a couple’s quest for “the good life” that goes wickedly awry. Starring Claire Chitham, Cohen Holloway, Danielle Cormack and John Rhys-Davies. Made with the support of NZ On Air.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

Sione’s 2: Unfinished Business (2012)

The boys are back, five years older, but none the wiser. Since Sione’s wedding five years ago, things haven’t gone quite as the boys might have planned. Growing up appears to be driving the Duckrockers apart.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

My Wedding and Other Secrets (2011)

Emily Chu is strictly brought up by her parents who want her to become a doctor, but Emily has other things to keep in mind when she falls in love with James. If her father finds out about their secret romance, it could mean that he renounces her.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

Outrageous Fortune (2007 – 2010)

The West family rely on crime to make a living, with a proud tradition in thievery, larceny and petty crime.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

The Power of the Dog (2021)

A domineering rancher responds with mocking cruelty when his brother brings home a new wife and her son, until the unexpected comes to pass.

  • Watch on Netflix (subscription required)

The Justice of Bunny King (2021)

A mother of two with a sketchy past earns her keep by washing windows at traffic lights, hoping to earn back the custody of her kids. After promising her daughter a birthday party, she fights the social services and break the rules to keep her word.

Shadow in the Cloud (2020)

A female WWII pilot traveling with top secret documents on a B-17 Flying Fortress encounters an evil presence on board the flight.

Whale Rider (2002)

A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

Cowboy Bebop (2021)

A ragtag crew of bounty hunters chases down the galaxy’s most dangerous criminals; they’ll save the world for the right price.

  • Watch on Netflix (subscription required)

Juniper (2021)

When a self-destructive teenager is suspended from school and asked to look after his feisty alcoholic grandmother as a punishment, the crazy time they spend together turns his life around.

Sione’s Wedding (2006)

Four friends are banned from their best friend’s wedding in this comedy. Their only ticket in is to find girlfriends before the event, but that turns out to be a harder task than they imagined.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

World’s Fastest Indian (2005)

New Zealander Burt Munro is a motorcycle enthusiast who spends years rebuilding and perfecting a 1920 Indian motorcycle. Eventually, he puts everything on the line and sets a land speed world record.

The Beatles: Get Back (2021)

The Beatles write and rehearse 14 new songs as they plan their first live show in more than two years; includes their unforgettable rooftop concert at London’s Savile Row.

  • Stream on Disney+ (subscription required)

They Shall Not Grow Old (2018)

Using state-of-the-art technology and materials from the BBC and Imperial War Museum, filmmaker Peter Jackson allows the story of World War I to be told by the men who were there. Life on the front is explored through the voices of the soldiers, who discuss their feelings about the conflict, the food they ate, the friends they made and their dreams of the future.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Jyn’s father is forcibly taken by the Galactic Empire to help them complete the Death Star. When she grows up, she joins a group of resistance fighters who aim to steal the Empire’s blueprints.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

Bilbo fights against a number of enemies to save the life of his Dwarf friends and protects the Lonely Mountain after a conflict arises.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, and his companions face great dangers on their journey to Laketown. Soon, they reach the Lonely Mountain, where Bilbo comes face-to-face with the fearsome dragon Smaug.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, is persuaded into accompanying a wizard and a group of dwarves on a journey to reclaim the city of Erebor and all its riches from the dragon Smaug.

The Adventures of Tintin (2011)

Tintin, a young reporter, buys the model of a ship and is intrigued when his dog shows him a scroll after the toy breaks. He tells Captain Haddock and they embark on an adventure to find a shipwreck.

The Lovely Bones (2009)

Susie, a 14-year-old girl, gets murdered, but she refuses to move on since she has unfinished business. Her spirit continues to watch over her family trying to reveal her murderer’s name to them.

King Kong (2005)

Filmmaker Carl Denham and his crew encounter a giant ape in Skull Island and imprison it to bring it to New York. However, they land in trouble when the giant ape is set free in the city.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Frodo and Sam arrive in Mordor with the help of Gollum. A number of new allies join their former companions to defend Isengard as Saruman launches an assault from his domain.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

A young hobbit, Frodo, who has found the One Ring that belongs to the Dark Lord Sauron, begins his journey with eight companions to Mount Doom, the only place where it can be destroyed.

Our Flag Means Death (2022 – )

Stede Bonnet, a pampered aristocrat, abandons his life of privilege to become a pirate in the early 18th century.

  • Stream on Neon (subscription required)

Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Hitler Youth cadet Jojo Betzler firmly believes in the ideals of Nazism manifested by his imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler. However, his foundations are shaken when he finds a Jewish girl in his house.

