Steps to greatness take you to the edge.

Join us for our Film Talk screening of Joika, followed by a Q&A with the film’s writer/director James Napier Robertson (The Dark Horse, Whina), joined by a moderator from the Directors and Editors Guild Aotearoa New Zealand.

Film Industry members can get a discounted $15* ticket on presentation of a valid Film Industry membership card!

Find out more about the event below, then secure your seat by booking tickets now.

Synopsis

Joika is based on the true story of Joy Womack, one of the very few Americans to ever penetrate the elite, and punishing, world of the Bolshoi Ballet. Under legendary teacher Tatiyana Volkova, Joy Womack trains with the goal of becoming a Prima Ballerina at the Bolshoi Company. But, behind the beauty of dance is a world of pain and brutal competitiveness, and Joy is forced to push her body, her mind, and her choices further than she ever thought possible. Finding unlikely support from Volkova, she risks her health, relationships and potentially her life in her journey to determine what it means to be great.

Q&A Speakers
Born in Wellington, New Zealand, James Napier Robertson began as an actor in theatre and television before writing and directing. His 2014 film The Dark Horse, became a commercial and critical hit, receiving 5-star reviews from all major critics and grossing over $2 million at the New Zealand Box Office. Variety called it “exceptional…the most deserving cinematic export to emerge from New Zealand in years”. Roberston has since worked on the BBC mini-series The Luminaries, and in 2020 worked on the Dame Whina Cooper biopic, Whina.

Chris Dudman's career has involved writing and directing short films, commercials, documentary features and series, and television drama series. He directed short film successes The Graffiti of Mr Tupaia and Choice Night, and later co-wrote and directed Harry, the gritty crime drama series starring Oscar Kightley and Sam Neill. He wrote and directed The Day that Changed My Life, the multi-award-winning documentary about Christchurch’s devastating earthquake, and directed two stand-alone episodes of James Patterson’s true crime anthology series Murder is Forever for U.S. company Stephen David Entertainment. Chris is a founding partner and director of Robber’s Dog Films, a TV commercial production company.

*$1.65 online booking fees apply. Discounted ticket only available on the presentation of a valid Film Industry membership card (e.g. DEGANZ membership card) on the collection of printed ticket at the box office.