2024 Call for Applications: DEGANZ Emerging Women Filmmakers Incubator

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The Directors and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand is now accepting applications for the eighth Emerging Women Filmmakers Incubator.

In 2024, the talent-focused development programme will mentor a selection of women directors from Aotearoa New Zealand.

Background

The vision of the Incubator is to empower participating directors with confidence, knowledge and connections. The Incubator is intended for emerging debut directors of feature film (drama or documentary) and will also consider those wishing to establish careers in TV drama and scripted content.

Applicants must apply with a project; however, the Incubator will be focused primarily on filmmaker development rather than project development.

The objectives of the Incubator are:

  •   Increase the number of women directing features and TV drama.
  •   Connect producers, broadcasters, funders and other industry professionals with women directors with a view to getting stories from women’s perspectives into and through development.
  •   Create networking opportunities for women directors to further their projects and careers.
  •   Inspire and encourage directors to passionately pursue feature film and drama directing careers through interaction with successful filmmakers who serve as role models.
  •   Improve directors’ understanding of the business of film and television drama.

Workshops

Participants will attend five one-day workshops across 2024, the first of which is scheduled to take place in March. All workshops are intended to be held in Auckland, and a travel allowance will be available for participants based in other regions.

The workshops are individually themed to provide specific knowledge, networks, skills, and inspiration that enable participants to advance themselves and their careers. As the global screen industry continues to undergo change, DEGANZ will remain flexible as to the content of the programme and aim to incorporate information and opportunities that are relevant.

 

Eligibility

All applicants should have a considerable level of directing experience with scripted content, such as acclaimed web series, shorts with festival success, TV commercials, or broadcast content. 

Applicants must:

  1. Have an active project (feature film, documentary feature, telefeature, TV/online drama or scripted series) in development that has never been presented to a broadcaster or funder. It is preferable that the project is at least at first draft script but if not available, there must be a detailed Writer’s Treatment (10 – 20 pages) for the project, if a narrative feature, or a pitch document for a documentary feature. A Director’s Treatment that includes style, tone, imagery, etc. is not requested, but can be supplied in addition to the Writer’s Treatment. For a TV or web series, a pitch deck with series outline, character descriptions and synopsis of first episode is required. The applicant does not have to be the writer on the project.
  2. Have experience as a director of scripted content (drama, comedy) or documentary in the form of the project they are submitting (i.e., if you are applying with a narrative drama project, you must have experience directing narrative drama, or if it’s comedy, experience directing comedy, etc.)
  3. Have a directing credit on one of the following:
  • a short film selected for one of the NZFC’s Recommended Short Film Festivals, the New Zealand International Film Festival, Show Me Shorts Film Festival or Doc Edge Festival.
  • a commissioned, scripted one-off or series by a broadcaster or digital platform.
  • a self-funded web series that has won or been nominated for an award at a recognised festival.
  1. For feature films, applicants must be a debut director.
  2. Be available to participate in all workshops.
  3. Identify as a woman.
  4. Be an NZ Citizen or permanent resident.

Membership

Successful applicants must be DEGANZ Full members for at least the duration of the Incubator programme.

 

Selection Process

A selection panel will shortlist candidates. Shortlisted candidates must be available for a one-on-one interview via Zoom in mid-February. Getting an interview does not imply that you have been selected for the Incubator.

If shortlisted, you will be expected to immediately supply the required written documents prior to the interview.

The Incubator participants will be selected from the shortlist following the interview.

Decisions will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.

 

How to Apply

Application Deadline: 10AM, Wednesday 31 January 2024

 

Application Requirements:

  1. A completed DEGANZ Women Filmmakers Incubator Application Cover Sheet.
  2. A 1-page synopsis of the project with the ending revealed.
  3. A maximum 2-page letter stating what your career goals are and why you want to participate in this Incubator.
  4. A 1-page bio (not a CV).
  5. A filmography and any additional links to completed work that supports your experience and the project you are including with this application.

 

Compile your documents into a single PDF file* in the order matching requirements 1 – 5.

Give your PDF the following naming convention:

 

(YourName)_DEGANZWomenFilmmakersIncubator_2024

 

Send your application to admin@deganz.co.nz with DEGANZWFI2024 in the subject line.

