April Phillips is a filmmaker who doesn’t do things by halves. In fact, she does things in twos.
The WIFTNZ member is a writer, director and producer with eight award-winning, internationally screened short films to her name, and in 2025 she completed two feature films. Getting just one feature onto the big screen is an achievement in itself, but last year was a particularly busy one — and now both films are heading to China.
Back in 2016, the 8th New Zealand Film Festival in China selected five short films to screen in Beijing, Qidong and Shenzhen. Two of those five films were Phillips’ own: the contemporary drama Letter For Hope and the period drama Utu Pihikete, both of which she wrote, co-produced and acted in.
After writing, directing and producing her next two successful short films, R.E.M. and The Last Man on Earth, Phillips moved into feature filmmaking — and both of her latest projects have now been selected to screen at the 10th New Zealand Film Festival in China later this month.
Blind Panic is a crime thriller directed by Mark Willis and produced by Matthew Mawkes. It had its world premiere in New Zealand in October as part of the Terror-Fi Film Festival and has since received a global digital release. The film stars Erroll Shand (The Twelve) and Jodie Hillock (Shortland Street). Phillips worked on the film as Script Consultant, Music Supervisor and Co-Producer. The Beijing festival will mark the film’s Asian premiere.
1978 is a quintessentially Kiwi story of a family fighting battles on two fronts: one set against the backdrop of the Māori land protests, and the other in a country school where a group of mischievous kids fight to save it from closure. Phillips co-wrote and co-directed the film alongside filmmaker Isaac Lee (The Haka), and will attend the festival in Beijing with one of the film’s stars, Mark Hadlow (The Hobbit). The Beijing screening will mark the film’s world premiere and will open the festival at a gala ceremony ahead of its cinema release in Aotearoa New Zealand.
“April is a talented all-round creator, and I have great admiration for her genuine passion, solid professionalism and outstanding work across film and the arts. I’m delighted to be partnering with her for the 10th New Zealand Film Festival & Carnival taking place in China this June. I also look forward to working together again on future Chinese film festivals here in New Zealand,” says Rachel Qi, Chief Executive of the New Zealand–China Film Festival.
The 10th New Zealand Film Festival in China opens in Beijing on 26 June 2026.
Congrats April!