Wift NZ Events

There are many reasons these days why a filmmaker may find themselves shooting their own footage: think Dame Gaylene Preston following Helen Clark at the United Nations, Briar March for Dame Valerie Adams: More Than Gold or Rachel Currie on the TVNZ docuseries Unbreakable.

Come along to this event, bring your camera and join our panel of Dame Gaylene, Briar and Rachel as they discuss the pros and cons of directing as the camera person with broadcast quality in mind. This is an interactive workshop. FUN and instructive!!! Clips will be screened!

About the panelists:

Briar March
Briar March is an award-winning filmmaker and previous Fulbright scholar whose works are grounded in a passionate desire to connect, foster debate, and inspire social change. Her films have been broadcast on major television networks around the world, and are regularly exhibited in film festivals. Her work includes  documentaries Mothers of the Revolution, There Once Was An Island, A Place To Call Home, Smoke Song, Dame Valerie Adams: More Than Gold. She is currently completing a short drama called I See You.

Dame Gaylene Preston
Dame Gaylene Preston is one of New Zealand's most valued filmmakers, with a screen career spanning four decades. She has writer, director and producer credits covering feature films, documentaries and TV drama series. Many, including War Stories, Bread And Roses, Mr Wrong, and Home By Christmas, are classics of New Zealand cinema. Her documentaries, recognised as taonga - national treasures, include Lovely Rita, Making Utu, Getting To Our Place, (co-directed with Anna Cottrell) Earthquake, and her 2017 documentary My Year With Helen which follows former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark while she is campaigning for the role of UN Secretary-General. 

Rachel Currie
Producer/director Rachel Currie (pictured) is the head of Storymaker, a creative independent production company dedicated to telling great stories through bold ideas. A former journalist, Rachel has been creating unique high-end factual programming for over two decades, including content for broadcasters such as BBC, Channel Four,  ITV and TVNZ. Storymaker’s projects include How Not To Get Cancer, a series of four prime-time documentaries for TVNZ, and Unbreakable, a seven-part series about people with disabilities.

RSVP essential  to office@wiftnz.org.nz

WIFT NZ brings you this special in-depth conversation with executive directors Sandy Gildea from the Screen Producers and Developers Association (SPADA) and Tui Ruwhui from the Directors and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand (DEGANZ). In their executive and advocacy roles in the screen industry, Sandy and Tui have a unique insight into successful producer-director collaborations. Join them to explore: 

• Finding the right collaborator as a producer or director.
• Understanding the parameters of your role and ensuring your contracts reflect these.
• Establishing healthy boundaries as a producer and director.
• Maintaining a healthy collaborative relationship that lasts beyond one project.
• Where does creative control lie between producer and director?

Moderator: Rouzie Hassanova

Rouzie Hassanova is an award-winning writer/ director based in Aotearoa New Zealand after 20 years in London. Currently freelancing as a Development Producer at Sweetshop & Green, Rouzie  is also a creative leader with over 15 years of experience in international film finance, distribution, production, post-production and development. Having worked at Libertine Pictures, the New Zealand Film Commission, Great Southern TV, Mister Smith Entertainment, and HanWay Films, she brings market and storytelling insight.

Panelists:

Sandy Gildea


Tui Ruwhui 
Tui Ruwhiu (Ngāpuhi) started in TV as a production assistant working overseas, before setting up a line production company working in TV commercials. He went on to write, direct, produce and executive-produce in corporation communications, news and travel programming, then established a boutique marketing communications company. He returned to the screen industry primarily as a film producer, at the same time working as Executive Director at DEGANZ.

RSVP essential to office@wiftnz.org.nz

The call for entries for the WIFT NZ Awards 2024 is now live! This is our chance to shine a spotlight on women in the screen industry, to celebrate their achievements, and to honour them. Click here to nominate a deserving woman today!

The WIFT NZ AWARDS Categories for 2024 are:

SOUTH PACIFIC PICTURES AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM

This Award recognises significant achievement with a short or feature film released in the last three years locally and/or internationally. This award can be won more than once. To be eligible, film(s) associated with the nominee must have been released between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2023 and had some measurable impact. Particular weighting will be given to positive critical reception, box office success and international profile and achievement.

SAE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING NEWCOMER

This Award recognises exceptional talent in a woman under 30 years old working in the New Zealand screen industry. As WIFT NZ is a pan-industry organisation this talent may be in any field, whether behind or in front of the camera.

HINTERLAND WOMAN TO WATCH AWARD

This Award recognises a woman with an emerging body of work who shows the potential to have a significant career in the industry.

IMAGEZONE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD

This Award recognises exceptional business achievement and is given to a woman who has demonstrated business acumen and entrepreneurial vision in establishing a sustainable financial enterprise, contributing to the future health and viability of the New Zealand film and television industry.

Particular weighting will be given to evidence of a sound business approach, international presence and activity, and significant turnover with leveraged investment in product that delivers sustainability.

IMAGES & SOUND AWARD FOR SUCCESS IN TELEVISION AND DIGITAL

This Award recognises a woman who has had a significant impact or achievement in any aspect of TV or Digital media between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2023.  This award can be won more than once.

PROFESSIONAL LIGHTING SERVICES AWARD FOR UNSUNG HEROINE OF THE NZ SCREEN INDUSTRY

This Award honours long-term contributions behind the scenes, which ensure successful projects and provide essential support to colleagues. This award can only be won once.

Particular weighting will be given to women who are generally ineligible for other Awards but whose work is critical to achievement, and to women who have demonstrated collegial support for other women in the industry.

TE MĀNGAI PĀHO TE REO MĀORI CHAMPION AWARD

This Award honours a production company or individual whose work makes a significant contribution to the increased use and knowledge of Te Reo Māori me ngā tikanga.

Particular weighting will be given to creative approaches and/or to innovative programming which has a measurable impact on the profile of Māori on screen.

WARNER BROS.DISCOVERY AWARD FOR MOANA EXCELLENCE IN THE SCREEN INDUSTRY 

This Award recognises an outstanding contribution by a Moana Pasifika woman in any field in the Aotearoa/New Zealand screen industry. It's a new award and we're proud to offer it with the support of the Tautai Pacific Arts Trust.

QUEENSTOWN CAMERA COMPANY CRAFT AWARD

This Award recognises outstanding achievement in craft in film, TV or digital media production, between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2023, especially those working in the more traditionally male-dominated sectors, e.g. camera, sound, lighting, grips, stunt work, set design.

NB This is not an award for post-production. There is a separate award for post.

WETA CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY AWARD

This Award recognises outstanding achievement in creativity in post-production in film, TV or digital media from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2023. Nominee job titles could include for example: Editor, Colourist, Sound Editor, ADR Recordist, VFX Artist, VFX Supervisor, VFX Editor, Animator, Compositor.

GREAT SOUTHERN FILM & TELEVISION AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE NZ SCREEN INDUSTRY

This Award honours long-term outstanding work, generous support for others, and commitment to the growth of the industry both professionally and personally. This Award can only be won once.

The WIFT NZ Awards is an event designed to celebrate the achievements of women in the industry, provide a special networking opportunity, and act as a source of fundraising for the ongoing work of the organisation.  It has become renowned for quality, affordability and great celebration and fun!

The biennial Awards are attended by a mixed audience of leading industry practitioners, friends and supporters, and currently enjoy sponsorship support from:

 South Pacific Pictures

Great Southern Film & Television

Images & Sound

Imagezone

Hinterland

Queenstown Camera Company

Professional Lighting Services

SAE Creative Media Institute 

Te Māngai Pāho

Warner Bros. Discovery

Wētā FX 

and FAT Lighting