A non-Kiwi Best Actor winner and acclaimed recognition for a late director’s final film were among the notable moments of this year’s New Zealand Screen Awards.

The late Lee Tamahori’s historical drama, The Convert, scored five major awards including Best Director: Drama Feature.

John Lithgow also added a Kiwi award to his collection, having been named Best Actor in a Feature for his performance in The Rule of Jenny Pen.

Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall recapped the awards and went through all the other big winners.

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A non-Kiwi Best Actor winner and acclaimed recognition for a late director’s final film were among the notable moments of this year’s New Zealand Screen Awards.
The late Lee Tamahori’s historical drama, The Convert, scored five major awards including Best Director: Drama Feature.
John Lithgow also added a Kiwi award to his collection, having been named Best Actor in a Feature for his performance in The Rule of Jenny Pen.
Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall recapped the awards and went through all the other big winners.
LISTEN ABOVE

News, opinion, analysis, lifestyle and entertainment – we’ve got your Sunday morning listening covered with The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin on Newstalk ZB.

The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Steve Newall: Flicks.co.nz editor on the winners from New Zealand Screen Awards 2025

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3b452184-6eec-4d83-b2cc-b39d0175325d/transcript

Flight of the Conchords' Bret McKenzie unveils new album 'Freak Out City'

Kiwi musician and comedian Bret McKenzie, best known for his work with Flight of the Conchords, is set to release his second album next week.

Freak Out City is a follow-up to his 2022 solo project Songs Without Jokes.

The lead off single is All I Need, and Bret McKenzie says it's inspired by his long-term relationship with his wife, Hannah.

"It's funny, when you've been in a relationship that long, there are some days where you love each other more than other days... and on one of those days where things were going great, I sat down at the piano and wrote this song."

LISTEN ABOVE

<h2>Flight of the Conchords' Bret McKenzie unveils new album 'Freak Out City'</h2>
Kiwi musician and comedian Bret McKenzie, best known for his work with Flight of the Conchords, is set to release his second album next week.
Freak Out City&nbsp;is a follow-up to his 2022 solo project Songs&nbsp;Without Jokes.
The lead off single is All I Need, and Bret McKenzie says it's inspired by his long-term relationship with his wife, Hannah.
"It's funny, when you've been in a relationship that long, there are some days where you love each other more than other days... and on one of those days where things were going great, I sat down at the piano and wrote this song."
LISTEN ABOVE

Best of 2025: Bret McKenzie talks new album Freak Out City on the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/06115fc3-eb14-4048-98b8-b3bf0029635a/transcript

Pike River: Actress Melanie Lynskey reveals why the story needed to be told

New Zealanders will get an insight into the Pike River tragedy that continues to be felt by relatives - and on the West Coast.

A film based on the 2010 explosion that took the lives of 29 men is being released in New Zealand this week.

Starring Kiwi actresses Melanie Lynskey and Robyn Malcolm, it tells the true story of Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse's fight for justice.

Lynskey says it was important for the men to be remembered as individuals.

"Anyone who's had a loved one be a victim of something that becomes a national tragedy - I do think that the person that you loved, that was the most important person in your entire world, becomes kinda faceless."

LISTEN ABOVE

<h2>Pike River: Actress Melanie Lynskey reveals why the story needed to be told</h2>
New Zealanders will get an insight into the Pike River tragedy that continues to be felt by relatives - and on the West Coast.
A film based on the 2010 explosion that took the lives of 29 men is being released in New Zealand this week.
Starring Kiwi actresses Melanie Lynskey and Robyn Malcolm, it tells the true story of Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse's fight for justice.
Lynskey says it was important for the men to be remembered as individuals.
"Anyone who's had a loved one be a victim of something that becomes a national tragedy - I do think that the person that you loved, that was the most important person in your entire world, becomes kinda faceless."
LISTEN ABOVE

Best of 2025: Melanie Lynskey discusses the release of Pike River on the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d1c3d432-3719-48d1-b82b-b3bc002977d7/transcript

Director Paul Feig joined Francesca Rudkin to chat about his new movie, coming to cinemas on Boxing Day, titled The Housemaid. 

Previously Feig has directed Bridesmaids (2011), A Simple Favour (2018), and Last Christmas (2019), along with a number of episodes of The Office. 

The Housemaid is a drama / thriller, based off the Freida McFadden book of the same name, following a struggling woman as she starts over as a housemaid for a wealthy couple.

LISTEN ABOVE

Director Paul Feig joined Francesca Rudkin to chat about his new movie, coming to cinemas on Boxing Day, titled The Housemaid.&nbsp;
Previously Feig has directed Bridesmaids (2011), A Simple Favour (2018), and Last Christmas (2019), along with a number of episodes of The Office.&nbsp;
The Housemaid is a drama / thriller, based off the Freida McFadden book of the same name, following a struggling woman as she starts over as a housemaid for a wealthy couple.
LISTEN ABOVE

Paul Feig: Bridesmaids director on his new film The Housemaid

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d5c0602c-7c70-460a-b908-b3ba0022fe76/transcript

Steve Newall: Flicks.co.nz editor on the winners from New Zealand Screen Awards 2025

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