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Deprived of his mighty hammer Mjolnir, Thor must escape the other side of the universe to save his home, Asgard, from Hela, the goddess of death.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

Bilbo fights against a number of enemies to save the life of his Dwarf friends and protects the Lonely Mountain after a conflict arises.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, and his companions face great dangers on their journey to Laketown. Soon, they reach the Lonely Mountain, where Bilbo comes face-to-face with the fearsome dragon Smaug.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, is persuaded into accompanying a wizard and a group of dwarves on a journey to reclaim the city of Erebor and all its riches from the dragon Smaug.

King Kong (2005)

Filmmaker Carl Denham and his crew encounter a giant ape in Skull Island and imprison it to bring it to New York. However, they land in trouble when the giant ape is set free in the city.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

The former Fellowship members prepare for the final battle. While Frodo and Sam approach Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring, they follow Gollum, unaware of the path he is leading them to.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Frodo and Sam arrive in Mordor with the help of Gollum. A number of new allies join their former companions to defend Isengard as Saruman launches an assault from his domain.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

A young hobbit, Frodo, who has found the One Ring that belongs to the Dark Lord Sauron, begins his journey with eight companions to Mount Doom, the only place where it can be destroyed.

FAFSWAG VOGUE (2018)

Multi-disciplinary collective FAFSWAG create art that explores identity, culture and social change through a queer, Pasifika lens. In FAFSWAG Vogue, the audience experiences the LGBTQI+ vogue scene in Aotearoa, via dance battles performed by FAFSWAG members, and a collection of interviews with the dancers. Directed by Tanu Gago and produced by Piki Films, FAFSWAG Vogue was born as an interactive website. It was launched in February 2018 during Auckland’s Pride Festival, with a vogue ball at Toi o Tāmaki (Auckland Art Gallery).

Sparrow (2016)

Sparrow is the beautiful story of a small boy who is teased because he thinks he can fly. When a family myth about his war veteran grandfather is exploded, he discovers the strength to stand up to the school bullies in a very unusual way.

Boy (2004)

Boy is short 15 minute film released in 2004 that carved out new territory in narrative film poetry. It is a silent story of a young, mute, male prostitute in a small New Zealand town who discovers the truth behind a fatal hit and run accident. As news of the death spreads through the district, the family of the responsible driver realise that the boy must be kept quiet. Using gossip and brutality they set out to frighten him into submission. The pressure becomes increasingly aggressive and through it the boy, from his strange world of broken, angel-like dolls, develops the courage to expose the truth.

Mothers of the Revolution (2021)

A group of Welsh women, known as the Women For Life On Earth, marches from Cardiff to Greenham Common in Berkshire to protest the placement of nuclear missiles at the RAF base at Greenham Common.

Loading Docs 2017 – The Coffin Club (2017)

A unique Kiwi story about prepping for death has captured the attention of international media. Members of the Kiwi Coffin Club don sequins and top hats, while singing about what makes their club tick — death is not to be feared, but instead should be celebrated as a normal part of life. A lyric from this offbeat Loading Doc sums up things succinctly: “It’s the final verse but life goes on.”

Mt. Zion (2013)

Turei, a hard working potato farm worker in New Zealand, dreams of his band opening for Bob Marley’s 1979 tour. His dreams quickly clash with the traditions and values of his upbringing, especially with his traditional father.

Taua (2007)

A party of returning raiders hauls a massive waka taua (war canoe) through dense Waitakere bush, driven by their brutally insistent chief towards safety. Two water-boys are crouched in the bow. One of them risks a bold act of compassion — towards the trophy prisoner tied to the stern.

 

Sione’s 2: Unfinished Business (2012)

The boys are back, five years older, but none the wiser. Since Sione’s wedding five years ago, things haven’t gone quite as the boys might have planned. Growing up appears to be driving the Duckrockers apart.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

Sione’s Wedding (2006)

Four friends are banned from their best friend’s wedding in this comedy. Their only ticket in is to find girlfriends before the event, but that turns out to be a harder task than they imagined.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

Bro’Town (2004-2009)

A modern day fairytale about five fourteen year olds living in the big city. New Zealand’s first animated series.

Bro’Town (2004-2009)

A modern day fairytale about five fourteen year olds living in the big city. New Zealand’s first animated series.

Mahana (2016)

From the author of “The Whale Rider”, a tale of family rivalry and reconciliation, set against the stunning backdrop of rural New Zealand in the 1960s.

Ahikāroa (2018 – )

Māori bilingual drama series which follows the trials and tribulations of messy but fiercely loyal best friends Smooch, Hemi and Geo.

Mt. Zion (2013)

Turei, a hard working potato farm worker in New Zealand, dreams of his band opening for Bob Marley’s 1979 tour. His dreams quickly clash with the traditions and values of his upbringing, especially with his traditional father.

