Big Bike Film Night brings cycling film festival to Northland

The film Queen of the Mountain follows adventure activist Annie Ford as she attempts to break the 24-hour Guinness World Record for downhill mountain biking, and will premiere at the festival.

Marking its 12th year, this year’s Big Bike Film Night is set to ignite the passion of cycling enthusiasts in Northland as it rolls into the region next week.

The film festival will be in Dargaville, Whangārei and Kerikeri over March 2-4, and promises a feast of short films designed for the two-wheel devotee celebrating the fun, adventure and inspiration that only bikes can bring.

From humble beginnings in 2015, The Big Bike Film Night has grown into an international phenomenon that brings a love of cycling to cinemas, presenting an array of New Zealand and international movies curated by Taupō-based “film peddler” Brett Cotter.

“Stories are at the heart of everything, and our dazzling 2026 collection features nine mesmerising films; each are as dynamic and diverse as you could hope for, and all ready to spin your wheels.

“Audiences will be transported from backyard adventures in New Zealand to the breathtaking landscapes of Norway, to the lush forests of the Canadian West Coast, and we’ll crown things off on the slopes of the punishing Mont Ventoux, in Southern France,” Cotter said.

A highlight of this year’s programme is the world premiere of Queen of the Mountain, which is set in the surrounds of Queenstown. This documentary follows Annie Ford, an adventure activist, as she attempts to break the 24-hour Guinness World Record in downhill mountain biking – all to raise funds for reforesting the foothills in the Queenstown basin.

“Annie is known for combining extreme endurance challenges with environmental advocacy. This film not only showcases Annie’s grit and determination but also shows how using adventure as a tool can inspire others,” Cotter said.

Additionally, in the line-up of films, are dazzling mountain bike ride exploring the breathtaking landscapes of Norway, embracing the magic of the midnight sun, a life-changing experience for two adventurous women as they embark to cycle to all the skifields in New Zealand in one gigantic attempt and an inspiring film that captures the most brutal, wettest and coldest riding conditions imaginable, among others.

Cotter said the power of storytelling is at the forefront of what is on offer.

“And the belief that the humble bicycle can help improve our health and inspire people with where it can take them. As I’ve said, nothing begins without a story, so it’s a real privilege connecting communities with stories that captivate us, that uplift us, and most importantly of all – inspire us to get out and ride.”

The Big Bike Film Night 2026 will screen in Dargaville on Monday at 6.30pm at the Anzac Theatre; in Whangārei on Tuesday at 6pm and 6.30pm at the Event Cinemas Whangārei; and in Kerikeri on Wednesday, 7pm at the Cathay Cinema.

For more information and to buy tickets visit www.bigbikefilmnight.nz