WIFT NZ Events

Tuesday

Mar

2023

Christchurch

In Conversation with Pietra Brettkelly

Posted Tuesday 21 Mar 2023

Intrepid, tenacious and dedicated, Pietra Brettkelly is a three-times Oscar selected and Sundance award-winning NZ filmmaker and we're thrilled she's agreed to head south for this documentary-focused workshop in Christchurch.
Pietra's documentary features include Yellow Is Forbidden, A Flickering Truth, Māori Boy Genius, The Art Star And The Sudanese Twins and Beauty Will Save The World. In 2019 she received the inaugural New Zealand Arts Laureate in Documentary, and at the 2020 WIFT NZ Awards, Pietra won the South Pacific Pictures Award for Achievement in Film "for creating unique, intimate, beautiful cinematic works that open a window into another world".

Christchurch director Vanessa Wells will facilitate the discussion where Pietra will be shedding light on:

Why she chose documentary as the medium for her storytelling;
What makes a great documentary idea;
How to craft a powerful narrative within documentary;
How to navigate the funding process for documentary projects;
How to nurture a sustainable career as a documentary maker.

Pietra and Oscar nominated producer Chelsea Winstanley are running a Boosted campaign for her latest project, Crocodile, a coming-of-age documentary film about a group of Nigerian kids and young adults who are making their own sci-fi feature film.

Click here to support the Crocodile Boosted campaign

WIFT NZ members free; non members $15 cash; includes wine and nibbles.

The main entrance is off St Asaph St, but you're welcome to use the back door, off Welles St.

A note on parking: it should be easy on the street at that time of night, but take care of restrictions if you use the Wilsons or High St parking, they can be ruthless with tickets! You could park at the Smiths City park, behind The Welder after hours - but at your own risk.

RSVP essential to office@wiftnz.org.nz

Please note the earlier start time 5:30pm networking for a 6:00pm workshop start.

Date: Tuesday 21 Mar 2023
Location: Attraction Studio, 204 St Asaph St, Christchurch
Time: 5:30pm networking for a 6:00pm start

Tuesday

Mar

2023

Upcoming events...

Tuesday 15 Sep 2026

Opportunities and Choices in the age of AI (Auckland)

Trust, technology and storytelling in Aotearoa’s screen industry

As AI becomes part of everyday screen production, what choices remain in our hands, and where can Aotearoa lead the conversation?

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the screen industry at remarkable speed, with new tools influencing the workflows of every department. At the same time, storytellers, audiences and funders are grappling with questions about transparency, trust, authorship and creative autonomy.|

It is necessary that we discuss the implications for our industry. Just a few years ago, debate often centred on whether AI had been used at all. Today, the questions are more nuanced: how is AI being used, when does it matter, what should be disclosed, who benefits, and how do we maintain trust between audiences and creators as technology evolves?

WIFT NZ hosts a conversation with director and researcher Caroline Bell-Booth, whose Master’s research explores the categorisation and disclosure of AI-generated screen content, Amie Mills, Head of Funding at NZ On Air, and Steven Finnigan from award-winning Post Production house Images & Sound.

Moderated by producer and audience strategist Gemma Gracewood, together they’ll explore a central question: how can Aotearoa’s screen industry retain agency, build audience trust, and make thoughtful choices about the stories we tell and the technology we use?

CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Date: Tuesday 15th September
Time: Drinks from 6pm, panel from 6:30pm - 8pm.

Location: Images & Sound, 113 Grafton Road, Grafton, Auckland.

Free for WIFT members, $20 for non-members. Drinks & nibbles provided.

Auckland

Find out more >

Wednesday 16 Sep 2026

Opportunities and Choices in the age of AI (Wellington)

Trust, technology and storytelling in Aotearoa’s screen industry

As AI becomes part of everyday screen production, what choices remain in our hands, and where can Aotearoa lead the conversation?

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the screen industry at remarkable speed, with new tools influencing the workflows of every department. At the same time, storytellers, audiences and funders are grappling with questions about transparency, trust, authorship and creative autonomy.|

It is necessary that we discuss the implications for our industry. Just a few years ago, debate often centred on whether AI had been used at all. Today, the questions are more nuanced: how is AI being used, when does it matter, what should be disclosed, who benefits, and how do we maintain trust between audiences and creators as technology evolves?

WIFT NZ hosts a conversation with director and researcher Caroline Bell-Booth, whose Master’s research explores the categorisation and disclosure of AI-generated screen content, Amie Mills, Head of Funding at NZ On Air, and Liam Craig, Programme Manager, Technology & Research, Wētā FX.

Moderated by producer and audience strategist Gemma Gracewood, together they’ll explore a central question: how can Aotearoa’s screen industry retain agency, build audience trust, and make thoughtful choices about the stories we tell and the technology we use?

CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Date: Wednesday 16th September
Time: Drinks from 6pm, panel from 6:30pm - 8pm.

Location: Wētā Workshop Space, 129 Park Road, Miramar, Wellington

Free for WIFT members, $20 for non-members. Drinks & nibbles provided.

Wellington

Find out more >

Sunday 27 Sep 2026

WIFT Special Screening + Q&A: Big Girls Don't Cry

Miss it at NZIFF? Now's your chance to catch Big Girls Don't Cry (2026) before it hits cinemas in October. And you better believe the hype - the film is FANTASTIC!

Co-Produced by WIFT member Vicky Pope, Big Girls Don't Cry played to a full house at the Civic for its NZIFF debut. It has travelled to some of the most competitive festivals on the international circuit including Sundance and SXSW and received the Grand Prix at the 2026 Biarritz Film Festival.

WIFT and Madman are hosting an exclusive preview screening, followed by a Q&A with Writer and Director Paloma Schneideman and lead actor Ani Palmer, moderated by Kate Rodger.