WHINA (2022)

The story of Dame Whina Cooper, the beloved Māori matriarch who worked tirelessly to improve the rights of her people, especially women. Flawed yet resilient, Whina tells the story of a woman formed by tradition, compelled by innovation, and guided by an instinct for equality and justice whose legacy as the Te Whaea o te Motu (Mother of the Nation) was an inspiration to an entire country.

I DATE Rejects (2020)

When four friends who are lacking in the love department are rejected from exclusive dating agency I DATE, they decide to start their own agency. Can they find love for all the I DATE rejects? Made with the support of NZ On Air.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

Waru (2017)

A community reacts and comes together to mourn after a small boy named Waru is killed by his caregiver.

Kid Sister (2022 – )

Lulu is a young woman navigating big issues in this comedy set in Auckland, New Zealand, where more people identify as Jedi than Jewish.

The Sounds (2020)

Maggie and Tom Cabbott move to the town of Pelorus to escape the oppressive influence of Tom’s family. But when he disappears, unsettling facts about Tom soon come to light and the search brings long-buried wounds to the surface.

  • Watch on Neon (subscription required)

INSiDE (2020)

A reclusive tech expert attempts to shut the world out during the coronavirus lock down, until a ghost from her past forces her to face reality.

  • Watch on Neon (subscription required)

Mean Mums (2019 – 2020)

Jess must navigate her son’s primary school world filled with other mothers keen on advancing their children’s futures.

Housebound (2014)

A young woman is forced to return to her childhood home after being placed under house arrest, where she suspects that something evil may be lurking.

The Tender Trap (2021)

In 2011 the startling news broke around New Zealand that Sharon Armstrong, a middle-aged grandmother and public servant who worked for the Maori Language Commission had been arrested in Argentina with 5kg of cocaine in her suitcase.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

My Life is Murder (2021)

Private investigator Alexa Crow always fights the good fight, whether it be a baffling crime or just in her everyday life.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

Under the Vines (2021)

Two city people manage to inherit a failing vineyard in New Zealand, but neither of them know a thing about hard work and they despise each other.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

The Sounds (2020)

Maggie and Tom Cabbott move to the town of Pelorus to escape the oppressive influence of Tom’s family. But when he disappears, unsettling facts about Tom soon come to light and the search brings long-buried wounds to the surface.

  • Stream on Neon (subscription required)

Fresh Eggs (2019)

A black comedy with a deliciously twisted sense of humour, this six-part drama follows a couple’s quest for “the good life” that goes wickedly awry. Starring Claire Chitham, Cohen Holloway, Danielle Cormack and John Rhys-Davies. Made with the support of NZ On Air.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

Apron Strings (2008)

In Samoan-born director Sima Urale’s first feature, two mothers from very different Aotearoa cultures find the courage to confront the secrets of the past, in order to set their sons free.

 

Creamerie (2021 – )

In the near future, a virus plague spreads around the globe, killing 99 percent of men, with the survivors sent to The Facility in New Zealand.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

Shadow in the Cloud (2020)

A female WWII pilot traveling with top secret documents on a B-17 Flying Fortress encounters an evil presence on board the flight.

Do No Harm (2017)

In an aging private hospital, a single-minded surgeon is forced to break her physician’s oath when violent gangsters attempt to stop a crucial operation.

My Wedding and Other Secrets (2011)

Emily Chu is strictly brought up by her parents who want her to become a doctor, but Emily has other things to keep in mind when she falls in love with James. If her father finds out about their secret romance, it could mean that he renounces her.

  • Stream on TVNZ (free with registration)

Fightback: Joseph Parker (2021)

An intimate and often hilarious look at the build-up to Joseph’s Parker’s fight with Derek Chisora…a must win match for both fighters.

  • Watch on Neon (subscription required)

25 April (2015)

Stories from New Zealanders who served at Gallipoli during the First World War are brought to life in vibrant colour and graphic novel-like animation in this feature directed by Leanne Pooley. Weaving together animated “interviews” based on the diaries, letters and memoirs of six people who fought, the film’s stories cover war, friendship, loss and redemption.

Beyond the Edge (2013)

In 1953, the ascent of Everest remained the last of Earth’s great challenges.  Standing at over 29,000ft, the world’s highest mountain posed a fearsome challenge and had already claimed thirteen lives in previous expeditions.

Faced with treacherous winds, sub-zero temperatures and battling altitude sickness, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay finally achieved the impossible and became the first men to conquer Everest.  It was an event that stunned the world and defined an era.

Consent: The Louise Nicholas Story (2014)

This award-winning telemovie draws on the harrowing true story of Louise Nicholas, who battled to take a group of police officers to court for allegedly raping her when she was a teenager.

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