Yes our members are everywhere... WIFT member Catherine Madigan, Producer at Nikau Film Productions, is currently in Timor-Leste as a VSA volunteer 'Mentoring Producer/Production Team Mentor' in a small but very busy Production house in Dili.
Last week she was a guest at the BALINALE (Bali Film Festival) and was thrilled that she won the Best Audience Award for WHITE LIES.
Dana Rotberg, the Director, unfortunately was unable to attend but Catherine was just a couple of hours flight away in Timor-Leste. She was so was thrilled when the film won on the final night.
She says this was followed by a really interesting Q & A session where the audience didn't want to leave the cinema - they were very moved by the film.
Catherine also took part in a lunch-time panel discussion on WOMEN IN FILM which involved people from all around the world. She said the discussion became quite specific on how different countries understand the gender balance in our industry and the issues it faces.
The convenor, a young, enthusiastic French film maker referenced a new book 'The Celluloid Ceiling' . Catherine said several of the participants enjoyed debating the arguments in the book!
She also let the audience know that at one point in the last year, three films from NZ were accepted at the Toronto Film Festival and two of them were by women directors. (WHITE LIES, Dana Rotberg and BEYOND THE EDGE, Leanne Pooley).
Catherine's work in Dili is very exciting and challenging and we will have more on Catherine's work in the next E News so watch the profile slot!