This month on Point of View, host Tom Augustine sits down with Diana Wichtel—acclaimed journalist, author, and beloved cultural commentator. For 36 years, Diana’s sharp wit and moving prose illuminated the pages of the Listener, earning her a place as one of New Zealand’s most distinctive voices.

She is the author of the award-winning memoir Driving to Treblinka: A Long Search for a Lost Father, which won the Ockham New Zealand Book Award, and her latest collection Unreel, a rich and witty anthology of her finest television writing.

In this episode, Diana reflects on her storied career, the experience of being on the other side of the interview, and why television once felt like magic.

Diana will appear on Friday 16 May 2025 to discuss Unreel: A Life in Review as part of the Writers Festival 2025 programme.

Explore the full lineup: writersfestival.co.nz/programmes/main-programme

What to Expect

• Diana Wichtel’s journey as a cultural critic
• Highlights from Driving to Treblinka and Unreel
• A look back at New Zealand’s media landscape
• A sneak peek of her appearance at Writers Festival 2025

Best of Streaming Coming Out

• Another Simple Favour – Prime Video (from 1 May)
• The Four Seasons – Netflix (from 1 May)
• Overcompensating: Season One – Prime Video (from 15 May)
• The Reserve: Limited Series – Netflix (from 15 May)
• Nine Perfect Strangers: Season 2 – Prime Video (from 22 May)
• Fear Street: Prom Queen – Netflix (from 23 May)
• Fountain of Youth – AppleTV+ (from 23 May)
• Bono: Stories of Surrender – AppleTV+ (from 30 May)
• Andor – Still streaming on Disney+ (Premiered in April)

View on Screen in May

• Thunderbolts – 1 May
• Bob Trevino Likes It – 1 May
• Marlon Williams: Nga Ao E Rua – Two Worlds – 1 May
• The Wedding Banquet – 8 May
• Clown In A Cornfield – 8 May
• Tall Tales – 8 May
• Forgive Us All – 8 May
• Final Destination: Bloodlines – 15 May
• Hurry Up Tomorrow – 15 May
• The Salt Path – 15 May
• Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – 22 May
• Lilo & Stitch – 22 May
• CCFC Presents: Orson Welles' The Trial – 28 May
• When Fall Is Coming – 28 May
• The Phoenician Scheme – 29 May
• Bring Her Back – 29 May
• Karate Kid Legends – 29 May

View Box: Musical Notes on Rialto Channel

Every Thursday in May at 8:30 PM

• Welcome to the Darkness – Premieres Thursday, 1 May
• Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg – Premieres Thursday, 8 May
• Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus – Premieres Thursday, 15 May
• Mozart's Sister – Premieres Thursday, 22 May
• Mutiny In Heaven: The Birthday Party – Premieres Thursday, 22 May

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
• Diana Wichtel – www.writersfestival.co.nz

Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!

This month on Point of View, join host Tom Augustine as he sits down with Paolo Rotondo, an award-winning director, writer, and actor with over 20 years in the film industry. Paolo’s screen credits include feature films The Ugly and Stickmen, as well as television series like Shortland Street, The Making of the Mob: Chicago, and the BBC’s The Luminaries. His successful acting career has paved the way for his work behind the camera, with his debut film Orphans & Kingdoms earning international recognition and multiple festival accolades.

Beyond his contributions to film and television, Paolo, along with Renée Mark, co-founded the Italian Film Festival—a beloved tradition that has brought the best of Italian cinema to Aotearoa for the past decade. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the festival continues to captivate audiences with a carefully curated selection of Italian films.

The full 2025 programme is now live! The festival will run from April 2025 to January 2026.

🎬 Explore the full lineup and get your tickets at www.italianfilmfestivalnz.com.

• Paolo Rotondo’s journey

• Italian Film Festival 2025

• Insights about the Italian film industry

• Queer – In Cinemas 3 April

• Emmanuelle – In Cinemas 3 April

• Grand Tour – In Cinemas 17 April

• Warfare – In Cinemas 17 April

• Death of a Unicorn – In Cinemas 10 April

• The Penguin Lessons – In Cinemas 17 April

• Small Things Like These – In Cinemas 24 April

• Dying for Sex – Disney+

• Your Friends and Neighbors – Apple TV

• Black Mirror – Netflix

Every Monday in April at 8:30 PM

• There’s Still Tomorrow – Premieres Monday, 7 April

• To Chiara – Premieres Monday, 14 April

• The Eight Mountains – Premieres Monday, 21 April

• La Chimera – Premieres Monday, 28 April

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

• Facebook: @viewmagnz

• Instagram: @viewmagnz

• Website: www.viewmag.co.nz

• Tom Augustine – @thaugustine

• Paolo Rotondo – @italianfilmfestivalnz

Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!

This month on Point of View, join Tom Augustine as he chats with Maddy Hakaraia de Young (Ngati Kapu), a Producer at Maoriland Productions and Festival Director of Maoriland Film Festival. Maddy is a founding member of Maoriland and leads festival programming. Year-round, she supports the work of the MCT as a producer. Supported by a team of rangatahi, she has spent the last 10 years developing and overseeing the implementation of Te Uru Maire - the Maoriland Rangatahi Strategy. Te Uru Maire nurtures rangatahi to find their voice through film and develop the practical skills to tell their unique stories. Over 200 short films have been made through this programme over the last 10 years, with over 2,000 participating rangatahi, both in New Zealand and internationally. Maddy's work with Te Uru Maire was recognised at the 2021 New Zealander of the Year awards, where she was a semi-finalist for Young New Zealander of the Year.

Aotearoa’s International Indigenous Film Festival (https://maorilandfilm.co.nz/) – Check out the lineup and experience the best of Indigenous storytelling! March 26 – 30, 2025

What to Expect:

• Maddy’s journey
• Maoriland Festival – The MFF is the world’s largest celebration of Indigenous storytelling, with five days of screenings, interactive installations and art exhibitions, industry events, and more.
• A personal reflection

View in Screen in Cinemas in March:

• Mickey 17 – March 16
• The Last Showgirl – March 20
• The Rule of Jenny Pen – March 20
• Black Bag – March 13
• A Working Man – March 27
• The Return – March 27
• Snow White – March 20
• Firebrand – March 13

Best of Streaming Coming Out:

• Daredevil: Born Again (Disney+) – From March 4
• Il Gattopardo/The Leopard (Netflix) – From March 5
• The Electric State (Netflix) – From March 14
• The Residence (Netflix) – From March 20
• The Studio (Apple TV+) – From March 26

View Box:

• Never Look Away – Premieres Saturday, March 22, at 8:30 pm. Review and interview with director Lucy Lawless.

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
• Maddy Hakaraia de Young – @madicattt

Stay tuned for more exciting episodes!