The 2008 New Zealand International Arts Festival, one of the biggest in the southern Hemisphere -- opened here on Friday.The biennial festival features more than 800 artists from 35 countries over three weeks. It is New Zealand's largest cultural event and will end on March 16.Performances range from ballet and opera to circus acts to theater.Artists were welcomed with a traditional powhiri followed by speeches and responded with bagpipes and break dancing on Friday morning at the launching ceremony.Festival artistic director, Lissa Twomey, said earlier that the opening weekend would showcase the critically acclaimed Black Watch, a play about the Scottish regiment's experiences in Iraq.Chekhov's Three Sisters, arguably the greatest play of the 20thcentury, would also be showing.Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett directs the Sydney Theater Company's production of Blackbird, which scooped a 2007 Olivier Award for Best New Play.New Zealand classical music highlights include Jenny McLeod's new work The Poet, commemorating Janet Frame's status at the cornerstone of New Zealand literature.The first festival was held in 1986.