Archive Sep 2020

Local democracy reporting editor
Radio New Zealand

Production coordinator (Bilingual English Chinese) LBE
Weta Workshop

Experienced journalist - The AM Show
Media Works New Zealand

Audio production engineer
MediaWorks

Designer/videographer
Straker Translations

Visual content creator
Otago District Council

Personal assistant, LBE
Weta Wor…

Watch the work of many talented WIFT members in New Zealand's most popular short documentary initiative! Loading Docs has returned with a brand new collection of eight short documentaries, five of which are helmed by WIFT members, and most of which involve memb…

Producer Letisha Tate-Dunning | Director Charlottte Evans

Millennial MP, Chl�e Swarbrick, challenges the establishment during the most important year of her political career.

In a momentous year, Aotearoa's youngest MP vows to radically change the political status quo from within. But beh…

Producer Ruth Korver | Director Ashley Williams

To celebrate the adventurous life of her late Uncle Clive, Ashley Williams takes a leap of faith and learns to fly. A decade after his death, Ashley takes off on an emotional journey of reconnection. Foll…

Producer Nicola Bailey

One Year On follows former refugee and community advocate, Guled Mire in the lead up to the one-year commemoration of the Christchurch mosque attacks. When the event is overshadowed by a national health crisis, frustration starts to grow at…

Director Gwen Isaac

A science superhero with pink hair wages war on COVID-19 to convince an entire nation to lockdown.

With time running out to fight the oncoming pandemic, an unconventional expert delivers vital information to a panicked public. Go behind-the-scenes as D…

Producer Karen Sidney

Kauri are dying. A traditional M?ori healer has one last chance to save an entire forest, one tree at a time.

A devastating disease threatens to destroy Aotearoa's last remaining Kauri trees. Standing in the way of losing these prehistor…

Christchurchians and Wellingtonians get in quick because award-winning filmmaker Leanne Pooley's Auckland classes sold out fast! Leanne's two-day classes will cover every stage of creating a documentary, from the initial idea to realising the final film.

Christchurch 19 & 20 September

Wellington 26 & 27 S…

The Golden Nugget International Film Festival has been rescheduled to Thursday 29 October 2020. Coordinated by music and arts champion Emme Lentino, the Festival's mission is to introduce to the talented and passionate filmmakers new opportunities for networking, collaboration, distribution and continuing education and trai…

Here's a shout out to Libby Hunsdale, star of the feature film Poppy, who is one of three Attitude Youth Courage Award finalists. The Awards celebrate the achievements of the disability community, and Libby's section is for a young person with a disability…

Director Rachel Ross features in today's Video Slot. Rachel directed the music video for Mountain Boy's Morning Heat. Mountain Boy sounds great to work with - Rachel says he gave her full creative reign! This is only the second music video she's ever …

Aotearoa New Zealand's screen sector has launched the Screen Sector Strategy 2030, a 10-year roadmap designed to grow the sector's resilience, collaboration and capability.

The development of the Strategy spanned more than 15 months, starting when the Prime Minister on behalf of the Government called…

Here's a call to action for screen and creative industry businesses and individuals! Do you want to access your share of the $40 million new government support for small to medium business owners who need expert advice in the face of Covid-19 challenges?

ATEED, inc…

Screenwriters, you have until 13 September to enter the BlueCat 2021 Screenplay Competition! Now in its 23rd year, BlueCat remains committed to the undiscovered writer and continues its tradition of providing written analysis on every script submitted. And you could win cash! The Fellini A…

If you're an employer, you'll appreciate this free HR workshop. Specialists from Employsure will explain the changing employment legislation in this new Covid environment. Morning tea is provided.

Topics covered:

Legislative changes

Triangular employment

Hygiene and safety

Unfair dismissal and disciplinary processes

Grab your phone and start filming a one-minute creative masterpiece for the Mobile Film Festival! This year's theme is Women's Empowerment, and we'll let festival founder Bruno Smadja explain what that could mean to you:
"The questions could be specific to your country…

Science, history and natural history content producers and creators, registration for Congress '20 is open! This not-to-be missed event has moved online and will run from December 8 to 10, 2020.

