Frances Hodgkins, Anything but a Still Life

Blandine Massiet du Biest / 2023 / 90min / NZ

A tribute to her life, art and enduring legacy.

Director Massiet du Biest’s debut feature explores the life and art of celebrated New Zealand painter Frances Hodgkins. Spending much of her life and career in Europe, Hodgkins was a modernist painter whose work continues to inspire contemporary New Zealand artists. The film retraces Hodgkins’ footsteps, taking viewers to the places she lived and worked, and shedding light on the challenges she faced and her unwavering commitment to her craft. Featuring insights from experts like Mary Kisler and Linda Tyler, as well as creatives such as Kate Sylvester and Star Gossage, the film celebrates Hodgkins’ courage and determination as a pioneering woman in the arts, and her enduring legacy as a role model for women everywhere.

Supported by

Keep Stepping

Luke Cornish / 2022 / 90min / Australia

Dancing to your own beat

Director Cornish’s inspiring film highlights the world of street dance, a gruelling mix of athleticism and artistic expression, often marginalised by the mainstream as a mere curiosity. The movie follows Gabi, a Chilean Samoan, and Patricia, a Romanian-born dancer, as they prepare for Australia’s biggest street dance competition, Destructive Steps. To achieve their dreams, they must overcome financial struggles, injuries, volatile relationships, and even the risk of deportation. Despite the odds, the film showcases the empowerment and respect that street dance provides to those who rise to the top. The film proves that dance transcends all barriers, offering an inspiring glimpse into the lives of street dancers and the challenges they face.