Point Of View

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

Best of 2025

Highlights and notable guesses from this year

Must-sees for Christmas and New Year, plus what’s coming in 2026

 

View Screen – Best Xmas/New Year Films

December:

Notes from a Fish

Eternity

Five Nights at Freddy's 2

Nuremberg

Twiggy

Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair

Ella McCay

Atropia

Avatar: Fire and Ash

History of Sound

Father Mother Sister Brother

The Housemaid

Anaconda

Not Only Fred Dagg

Rental Family

January:

Song Sung Blue

Christy

Primate

Sentimental Value

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

Hamnet

Is This Thing On?

Marty Supreme

Mercy

Nouvelle Vague

The Secret Agent

Return to Silent Hill

H is for Hawk

It Was Just an Accident

Send Help

The Choral

 

 

Best of Streaming – Coming Out

 

December:

Oh, What Fun

Jay Kelly

Predators

Fallout S2

Stranger Things Finale

 

January:

The RIP

Shrinking S3

Bridgerton S4

 

 

 

Stay Connected

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

Facebook: @viewmagnz

Instagram: @viewmagnz

Website: www.viewmag.co.nz

Speakers:

Tom Augustine – @thaugustine

Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!

This month on Point of View, host Tom Augustine sits down with acclaimed New Zealand filmmaker Rob Sarkies to discuss his powerful new film Pike River currently the #1 film in New Zealand.

Based on the tragic 2010 Pike River Mine disaster, the film follows the years-long fight for justice led by Anna Osborne (Melanie Lynskey) and Sonya Rockhouse (Robyn Malcolm), whose husband and son were among the 29 men who lost their lives.

🎬 Pike River is now showing in cinemas across New Zealand.

 

What to Expect

Hear Rob Sarkies (Director) share his creative journey bringing Pike River to life
• Discover how research, preparation, and emotional storytelling shaped the film
• Learn why being grounded in place and connected to real people makes a story resonate. “You start with a feeling,”

View on Screen in November

TERROR-FI Fest:

Bugonia
• Sisu 2
• Primate
• Keeper
• Predator: Badlands
• The Running Man
• We Bury the Dead
• Deathgasm 2
• Nirvanna the Band: The Show – The Movie
• Legend of Ochi
• Familiar Touch
• Now You See Me Now You Don’t
• Wicked For Good
• Die My Love
• Nuremberg
• The Golden Spurtle
• Zootopia 2
• Train Dreams
• Jay Kelly

 

Best of Streaming Coming Out

Frankenstein
• Pluribus
• Left-Handed Girl
• Nouvelle Vague
• Stranger Things 5

 

View Box:

Rialto Channel Presents – The Surfer, Premieres November 8, 8:30pm

The Intrepid British & Irish Film Festival 2025 is now underway across New Zealand, running from 29 October to 19 November. It brings together a curated selection of standout films from the UK and Ireland, with screenings in cities nationwide and a chance to see acclaimed premieres and genre‑highlights on the big screen.

Stay Connected

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

Facebook: @viewmagnz

Instagram: @viewmagnz

Website: www.viewmag.co.nz

Speakers

Tom Augustine - @thaugustine

Rob Sarkies - @Pikeriverfilm

Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!

This month on Point of View, host Tom Augustine sits down with Samuel Van Grinsven and Dacre Montgomery to discuss their new film Went Up the Hill — a psychological drama inspired by Van Grinsven’s memories of childhood in New Zealand’s South Island.

An intimate, modern ghost story, Went Up the Hill explores the extremities of grief and the haunting struggle of letting go.

When Jack travels to remote New Zealand to attend the funeral of his estranged mother, he encounters her grieving widow, Jill. But his mother’s spirit soon returns — inhabiting each of their bodies to speak to the other — sparking a life-threatening nocturnal dance of grief, love, and possession.

🎬 Went Up the Hill is now showing in cinemas across New Zealand.

