Point Of View

This month on Point of View, host Tom Augustine sits down with writer-director Paloma Schneideman to discuss her debut feature, Big Girls Don’t Cry — a coming-of-age drama set in 2006 that follows 14-year-old Sid as she navigates identity, friendship, first love and the complexities of growing up in the early days of online culture.

From the nostalgia of the mid-2000s to the vulnerability of teenage life, Paloma explores the inspiration behind the film, her creative process and the challenges of bringing an intimate, emotionally complex story to the screen. The conversation delves into the film’s distinctive visual language, its portrayal of adolescence and the lasting impact of the experiences that shape us.

Following its appearance at Sundance, Big Girls Don’t Cry continues to put Aotearoa cinema on the international stage.

Film Highlights

What to Expect

Speakers

Stay Connected

Stay tuned for more conversations with the people shaping film, culture, and the arts.

This month on Point of View, host Tom Augustine sits down with directing duo THUNDERLIPS, directors Sean Wallace and Jordan Mark Windsor, to discuss their new film, Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant, a new comedy-horror addition to the Kiwi film canon.

The film follows an accelerated extraterrestrial pregnancy and is packed with outrageously off-kilter visual effects. Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant premieres in New Zealand cinemas on September 10.

About the film

Mary is a slacker living with her mother and still trying to figure out what to do with her life in New Zealand suburbia. After an awkward sexual encounter with her neighbour, she suddenly finds herself in the midst of an accelerated alien pregnancy!

What follows is a classic Kiwi gross-out take on pregnancy and parenthood that is not afraid to get weird, featuring standout performances from Hannah Lynch (Petrol) as the reluctant mother-to-be, Arlo Green (Workmates) as the hapless half-alien baby daddy, and Yvette Parsons (Notes From a Fish) as Mary’s overbearing mother.

Coming off a premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in the Midnight section, the debut feature from New Zealand filmmaking duo THUNDERLIPS builds on the concept of their earlier short film Help! I’m Alien Pregnant (Sitges, 2024).

The full-length feature ramps up their signature boisterous energy, exploring the pitfalls of hosting a parasitic life form and the possibilities of what comes next. Complete with an arsenal of eye-popping special effects that harken back to the golden age of body horror, Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant is an unforgettable cinematic experience best enjoyed with a crowd.

What to Expect

Speakers

Stay Connected

Stay tuned for more conversations with the people shaping film, culture, and the arts.

This month on Point of View, host Tom Augustine sits down with Tongan-Kiwi filmmaker Vea Mafile'o, co-director of Lomu, the new film about All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu, premiering in New Zealand cinemas on September 3.

With a background in visual arts and art direction, Vea has built an impressive career across film and television. Her work includes the documentary For My Father's Kingdom, which premiered at the 2019 Berlin Film Festival, and the acclaimed short Lea Tupu'anga/Mother Tongue, selected for the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

About Lomu

The film follows Jonah Lomu's journey from his schoolboy days at Wesley College and his All Blacks debut to his unforgettable performance at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, where he became a global sporting icon.

Drawing on archival interviews with Jonah, former teammates, coach Laurie Mains and his former manager Phil Kingsley Jones, Lomu goes beyond the rugby field to explore the man behind the legend.

The film examines Jonah's Tongan heritage, his quiet and private nature, and the pressures of international fame as rugby moved into the professional era.

What to Expect

Speakers

Stay Connected

Stay tuned for more conversations with the people shaping film, culture, and the arts.

This month on Point of View, host Tom Augustine sits down with Tandi Wright, a multi-award-nominated New Zealand actress whose career spans more than 25 years across film, television, and theatre in New Zealand and internationally. Renowned for her versatility and commanding screen presence, Tandi has built an acclaimed career with lead and supporting roles across stage and screen. Her latest screen credit is a supporting role in Evil Dead Burn, now showing in New Zealand cinemas.

In this episode, Tandi takes us behind the scenes of Evil Dead Burn, discussing her role in the film, the challenges of bringing its intense story to life, and what drew her to the project. She also reflects on her career, the craft of acting, and the experiences that have shaped her journey.