Congress brings together leading international creators of science, history and natural history conten…

Ding ding! Round two of these writer-only feature film script development grants, is open! Proudly funded by NZ Film Commission and brought to you by the New Zealand Writers Guild, the Seed Grants represent an opportunity for writers to be innovative, brilliant, and to be exc…

Imagination TV is looking for an experienced production manager for a new factual series, starting in October thorough until mid-2021. Experience setting up large scale and logistically challenging shoots with multiple cameras would be a definite advantage. For further information please contact the producer…

Do you want to be part of the next wave of world class and world recognised creative animators from Aotearoa? Māoriland 'Ahi' Tech Creative Hub (M.A.T.C.H.) is based at the Māoriland Hub in Ōtaki. In October MATCH will launch its first training programme for rangatahi…

Here's your chance to engage with trailblazing international and female showrunners from the comfort of your own couch! Register now for the second season of The MediaXchange's webinars and workshops.

Each speaker (six are still to be announced) will address their experience in evolvi…

2020 looks to be the year traditional media audiences are overtaken by digital media audiences, according to NZ On Air's Where Are The Audiences? 2020 research.

The findings make sobering reading, with the global digital giants both fragmenting audiences and overtaking most local platforms…

Producer Vicky Pope maintains her latest film Savage, released in New Zealand 10 September, is about compassion, despite its rather brutal title and violent trailer. Inspired by stories from New Zealand's boys' homes and the early history of our gangs, Savage follows Danny…

Congratulations to producer Olivia Shanks whose short Workshop was selected for this year's Venice Film Festival. Made in collaboration with Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School and directed by Toi Whakaari graduate Judah Finnigan, the film is up against 11 others in the fe…

Here's a selection of the many exciting workshops and panel sessions you'll be able to sink your teeth into at the upcoming Big Screen Symposium!

Mulan production design master class

Academy Award winning production designer Grant Major will explain how he created th…

There are still some spaces in the upcoming ScreenSafe/SWAG Screen Industry Professional Respect Training workshops. The course will address sexual harassment and harassment, definitions, disclosures, and respectful behaviours in the workplace. While it is designed primarily for Producers, Directors, and Heads of Departments, …

Filmmakers, here's an opportunity to contribute to one - or two - books. Arezou Zalipour, Associate Professor Communication Studies Department of Screen Production Auckland University of Technology has put out a call for screen practitioners to write a chapter for either of the two b…

Screenrights has announced a record seven projects, including two New Zealand initiatives, will be supported by its 2020 Cultural Fund. The total funding amount increased from $250K to $295K for this year's initiatives, submitted around the focus of 'New Voices'.

Among the five recipient…

Move over feature films, it's time to spotlight the shorts! Show Me Shorts has released its 2020 programme and it's a cracker: 75 short films and three music videos. There are 11 collections of films and eight of those will play in cinemas a…

The BFI and BAFTA have produced a report that identifies innovations across five key areas to reduce carbon emissions in film production, with a view to zero emissions by 2050, according to Variety.com. The report identifies the areas of industry improvement are production materials, energy and …

K?pere Hou Fresh Shorts is open for applications, but this year the application process has been changed, making it simpler for teams to apply.

Script to Screen and the NZFC will hold an online Q&A webinar about this new application process for K?pere Hou - …

Congress '20, presented by the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers, will be held online from December 8 to 10.

Registration for Congress '20 includes:

Exceptional interactive sessions and panels, as well as dynamic virtual networking events

On-demand access to recorded content unti…

It's the perfect theme for a film for WIFT members! The Mobile Film Festival seeks applications addressing feminist issues in a positive, constructive, and 'activist' way. As usual the challenge is to create one film that lasts just one minute with one mobile, and …

Support your fellow WIFTers with a funding Boost! Writer director Jane Ballentyne, producer Isobel Mebus and director of photography Jess Charlton would love your help with their project Dandelion, a film that reflects on the experience of supporting the person you love in their…

What effect is Covid-19 having on the arts, culture and creative sectors? Te Taumata-Toi-a-Iwi, Auckland's Arts Regional Trust, would really appreciate your help to understand the impact six months on from the first lockdown, and in these early weeks that follow the second lockdown.

Are our young people engaged in caring for our world? Are they creative storytellers? We'd like to say a resounding YES! The Someday Film Challenge is for anyone under the age of 25 to have a crack at making a short film and entering i…

SAE Creative Media Institute Auckland is opening its doors in October to everyone interested in pursuing a career in the film, music and audio production industries.

The Open Day event will be on Saturday 3 October from 10am - 3pm at the Auckland …

The next Doc Edge Clinic, Bye Bye Baby, explores the arts of delivery, distribution and exhibition. Give your next creation a flying start by tapping into the smarts of Vendetta's Jill Macnab, American festival strategist Kathleen McInnis, plus two more people TBC.

