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MARCH 9th to 15th 2026

March 9th-15th | Tauranga, BOP, NZ

More than just films.

A week of cinema, conversations, and culture that brings people together in Tauranga.

WHY TCFF?

TCFF isn’t just about watching films — it’s about experiencing stories that help make sense of the world we’re living in.

 

For one week, Tauranga becomes a place to discover powerful films, hear real conversations, and feel part of something bigger — without needing to be a film expert.

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WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT?

Why people love TCFF:

 

🎥 Films you won’t see on streaming platforms

🎤 Conversations that go beyond the screen

🌍 Global stories, local spaces🤝 

FEATURE FILMS 2026

WHAT'S ON 2026

EVENTS
SHORT FILM BLOCKS
DAYS
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Pop-Up HQ

9 March 2026

11:00 am

The central hub of TCFF during the festival week.
Pop-Up HQ is where audiences can find festival information, meet the team, purchase tickets, discover merchandise, and connect with filmmakers, artists, and fellow festival-goers. A casual, welcoming space designed to make TCFF feel human, accessible, and alive beyond the cinema.

PopUp - 36, Spring St
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Best Of Fest

9 March 2026

7:30 pm

A curated showcase of standout films from across the festival programme. Best of Fest brings together audience favourites, jury highlights, and films that sparked conversation long after the credits rolled.
Expect a mix of powerful storytelling, bold craft, and unforgettable moments — a perfect entry point for first-time festival-goers and a celebration for cinephiles who want to experience the very best TCFF has to offer.

Luxe Cinemas - Tauranga
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TCFF Talks: Break On Through

10 March 2026

5:30 pm

A candid conversation about breaking into — and breaking through — the film industry.
This panel explores creative persistence, career pivots, rejection, opportunity, and what it really takes to sustain a life in film. Honest, practical, and grounded in lived experience.

PopUp - 36, Spring St
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TCFF Talks: Social Cohesion & Culture

11 March 2026

5:30 pm

A timely discussion on storytelling, identity, and belonging in an increasingly divided world.
Social Cohesion & Culture examines how film and art can bridge differences, challenge narratives, and foster understanding across communities — without simplifying complexity.

The Tauranga Club
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TCFF Talks: Seeking Divnity

12 March 2026

5:30 pm

An exploration of spirituality, faith, doubt, and transcendence through cinema.
This panel looks at how filmmakers approach the sacred — not through doctrine, but through image, story, silence, and human experience. Thoughtful, inclusive, and open-ended.

PopUp - 36, Spring St
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Everlasting Love

12 March 2026

6:00 pm

Love in all its forms — romantic, familial, spiritual, and unspoken. This block explores connection across time, distance, and difference, capturing both the beauty and the cost of intimacy.
Tender, bittersweet, and deeply human, Everlasting Love offers stories that resonate quietly but powerfully.

Luxe Cinemas - Tauranga
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Voices Of Venus

13 March 2026

3:30 pm

A celebration of stories shaped by feminine perspective, strength, and complexity. Voices of Venus centres women-led narratives that challenge stereotypes, reclaim agency, and explore identity on their own terms.

Bold and nuanced, these films move beyond labels to honour lived experience, resilience, and creative vision.

Luxe Cinemas - Tauranga
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Midnight Royale

13 March 2026

6:30 pm

The official opening of the Third Culture Film Festival.
The Opening Gala marks the beginning of a week dedicated to cinema, culture, and connection. The evening features a curated screening, special moments with filmmakers and guests, and a fashion showcase by designer Dhanak Humayun, celebrating creativity across disciplines.
Held in an atmosphere of celebration and reflection, the Opening Gala sets the tone for the festival’s themes of identity, belonging, and creative exchange — a shared moment before the stories unfold.

The Tauranga Club

Tickets & Passes

Choose how you want to experience the festival — from a single screening to the full week.

Whether you’re dropping in for one film or diving into the full festival, TCFF tickets are designed to be accessible, flexible, and good value.

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Ticket Pricing & Dates

Premium Festival Pass pricing is released in stages:

• Early Bird: $150 (until 16 February)

• Standard: $175 (17 February – 8 March)

 

Some events have limited capacity. We recommend booking early.

🎬 Single Tickets

Just a Taste

  • Film screenings from $20

  • Talks from $15–$20

  • Workshops $20

🎟️ Festival Pass

Best Value for the full week

  • Includes screenings, talks, workshops, gala, networking & awards

  • Limited availability

🔗 Bundles & Combos

Mixy Matchy

  • Multi-film bundles

  • Film + Talk combos

  • Designed to save and simplify

FREE EVENTS / ACCESSIBILITY

TCFF is designed to be accessible.Alongside ticketed screenings, talks, and workshops, the festival includes a range of free public events so anyone can experience the atmosphere, creativity, and community — no prior knowledge or purchase required.

 

Whether you’re curious, passing through, or just want to soak up the festival vibe, there are plenty of ways to take part.

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HQ

The Festival HQ is the creative hub of TCFF — a place to drop in, explore, and be part of the festival between events.

  • 🎤 Talks & panels with filmmakers and creatives

  • 🛠️ Workshops focused on skills, storytelling, and youth development

  • 🎨 Free gallery exhibitions throughout the week

  • 🤝 Informal meet-ups and community moments

  • ☕ A relaxed, alcohol-free space that’s welcoming to all ages

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TC Oasis

TC Oasis is the free, open-air heart of the festival — designed for families, young people, and the wider community.

🎬 Outdoor film screenings in public spaces

👨‍👩‍👧 Family-friendly zones to relax, watch, and explore

🎧 Youth-led music & performances

🎨 Creative activities including face-painting and pop-ups

🌱 A welcoming space to drop in, stay a while, and connect

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Filmmakers

TCFF is a filmmaker-first festival built on respect, transparency, and community.We’re proud to showcase bold voices from New Zealand and around the world, and to create spaces where filmmakers can connect with audiences in a meaningful, human way.

Selected filmmakers

We will be contacting you directly for your perks!

Non-selected filmmakers

We will be contacting you directly for your perks!

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