* Online PDF merge tool

 

The Incubator is made possible thanks to the generous support of the New Zealand Film Commission.

NZFC


Questions about the Incubator?

Tui Ruwhiu
Executive Director
tui@deganz.co.nz
+64 21 659 950

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Six Directors Chosen for Incubator 2023

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The Directors and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand is pleased to announce the lineup of directors chosen for the Emerging Women Filmmakers Incubator 2023.

The participants selected for our seventh year of the Incubator will go through a series of one-day workshops designed to advance their projects and move them more rapidly towards sustainable careers as directors in the screen industry.

The DEGANZ Incubator was started to address the paucity of female directors in scripted content and feature film in New Zealand. Since its beginning in 2016, 48 female directors, including this year’s intake, have been selected for the programme, with many continuing to advance and make significant achievements in their directing careers across features, commercials, TV drama, scripted shows, online content, and documentary.

We congratulate this year’s intake on their selection and thank all who applied to take part.

About the Participants

Jaya Beach-Robertson is a Pakeha emerging writer/director residing in Tāmaki Makaurau. Born and raised in Seattle, USA, she moved to Whakatū, Aotearoa, at the ripe age of nine with her family. Her protagonists are outsiders, othered, always flawed, and land somewhere on the spectrum of unusual to outright strange – a genuine reflection of herself and her upbringing. In 2016 she released the first season of PSUSY, a self-funded web series that premiered internationally at the New Orleans Film Festival. The still self-funded second season of PSUSY won best web series at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Through this win, she gained representation with a literary manager at Silver Lining Entertainment. In 2022, Jaya directed the 10-part docu-series for RNZ’s TAHI Point of View (a.k.a. POV) that looks into the lives of young people in small-town Aotearoa. Later that year, she assisted the showrunner on the second season of HBO Max’s Our Flag Means Death. She has contributed to writers’ rooms for Kevin & Co, Greenstone TV, and i te ahiahi.

Victoria Boult (Ngāi Tahu) is a director, writer and development producer based in Tāmaki Makaurau. After undertaking a Bachelor of Arts (Honours I) in English Literature and Film Theory at the University of Sydney, Victoria became the Development Executive at Great Southern Television in July 2020. External to Great Southern Television, Victoria has written on Ahikaaroa (nominated for Best Writer at the 2022 NZ Web Fest Awards), storylined on a number of television series, and was selected to participate in SPADA’S Collaboration in Action workshop (2021), the Show Me Shorts Development Lab (2023) and Screen Canberra’s POD program (2023). She was the Trainee Director on the documentary Swipe With Caution (TVNZ, 2022) and was shortlisted for Fresh Shorts (2023) with her short film Invisible Dragons, which she wrote and will direct. The outcome of this is pending. In November 2021, Victoria was selected for the NZOA/Screen Australia/Tik Tok Every Voice initiative and received $50,000 to write/direct her series, n00b. n00b was released in July 2022 and, thus far, has garnered over 12,000 followers, 1.5 million views and 11,000 likes.

Ella Gilbert (Rongowhakaata/Ngāti Kahungunu) is based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara and works as an actor, acting coach, theatre and filmmaker. She is a graduate of Toi Whakaari and trained with Araitepō, a Mātauranga Māori high performance leadership programme. Last year Ella wrote and directed the short film Mary Mary, which screened at the prestigious Clermont-Ferrand Festival – Short Film Market Picks 2023. Her previous films, made on Super8mm with collective Don’t Shoot Films, have screened and successfully competed in London, Portugal, Mumbai and Aotearoa. Ella is currently in residence with Write Room Wellington, a three-month screenwriting residency. She is in the thick of draft one of her debut feature, The Desert Road. Ella is proud to be an artist in Aotearoa.

Isla Macleod was awarded NZ Broadcasting School’s Julian Walker Scholarship as the top graduate of her year. She has a Masters Degree in Screenwriting from Victoria University’s IIML and received the Project Scholarship for her thesis feature screenplay and travelled to the Globe Theatre, London, for a summer internship. She won the nationwide New Blood; funding competition and co-created/ wrote/ directed a web series called Oddly Even for TVNZ onDemand. She was selected for the 2022 Tahuna screenwriter’s residency in Queenstown and has directed video packages of Dancing With the Stars NZ as a Field Director. She has directed several short films and has several projects in development with HODs attached. This year she has commenced training at TAP’s Director’s intensive, which grants two spots every second year for a dedicated and practical year led by industry leaders. She is driven to tell stories that challenge perspectives, often working with themes of duality and resilience.