Cl…

It's just eight days until the Māoriland Film Festival 2020 MFF202 kicks off! Festival manuhiri can expect screenings at the Civic Theatre, Māoriland Hub and Raukawa Marae, an exhibition at Toi Matarau Gallery and Creative Technology at M.A.T.C.H - the Māoriland Tech Creative Hub. In…

The December round is for production applications intended to appeal to general audiences. This is the third funding round of the financial year - there have already been two significant rounds for general and targeted audiences. NZOA says these first two rounds alone will li…

Scriptwriters, join Stella Reid (BURBS, Second Unit), Abi King Jones (The Fifth Eye, Operation 8, Hot Air) and mentor and film producer Vicky Pope (Savage, Gardening with Soul, Two Little Boys) in a discussion about scriptwriting in relation to The Write Room Wellington script…

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has announced new representation and inclusion standards for films to meet in order to be eligible in the best picture category. Variety.com reports that for the 94th and 95th Oscars ceremonies, scheduled for 20…

The Academy has made a set of rules for best picture nominees that almost every film already meets. So will they lead to any actual change, asks Steve Rose for The Guardian.

Click here to read the full a…

Congratulations to Alyx Duncan, Emma Slade, Lani-rain Feltham and Michelle Powles whose project Tenderwood has been selected for the Attagurl programme. Australia's For Film's Sake announced the 13 feature projects lined up to participate in the first edition of its Attagurl lab, aimed at cre…

The Oscars' new guidelines designed to promote diversity and inclusion both in front of and behind the camera are inspiring confusion and controversy as studios and filmmakers try to figure out what the mandates mean for their movies. No worries, Variety's Clayton Davies has …

It may only be September, but it's already time to start thinking about the 2021 Doc Edge Festival! The winners of Doc Edge's Best International and NZ Short and Feature documentary awards qualify for Oscar consideration. Check the deadlines below and put registering on …

In the lead up to the Pacific Music Awards 2020 the NZ On Air Music team has been chatting to finalists who are up for the NZ On Air Best Pacific Video Award. First up is Lou'ana for Eye to Eye directed by…

We were thrilled to hear Academy Award-winning costume designer and long-time loyal WIFT NZ member Ngila Dickson talking about her career on Red Carpet Rookies, a new podcast series. Launched across iTunes, Spotify and Google Podcasts, the series aims to provide exclusive behind-the-scenes access to…

Miss Juneteenth follows Turquoise Jones (Nicole Beharie - Little Fires Everywhere, Sleepy Hollow, The Good Wife, Shame), a single mother in Fort Worth who wants her 15-year-old daughter, Kai (newcomer Alexis Chikaeze), to win the Miss Juneteenth pageant, an annual competition that awar…

If you missed Saturday's virtual event Championing Female Storytellers - The Women Behind Mulan, with Kiwi director Niki Caro (pictured above left) and director of photography Mandy Walker, here's the link to the recorded version. It's well worth watching!

Click here …

Local democracy reporting editor, Wellington
RNZ

Senior production manager
Maori Television

Editor/writer
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Content producer, news
TVNZ

Creative producer sport
TVNZ

Lead Creative, Location Based Entertainment
Weta Workshop

Communications manager / Kaiwhakahaere Whakap?nga
The Auckland Arts…

Director Leanne Pooley's latest documentary, The Girl On The Bridge, is about the making of a web series on the suicide of a young girl called Jessica. Called Jessica's Tree, the web series is made by Jazz Thornton, who recounts the last 24 ho…

Reporter/producer, Seven Sharp 
TVNZ

Line up producer, Te Karere
TVNZ

Camera operator
TVNZ

Broadcast media operator
MediaWorks

Junior video editor
MediaWorks

Financial accountant
Great Southern Television

Caption producer
Able

Video producer
Private advertiser

Lighting technician
Radiant Lighting

Office manager/coordinator
Filmfx Co

Strategic…

From the pen of BAFTA award-winner Jo Brand, The More You Ignore Me is a big-hearted, comedy-drama about an unconventional British family.

Gina (Sheridan Smith) is a vibrant and loving young mother whose declining mental health separates her from her husband Keith (Mar…

Catch the newest movies from Germany, Austria and Switzerland! The Goethe-Institut is trialling a hybrid version of the German Film Festival this year, with one-off in-cinema screenings where possible, as well as online screenings.