About the Film

Following the loss of her husband, a woman seeks solace with her in-laws. But as they begin transforming into deadites one by one, she discovers that the vows she made in life endure even in death.

What to Expect

Speakers

Stay Connected

Stay tuned for more conversations with the people shaping film, culture, and the arts.

This month on Point of View, host Tom Augustine sits down with New Zealand film producer and screenwriter Matthew Metcalfe to discuss his latest film, Moss & Freud, now showing in New Zealand cinemas.

The film follows supermodel Kate Moss as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery when renowned artist Lucian Freud offers to paint her portrait, exploring themes of identity, vulnerability, fame, and artistic expression.

What to Expect

Don't miss future episodes and updates:

Speakers

Stay tuned for more conversations with the people shaping film, culture, and the arts.

This month on Point of View, host Tom Augustine sits down with Darren Bevan, an entertainment writer specialising in film reviews, DVD releases, and gaming reviews.

Darren and Tom discuss May blockbusters, The Devil Wears Prada 2, Mortal Kombat I, The Mandalorian & Grogu, Bridget Jones’s Diary 25th Anniversary, Shrek 25th Anniversary, and Top Gun 40th Anniversary.

What to Expect

View Screen – In Cinemas This May

Best of Streaming – Coming Out in May

Stay Connected

Don’t miss next month’s updates — follow us on social media:

Speakers

Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!

Inspired by his journey walking New Zealand’s Te Araroa Trail, director Bart Schrijver brings his personal experience of long-distance hiking to his latest immersive film, The North, shot in the Scottish Highlands.

The North arrives in cinemas across New Zealand from April 2.

This month on Point of View, host Tom Augustine sits down with Rebecca Tansley, director of Tenor: My Name Is Pati.

Directed by Rebecca Tansley, TENOR: My Name Is Pati is a feature documentary that follows Pene Pati’s story from humble origins in the South Pacific to the world’s greatest opera stages. Weaving intimate family archive footage with behind-the-scenes observations and soaring performances, the film blends humour and heart to reveal how the power of family, cultural pride, determination, and resilience can yield extraordinary rewards when chasing an unlikely dream.

🎬 Tenor: My Name Is Pati is now showing in cinemas across New Zealand.

What to Expect

View Screen – In Cinemas in April

Best of Streaming – Coming Out in April

Stay Connected

Don’t miss next month’s updates—follow us on social media:

Speakers:

Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!

This month on Point of View, host Tom Augustine sits down with Taratoa Stappard and Ariāna Osborne to discuss their new film, Mārama.

Mārama tells the story of a young Māori woman lured to Victorian England under false pretenses, and her fight to hold on to her identity. The film follows a young Māori wāhine’s journey to the north of England in the mid-1800s as she seeks information about her family.

It is the feature film debut of director Stappard, who was born in Aotearoa New Zealand but has spent most of his life based in the UK.

Ariāna Osborne stars as Mary Stephens, the young woman at the centre of the film. She says it was a role she knew she had to play.

🎬 Mārama is now showing in cinemas across New Zealand.

What to Expect

View Screen

Oscar 2026 Special – Tom’s Top 10 Favourites and Who Could Win the Oscar

Stay Connected

Don’t miss next month’s updates—follow us on social media:

Speakers:

Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!

Welcome to this month’s episode of Point of View! In Episode 15, host Tom Augustine takes a look back at the best films of 2025, sharing his top picks and some of the standout moments that made this year so memorable in cinema. From unexpected surprises to crowd favorites, we’ll highlight the must-sees for the holiday season and give you plenty of ideas for Christmas and New Year viewing.

A huge thank you to everyone who’s been part of Point of View this year — your support and feedback make these conversations possible. So grab your headphones, get comfy, and join us as we celebrate the best of 2025 on screen.

Happy Holidays, and let’s dive in!

What to Expect

View Screen – Best Xmas/New Year Films

December:

January:

Best of Streaming – Coming Out

December:

January:

Stay Connected

Don’t miss next month’s updates—follow us on social media:

Speakers:

Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!