Harriett Maire is a Tāmaki Makaurau-based director with work spanning across commercials, film, theatre and documentaries. Harriett began as a trained actor before realising her true calling was on the other side of the process. In 2015, she graduated as Television and Screen Production graduate of the year at AUT. Her projects have won awards internationally, and her first short film continues to tour the world seven years after its initial release. With a holistic understanding of storytelling, Harriett is known for creating comprehensive and empathetic works. Her performance-directing style highlights subtle nuances and detailed characterisation. Harriett’s passion for storytelling and her ability to bring out the best in her actors make her a sought-after director in the industry.

Jaimee Poipoi (Ngati Kahungunu/Ngāpuhi) has worked on a range of projects over the past nine years, from local films like Red, White, and Brass (2023) to international tent pole films like the next Avatar movies (2022 & 2024). Once described as a creative Swiss army knife, she created/directed the RNZ Investigative comedy series ConspiraSeries (2022), co-hosted/directed the 70s-themed RNZ comedy Podcast, The Art of Entertaining (2022), and has produced and directed many films through her company Electric Shoelace Productions – including two animated short films Who Sneezed and Star Sailors which are set to premiere at this year’s Māoriland Film Festival (2023). Naturally drawn to unique and interesting stories, Jaimee aims to create content with a focus on diverse people through a comedic lens.

Made possible with the financial support of

NZFC

ASDACS logo

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2023 Call for Applications: DEGANZ Emerging Women Filmmakers Incubator

,

The Directors and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand is now accepting applications for the seventh Emerging Women Filmmakers Incubator.

In 2023, the talent-focused development programme will mentor a selection of women directors from Aotearoa New Zealand.

Background

The vision of the Incubator is to empower participating directors with confidence, knowledge and connections. The Incubator is intended for emerging debut directors of feature film (drama or documentary) and will also consider those wishing to establish careers in TV drama and scripted content.

Applicants must apply with a project; however, the Incubator will be focused primarily on filmmaker development rather than project development.

The objectives of the Incubator are:

  •   Increase the number of women directing features and TV drama.
  •   Connect producers, broadcasters, funders and other industry professionals with women directors with a view of getting stories from women’s perspectives into and through development.
  •   Create networking opportunities for women directors to further their projects and careers.
  •   Inspire and encourage directors to passionately pursue feature film and drama directing careers through interaction with successful women who serve as role models.
  •   Improve directors’ understanding of the business of film and television drama.

Workshops

Participants will attend five one-day workshops across 2023, the first of which is scheduled to take place in March. All workshops are intended to be held in Auckland, and a travel allowance will be available for participants based in other regions.

The workshops are individually themed to provide specific knowledge, networks, skills, and inspiration that enable participants to advance themselves and their careers. As the global screen industry continues to undergo change, DEGANZ will remain flexible as to the content of the programme and aim to incorporate information and opportunities that are relevant.

 

Eligibility

All applicants should have a considerable level of directing experience with scripted content, such as acclaimed web series, shorts with festival success, TV commercials, or broadcast content. 

Applicants must:

  1. Have an active project (feature film, documentary feature, telefeature, TV/online drama or scripted series) in development that has never been presented to a broadcaster or funder. It is preferable that the project is at least at first draft script but if not available, there must be a detailed Writer’s Treatment (10 – 20 pages) for the project, if a narrative feature, or a pitch document for a documentary feature. A Director’s Treatment that includes style, tone, imagery, etc. is not requested, but can be supplied in addition to the Writer’s Treatment. For a TV or web series, a pitch deck with series outline, character descriptions and synopsis of first episode is required. The applicant does not have to be the writer on the project.
  2. Have experience as a director of scripted content (drama, comedy) or documentary in the form of the project they are submitting (i.e., if you are applying with a narrative drama project, you must have experience directing narrative drama, or if it’s comedy, experience directing comedy, etc.)
  3. Have a directing credit on one of the following:
  • a short film selected for one of the NZFC’s Recommended Short Film Festivals, the New Zealand International Film Festival, Show Me Shorts Film Festival or Doc Edge Festival.
  • a commissioned, scripted one-off or series by a broadcaster or digital platform.
  • a self-funded web series that has won or been nominated for an award at a recognised festival.
  1. For feature films, applicants must be a debut director.
  2. Be available to participate in all workshops.
  3. Identify as a woman.
  4. Be an NZ Citizen or permanent resident.