The festival runs from 22 September - 30 Novemb…

Congratulations to DEGNZ, Annie Collins, Tema Pua and all the team who contributed to this invaluable resource. The DEGNZ Workflow Best Practice Guide for Editors and Producers is an online resource covering the full production Workflow, from before budgeting and seeking funding, through pre-producti…

It's time to celebrate short film! As is the new normal for film festivals these days, Show Me Shorts includes a mix of in-cinema and online screenings. The SMS team recommends you book ahead to avoid disappointment because capacity is reduced at most ven…

Grab your phone and start filming a one-minute creative masterpiece for the Mobile Film Festival! This year's theme is Women's Empowerment, and, as always, you can only use one phone, and the film must be one minute, including credits. You have until October 20, …

Producers, M?ori Television has created a useful template and guide on how to propose a programme concept. The Reo M?ori language template, to be added into the full proposal stage of upcoming funding rounds, is additional to language plan requirements of Te M?ngai P?ho.…

The countdown has begun to the SPADA Awards! This year's recipients will be announced at the Award ceremony on Thursday 22 October 2020, and will be followed by a Cocktail Function (tickets on sale here).
Last year Matasila Freshwater picked up the award fo…

Grab your tickets for the New Zealand Television Awards and join the industry in celebrating the sector's successes. Time to dust off your best outfit! Finalists will be announced 22 October, so watch this space!

When: 6pm on the Red Carpet, followed by a …

Congratulations to Magnolia Lowe whose Water-Rapuhia, kimihia: Quest for knowledge documentary series for Newsroom has picked up three official selections at international film festivals and two Award finalist laurels! The series has also been selected for the NZ Web Fest 2020.

Water-Rapuhia, kimihia is a…

Check out the stellar array of film industry professionals in conversation online during the Aesthetica Film Festival! There are some fantastic masterclasses - here are just two of the many available:

Iconic Cinema: Andrea Arnold in Conversation
Andrea Arnold (above left) …

Equity New Zealand, the actors guild, invites you to a political panel next Monday. Put your burning questions to the politicians, and hear them outline how they intend to support sustainable careers for people working in the performing arts. The confirmed line-up includes:

Associate Mi…

Sci-fi fans, check out Vendetta Films' Alien Addiction, available online now for your home viewing pleasure! This home-grown sci-fi comedy stars WIFT member Thomas Sainsbury and was among the Official Selection at the Sci-Fi London Festival, and featured among the Official Selections…

Here's a great opportunity to encourage the next generation of filmmakers! The E Tū Whānau Rangatahi Film Challenge is open to rangatahi Māori aged 12 - 24. Tell your story about what it means to be rangatahi Māori and have your film screen at Māoriland…

Good Pitch aims to create an ecosystem of change via social impact documentary projects. A global programme initiated by Doc Society (UK) in partnership with Sundance Institute and Ford Foundation, it's a productive hub connecting documentary filmmakers with new kinds of partners across society, off…

Before you get too accustomed to rescheduled event announcements, here's a very important one to mark in your diary:

The WIFT Awards are happening on 3 December, 2020, 7pm at the ASB Waterfront Theatre!! Get ready for a party - we need one!! 

C…

South Pacific Pictures' much-loved series The Brokenwood Mysteries has found a new home on TVNZ. The show formerly aired on Prime Television. The seventh series will see six (two hour) episodes produced for broadcast in 2021. The Brokenwood Mysteries currently screens on 21 channel…

It's great to see that Kelly Moneymaker's short documentary Vaka, made the final selection at the Krakow Green Film Festival in Poland, and has been nominated for Best Short Documentary at the Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival (KLEFF).

Made by Massey University Media Production students,V…

Baby, Done follows Zoe (Rose Matafeo) and Tim (Matthew Lewis) who resolve to not let parenthood change them. But while Tim runs towards being a dad, wannabe adventurer Zoe is still determined to tick off a list of their wildest dreams before th…

Indigenous filmmakers wherever you are in the world, now is the time to submit your film to the M?oriland Film Festival 2021. M?oriland exists to uplift the perspectives and stories of Indigenous peoplesand so invites film, video, digital and interactive media work and artwork …

Let's hear it for producer Emma Mortimer who is a finalist for the Show Me Shorts Festival! Mortimer's music video Career by Wax Chattels is up for the New Zealand On Air Best Music Video.

The Oscar-qualifying festival has 18 short films nominated across eight…

It's great to see so many positive reviews about Roseanne Liang's feature Shadow In The Cloud!

The film, Liang's second feature, had its world premiere as a midnight drive-in screening as part of the 45th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival earlier thi…