Wednesday
27
Sep
2023
In Conversation with Briar Grace-Smith

In Conversation with Briar Grace-Smith

Posted Thursday 31 Aug 2023

Briar Grace-Smith is one of Aotearoa’s most prolific and celebrated creatives, writing poetry, books, scripts and plays. She also directed the second season of television series Rūrangi, which won an International Emmy for best short-form series.

She wrote, starred in and co-directed the screen adaptation of Patricia Grace’s best-selling novel Cousins (2021), which is only the third feature film written and directed by Māori women, following Mauri by Merata Mita in 1988, and Waru, the anthology film which Grace-Smith also co-directed.

In this conversation Briar will discuss:

  • How she has created a pathway to success as both writer and producer.
  • What challenges she often faces and how she navigates them.
  • What she looks for in a story and creative partnership.
  • What she considers the issues currently facing writers and directors.
  • How co-directing provides an alternative path to making films.

Facilitator: Robin Laing

Producer Robin Laing is the founding president of WIFT NZ, and founding Chair of The New Zealand Film and Television School in Wellington. Awarded an MBE in 1993 for her services to the New Zealand film industry, Robin began producing films in 1985 with Mr Wrong, the first of many projects with director Dame Gaylene Preston. Robin was part of the producing team on Niki Caro's adaptation of The Vintner's Luck (2009), she produced The Heart Dances, the feature-length documentary directed by Rebecca Tansley that follows the creation of a ballet based on movie The Piano, and co-produced Poppy, directed by Linda Niccol, the first Kiwi feature to cast an actor (Libby Hunsdale) with Down syndrome in the starring role.

RSVP to office@wiftnz.org.nz

WIFT NZ members FREE; Non-members $20, Students $10; includes wine and nibbles.

Date: Wednesday 27 Sep 2023
Location: Taia Studios, 4 Bay Rd, Kilbirnie, Wellington
Time: 6pm drinks for a 6:30pm start

Wednesday
27
Sep
2023

Upcoming events...

Tuesday 06 May 2025

REBATE 101 AUCKLAND : An introduction to the NZ Screen Production Rebate

WIFT and Ngā Aho Whakaari present

REBATE 101: An Introduction to the NZ Screen Production Rebate  

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

Anyone who has a budget over 2 million $ needs to know about the production rebate!!

You’ve heard of it - but what does it mean for you and your work?         

Even if you’re not quite ready to apply for the NZSPR, now is the perfect time to learn from the experts about how it might help finance your project.

Delivered by NZFC : Mel Read, Senior Incentives Executive; and Jennifer Wilton and Marc Ashton, Co-production and Incentives Executives.

This interactive wānanga will cover:

  • Introduction to the Co-Production and Incentives Team
  • Overview of the NZSPR  
  • Eligibility criteria for New Zealand productions
  • Application requirements and process   
  • Official Co-Productions and the NZSPR  

To get the most out of the workshop we recommend that you do some pre-reading here: New Zealand Screen Production Rebate for New Zealand Productions

And then bring your questions for our panel of specialists from the NZFC.

YOUR SPECIALISTS ARE:

Mel Read
 - Mel has been with the NZFC’s incentives team since 2017, as an administrator of the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate for both domestic and international productions.

Jennifer Wilton - Jennifer Wilton has worked with the Co-Production and Incentives Team at the NZFC since 2023 and assesses applications for both the NZSPR and Co-production Certification.

Marc Ashton - Marc Ashton has been with the NZFC’s Co-Production & Incentives team since August 2024. This follows a previous role with the NZFC’s Funding team with a background in Film and TV production both here and overseas.

FREE FOR WIFT AND NAW MEMBERS.  $20 FOR NON MEMBERS.

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

Wednesday 07 May 2025

REBATE 101 WELLINGTON : An introduction to the NZ Screen Production Rebate

WIFT and Ngā Aho Whakaari present

REBATE 101: An Introduction to the NZ Screen Production Rebate  

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

Anyone who has a budget over 2 million $ needs to know about the production rebate!!

You’ve heard of it - but what does it mean for you and your work?         

Even if you’re not quite ready to apply for the NZSPR, now is the perfect time to learn from the experts about how it might help finance your project.

Delivered by NZFC : Mel Read, Senior Incentives Executive; and Jennifer Wilton and Marc Ashton, Co-production and Incentives Executives.

