New Zealand cinema burst onto the global stage in the 1970s and has maintained its high-profile international presence with such films as 'Whalerider', the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy and 'Once Were Warriors'. 'Contemporary New Zealand Cinema' is an astute analysis of this fascinating industry and the most thorough book available on a vibrant filmmaking culture. The book explores the industry, questions of aesthetics and form, nation and identity through the full range of filmmaking in New Zealand. It also highlights specific contexts, including Maori, documentary and short filmmaking, literary adaptations, the development of the national Film Commission, marketing and censorship, as well as questions of bicultural relations, spirituality, masculinity and disability - that have a created a cinema of global significance. A comprehensive filmography details all New Zealand feature and television films.