 

What to Expect

Samuel Van Grinsven on his creative journey bringing Went Up the Hill to life

A spooky, emotional drama set in New Zealand

Dacre Montgomery on stepping into complex, emotionally charged roles

Exploring grief, love, and the supernatural through a modern lens

 

View on Screen in Octuber

The Smashing Machine

Shelby Oaks

Him

Avatar: The Way of Water (Re-release)

Went Up the Hill

Tron Ares

Eleanor the Great

A House of Dynamite

Ballad of a Small Player

Twinless

Roofman

The Black Phone 2

Regretting You

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Pike River

Begonia

 

Best of Streaming Coming Out

Chap Power

Play Dirty

The Lost Bus

Steve

Monster: The Ed Gein Story

John Candy: I Like Me

Hedda

 

View Box:

Rialto Channel Exclusive Series – Families Like Ours

Every Tuesday at 8:30 PM | Episode 1 – Premieres October 21

 

Stay Connected

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

Facebook: @viewmagnz

Instagram: @viewmagnz

Website: www.viewmag.co.nz

Speakers

Tom Augustine - @thaugustine

Samuel Van Grinsven - @svgrinsven

Dacre Montgomery - @dacremontgomery

Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!

Join Tom Augustine in conversation with Michelle Walshe, co-director of the documentary PRIME MINISTER, as they dive into the making of the film that follows Rt Hon Dame Jacinda Ardern over seven years—from her meteoric rise to Prime Minister to her historic leadership and sudden resignation.

Get an inside look at the challenges of leading a nation through crises, balancing motherhood, and redefining global expectations of politics.

✨ Listen to this exclusive capsule interview – link in bio!

#PrimeMinister #JacindaArdern #MichelleWalshe #TomAugustine #CapsuleInterview #Documentary #Politics #ViewMagazine #PointOfViewPodcast

This month on Point of View, host Tom Augustine sits down with Gina Dellabarca.

Gina co-founded Show Me Shorts in 2006 and has been the driving force behind the festival ever since. She is an experienced marketing and communications professional as well as a film programmer. Gina also serves as Vice-Chair of the Board for the Short Film Conference – a global organization that promotes the status of short films and unites the international short film community.

Her background includes providing publicity for films, co-owning a cinema, and leading marketing for major attractions such as Stardome Observatory, Auckland Zoo, and Regional Facilities Auckland. In 2019, she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to the film industry.

 

Show Me Shorts Turns 20!
The fabulous Show Me Shorts Festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a special programme.

From 7–27 October, audiences can enjoy 127 screenings and events at 40 cinemas and community venues across Aotearoa. The programme features 83 short films divided into 11 themed collections.

👉 Explore the full lineup: showmeshorts.co.nz

 

What to Expect

Gina Dellabarca’s journey as co-founder and director of the Show Me Shorts Festival

The 20th anniversary of Show Me Shorts

A sneak peek at the Show Me Shorts Film Festival 2025

 

View on Screen in September

Fight or Flight 

Life in One Chord

Sorry Baby

The Roses (Disney)

Conjuring Last Rites

Splitsville

The Long Walk

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey

One Battle After Another

Prime Minister

 

Best of Streaming Coming Out

Pee Wee as Himself

My Mom Jayne

Highest 2 Lowest

The Paper

Task

Only Murders in the Building

Snack Shack

Gen V

The Morning Show

Slow Horses

View Box: Winter melts into spring on Rialto Channel

Every Saturday in September at 8:30 PM

Premiere Date:

Sing Sing- Premieres September 6, 8.30pm

Cottontail - Premieres September 13, 8.30pm

The Last Showgirl - Premieres September 20, 8.30pm

Queer - Premieres September 27, 8.30pm

 

Stay Connected

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

Facebook: @viewmagnz

Instagram: @viewmagnz

Website: www.viewmag.co.nz

Speakers

Tom Augustine – @thaugustine

Gina Dellabarca – @ginadellabarca

 

Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!