The New Zealand International Film Festival has reduced the number of host cities from 15 to 4: the reason

The New Zealand International Film Festival Whānau Mārama (NZIFF), a popular attraction for tourists, is facing challenges. Organizers are compelled to streamline the festival's program and cancel screenings in certain cities.

This year's film event, scheduled from July 31 to September 1, will take place in only four locations: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Typically, screenings were held in 15 cities across New Zealand, as reported by Newshub.

The festival has experienced the departure of five program directors, a concerning development for the film community, especially coupled with the widespread cancellation of screenings.

NZIFF recently announced the appointment of Paolo Bertolin as the new artistic director. Bertolin, a highly regarded international film programmer, influential critic, and accomplished producer, joins the festival.

Festival chair Katherine Fitzgerald acknowledged the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their operations. Long-standing employees dedicated to curating the annual film program have departed.

"I don't know why some people view COVID as merely an outbreak. COVID has profoundly shaken every aspect of our society and has impacted each year—2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023—in different ways, and we are still recovering," stated Katherine Fitzgerald.