The Best Of British And Irish Cinema Returns Intrepid British And Irish Film Festival Announces 2025 Programme

The wait is over - the very best of British and Irish cinema is heading back to big screens across the country with the Intrepid British and Irish Film Festival 2025 running from 29 October to 19 November.

Tickets go on sale today with more locations than ever before including new additions, Waiheke Island, Whāngarei and MTG in Napier. Audiences are invited to mark their calendars for three weeks of unmissable stories, fresh perspectives, and some of the most anticipated titles of the year.

This year’s line-up features a stellar mix of New Zealand premieres, festival favourites, and long-awaited returns. Audiences can look forward to the heart-soaring period drama from director Nicholas Hytner, The Choral starring Ralph Fiennes; New Zealand filmed biopic about Supermodel Kate Moss and Artist Lucian Freud in Moss & Freud; Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, the hilarious and nostalgic sequel to the cult classic, as well as new works from both celebrated filmmakers including Brian Cox’s directorial debut, and rising stars.

The 2025 programme includes:

• & Sons
• A Room with a View
• Beat The Lotto
• Broken English
• Christmas Karma
• Christy
• Dead of Winter
• Four Mothers
• Gerry Adams: A Ballymurphy Man
• Glenrothan
• I Swear
• Islands
• Lollipop
• Moss & Freud
• Re-Creation
• Spinal Tap II: The End Continues
• The Choral
• The Golden Spurtle
• The History of Sound
• The North
• The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
• Twiggy
• Words of War

Festival Director Fergus Grady says: “This festival is all about celebrating stories that move, challenge, and entertain us, whether that’s through the humour of Four Mothers, the drama of Re-Creation, or the nostalgic fun of Spinal Tap II. We’re proud to bring these incredible British and Irish films to audiences nationwide, and I can’t wait to see people coming together to enjoy them on the big screen.”

Highlights include:

• & Sons - This dramatic adaptation of David Gilbert’s 2013 novel, co-written by Oscar-winner Sarah Polley and directed by Pablo Trapero, stars Bill Nighy as a reclusive literary superstar who calls his sons home for an unbelievable announcement.
• Dead of Winter - Emma Thompson takes on a bold new role in this tense thriller.
• I Swear – Direct from Toronto Film Festival, I Swear tells the inspirational true story of John Davidson, a trailblazer whose honesty and humour helped the world better understand what it means to live with Tourette Syndrome.
• Spinal Tap II - The band reunite after a 15-year break for one final reunion concert in New Orleans. The band members are joined by music royalty Paul McCartney and Elton John, as they wrestle with their checkered past to put on a show that they hope will solidify their place in the pantheon of rock 'n' roll.
• The Choral - Starring Oscar nominee Ralph Fiennes, this heart-soaring period drama from director Nicholas Hytner, tells the story of young men raising their voices in song under the shadow of WWI.
• The History of Sound – This year’s Cannes competition darling stars Paul Mescal & Josh O'Connor playing two young men during World War I set out to record the lives, voices and music of their American countrymen.
• Four Mothers - A joyful, heart-warming comedy about family chaos and connection.
• Glenrothan - Brian Cox makes his directorial debut with a story of family, whisky, and homecoming.

The Intrepid British and Irish Film Festival 2025 runs from 29 October - 19 November at cinemas across the country.

Tickets on sale today here: https://www.britishfilmfestival.co.nz/ and through our participating cinema partners.

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