KENSUKE’S KINGDOM
NEW ZEALAND PREMIERE
Directed by Kirk Hendry and Neil Boyle
A beautiful, bittersweet, and visually stunning story of survival, courage, and the power of human connection.
Co-directed by New Zealand-born Kirk Hendry and featuring the voices of Cillian Murphy, Sally Hawkins, and Ken Watanabe, this captivating castaway adventure reimagines Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel, weaving connectedness, hope, and discovery into its emotionally resonant narrative.
Michael and his pup, Stella, are shipwrecked in the Indian Ocean after a huge storm strikes their family boat. Washed overboard, they find themselves on a not-so-deserted island. Struggling to survive, Michael is invited into a treetop world by a mysterious Japanese stranger, where he not only learns invaluable lessons, but also uncovers poignant details of the elderly man’s past. As Kensuke and Michael’s bond deepens, their newfound tranquillity is interrupted when both their existence and the world around them, is challenged.
KENSUKE’S KINGDOM premiered at Festival international du film d'animation d'Annecy, winning Best Feature Film, Best Original Music, and the Writers Award at the 2024 British Animation Awards, and the Animated Feature Grand Prize at this year's New York International Children's Film Festival (NYICFF).
NOTE: Contains scenes of peril, as well as themes related to war, loss, and isolation that may be intense for younger viewers.
Thursday, 18 July
6:00pm—7.40pm
Animated Feature
80 minutes
United Kingdom, 2023.
Rating: PG
Recommended for: Ages 8+
“KENSUKE’S KINGDOM holds its young audience with the utmost respect. It doesn’t underestimate them, or shield them, or hide the truth of the world from them. Instead, it’s brutally honest and therefore all the more enrapturing. It reveres its audience, and feels privileged to be telling them its story.”