This interactive wānanga will cover:

  • Introduction to the Co-Production and Incentives Team
  • Overview of the NZSPR  
  • Eligibility criteria for New Zealand productions
  • Application requirements and process   
  • Official Co-Productions and the NZSPR  

To get the most out of the workshop we recommend that you do some pre-reading here: New Zealand Screen Production Rebate for New Zealand Productions

And then bring your questions for our panel of specialists from the NZFC.

YOUR SPECIALISTS ARE:

Mel Read
 - Mel has been with the NZFC’s incentives team since 2017, as an administrator of the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate for both domestic and international productions.

Jennifer Wilton - Jennifer Wilton has worked with the Co-Production and Incentives Team at the NZFC since 2023 and assesses applications for both the NZSPR and Co-production Certification.

Marc Ashton - Marc Ashton has been with the NZFC’s Co-Production & Incentives team since August 2024. This follows a previous role with the NZFC’s Funding team with a background in Film and TV production both here and overseas.

FREE FOR WIFT AND NAW MEMBERS.  $20 FOR NON MEMBERS.

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

Thursday 08 May 2025

REBATE 101 NATIONAL: An introduction to the NZ Screen Production Rebate

WIFT and Ngā Aho Whakaari present

REBATE 101: An Introduction to the NZ Screen Production Rebate - ONLINE VIA ZOOM

SECURE YOUR SPACE FOR THIS ZUI HERE

Anyone who has a budget over 2 million $ needs to know about the production rebate!!

You’ve heard of it - but what does it mean for you and your work?         

Even if you’re not quite ready to apply for the NZSPR, now is the perfect time to learn from the experts about how it might help finance your project.

Delivered by NZFC : Mel Read, Senior Incentives Executive; and Jennifer Wilton and Marc Ashton, Co-production and Incentives Executives.

This interactive wānanga will cover:

  • Introduction to the Co-Production and Incentives Team
  • Overview of the NZSPR  
  • Eligibility criteria for New Zealand productions
  • Application requirements and process   
  • Official Co-Productions and the NZSPR  

To get the most out of the workshop we recommend that you do some pre-reading here: New Zealand Screen Production Rebate for New Zealand Productions

And then bring your questions for our panel of specialists from the NZFC.

YOUR SPECIALISTS ARE:

Mel Read
 - Mel has been with the NZFC’s incentives team since 2017, as an administrator of the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate for both domestic and international productions.

Jennifer Wilton - Jennifer Wilton has worked with the Co-Production and Incentives Team at the NZFC since 2023 and assesses applications for both the NZSPR and Co-production Certification.

Marc Ashton - Marc Ashton has been with the NZFC’s Co-Production & Incentives team since August 2024. This follows a previous role with the NZFC’s Funding team with a background in Film and TV production both here and overseas.

FREE FOR WIFT AND NAW MEMBERS.  $20 FOR NON MEMBERS.

RSVP HERE

Wednesday 14 May 2025

Animating Aotearoa: A Conversation on Craft and Creativity - CHRISTCHURCH

In Conversation: Animation in New Zealand with Fiona Copland and Vanessa Wells

SECURE YOUR SEAT HERE

Join filmmaker and theatre practitioner Vanessa Wells as she sits down with renowned producer Fiona Copland for an insightful discussion on developing animation in New Zealand. 

Drawing on Fiona's extensive experience producing the acclaimed series Kiri and Lou, this conversation will explore the creative process behind New Zealand’s vibrant animation scene, the challenges of producing high-quality children’s content locally, and the global success of homegrown projects. 

A unique opportunity to hear from two industry experts on the growing impact of Kiwi animation, both home and abroad.

Fiona Copland 

Fiona Copland is a distinguished New Zealand producer with over three decades of experience in film and television. She is best known for producing the award-winning animated series Kiri and Lou, which has earned international acclaim, including a BAFTA nomination and numerous international awards. Copland’s career also includes producing films like The Strength of Water, the 90’s cult classic Topless Women Talk About Their Lives, The Price of Milk and others. She has also produced and directed documentaries and factual series.

Vanessa Wells 

Vanessa Wells is a filmmaker and theatre practitioner with over 20 years’ experience in the arts industry. She has collaborated on award-winning interactive works, feature-length and short documentaries, including multi-disciplinary projects focused on Antarctica. Vanessa is also the Co-Vice President of WIFT NZ and is currently working on her second feature documentary, Mighty Indeed — a story about three remarkable women and their work on the sea ice.

SECURE YOUR SEAT HERE

 

Programme is brought to you with generous support from the NZ Film Commission and Foundation North.