Membership

Successful applicants must be DEGANZ Full members for at least the duration of the Incubator programme.

 

Selection Process

A selection panel will shortlist candidates. Shortlisted candidates must be available for a one-on-one interview via Zoom in mid-February. Getting an interview does not imply that you have been selected for the Incubator.

If shortlisted, you will be expected to immediately supply the required written documents prior to the interview.

The Incubator participants will be selected from the shortlist following the interview.

Decisions will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.

 

How to Apply

Application Deadline: 10AM, Friday 27 January 2023

 

Application Requirements:

  1. A completed DEGANZ Women Filmmakers Incubator Application Cover Sheet.
  2. A 1-page synopsis of the project with the ending revealed.
  3. A maximum 2-page letter stating what your career goals are and why you want to participate in this Incubator.
  4. A 1-page bio (not a CV).
  5. A filmography and any additional links to completed work that supports your experience and the project you are including with this application.

 

Compile your documents into a single PDF file* in the order matching requirements 1 – 5.

Give your PDF the following naming convention:

 

(YourName)_DEGANZWomenFilmmakersIncubator_2023

 

Send your application to admin@deganz.co.nz with DEGANZWFI2023 in the subject line.

* Online PDF merge tool

 

The Incubator is made possible thanks to the generous support of the New Zealand Film Commission.

NZFC


Questions about the Incubator?

Tui Ruwhiu
Executive Director
tui@deganz.co.nz
+64 21 659 950

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Michelle Savill to Direct on Netflix Hit Series Sex Education

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Congratulations to DEGANZ member and Incubator alum Michelle Savill who is directing on the fourth series of much loved Netflix series Sex Education. Season 4 is currently filming in Wales.

While not much is known about what episodes or how many episodes Michelle is directing, after the end of last season it is sure to be an entertaining season. Sex Education is a comedy-drama series that follows the lives of the students, staff and parents of the fictional Moordale Secondary School.

Season 4 is created and written by Laurie Nunn. Other directors on Season 4 are Dominic Leclerc (UK) and Alyssa McClelland (AU).

You can also catch Michelle Savill’s debut feature Millie Lies Low in cinemas nationwide now.

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Series Big Hair, Don’t Care Premieres Tonight

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From member Mīria George, one of this year’s participants in the Emerging Women Filmmakers Incubator, comes Big Hair, Don’t Care, a documentary web series. Its three episodes will be free to stream on Moana Nui, a specialist Indigenous-led digital theatre built by Shift72. The first episode premieres tonight.

Big Hair, Don’t Care contributes to documenting the creative work of women across the stage and screen landscape. It features multiple award-winning stage and screen artists: Riwia Brown (Ngāti Porou, Taranaki Whānui), DEGANZ member Dianna Fuemana (Mutalau, Niue; Pago Pago, American Samoa), Sarita Keo Kossamak So (Khmer, Aotearoa) and Moana Ete (Ngāti Wheke, Ngāti Whatua Ōrakei & Lalomalava, Savai’i, Sāmoa).

It is created and directed by Mīria George (Ngāti Kearoa, Ngāti Tuarā, Te Arawa; Te Tawera, Ngāti Awa; Tumutevarovaro; Enuamanu; Kūki ‘Āirani). Wellington-based editors Timon Zeiss and Erin Murphy cut the series, which was filmed in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington in February 2020.

What began as a performance installation presented first in Hilo, Hawai’i, and then later in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa, in 2017, soon evolved away from the live – and in the digital. The series looks to share kōrero of equity and visibility for wāhine Māori, va’ine Pasifika and wāhine tauiwi while addressing systemic issues throughout the stage and screen industry.

Enjoy Big Hair, Don’t Care for free on Moana Nui until 22 January 2023.

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