My Brilliant Career: The Films of Sam Neill

October 23–November 26

A versatile actor from New Zealand, Sam Neill (1947–2026) navigated seamlessly from big-budgeted Hollywood epics to sweeping period pictures throughout his career, with iconic detours to horror in between. His first leading role was in the landmark film SLEEPING DOGS (1977), the first 35mm feature produced entirely in New Zealand by an all-local crew. As his star rose, Neill moved to Australia to seek greater opportunities, finding success opposite Judy Davis in Gillian Armstrong’s MY BRILLIANT CAREER and Nicole Kidman in Philip Noyce’s DEAD CALM. But it was not until 1993 that Neill fully broke through to the mainstream with two monumental hits, Steven Speilberg’s JURASSIC PARK and Jane Campion’s Palme d’Or–winning THE PIANO. After cementing his status as a leading man, Neill became a genre star with turns in John Carpenter’s IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS and Paul W.S. Anderson’s horror/sci-fi mashup EVENT HORIZON. Additional highlights in this series include anniversary screenings of his most beloved cult hits: the 45th anniversary of Andrzej Żuławski’s POSSESSION (just in time for Halloween) and the 10th anniversary of Taika Waititi’s action-packed comedy HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE.