Programme Changes and Updates

There may be some changes to the advertised WORD Christchurch Festival 2024. We will post any changes to this page.

WORD are sad to hear of the sudden passing of Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII. His vision of kotahitanga wil continue to inspire us. Māpuna Live will no longer be going ahead on Saturday 31 August at midday. All ticketholders will be contacted.

Due to work commitments in the UK, Robyn Malcolm is unfortunately unable to join us at WORD Christchurch this year.

We are pleased to announce that renowned filmmaker Christine Jeffs will join us for Risky Women and Strong Female Characters. Known for her powerful representation of women on the screen, her films Stroke and Rain (adapted from the award winning novel by Kirsty Gunn) were both officially selected for the Cannes Film Festival. Her 2023 film Sylvia based on the life of Sylvia Plath starred Gwyneth Paltrow and Daniel Craig. Jeffs’ new film A Mistake is a gripping medical drama adapted from the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards shortlisted novel of the same name by Carl Shuker. Currently screening at the New Zealand International Film Festival, it premiered at Tribeca Festival and stars Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games).

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mary Jean Chan is now unfortunately unable to visit us here in Aotearoa. All ticket holders will be contacted.