NZIFF 2022: Feature Film Anthologies You Don’t Want to Miss

The New Zealand International Film Festival has announced a line-up of exciting New Zealand feature films that have been selected to screen at the festival so far. Part of the excitement of these two anthology films is how they spotlight many of our talented local filmmakers and present a diverse range of experiences and perspectives among our indigenous and people of colour.

World Premiere for Kāinga

Following the success of Waru and Vai, the trilogy completes with Kāinga. Eight Pan-Asian female filmmakers craft unique stories that chronicle the diverse, ever-changing experiences of Asians trying to make Aotearoa New Zealand their home.

In this anthology film set in a single house, DEGANZ members Michelle Ang, Ghazaleh Golbakhsh, Julie Zhu and Nahyeon Lee each directed one of the eight stories, alongside HASH, Angeline Loo, and DEGANZ alumni Asuka Sylvie and Yamin Tun. Nahyeon and Ghazaleh also wrote on the project, as well as fellow member Mia Maramara. The screenplay was also written by Mei-Lin Te Puea Hansen, Asuka Sylvie, Shreya Gejji, HASH and Angeline Loo.

NZ Premiere for We Are Still Here

This film is an unparalleled First Nations celebration. It interweaves eight stories by 10 directors from Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. That includes DEGANZ members Tim Worrall, Chantelle Burgoyne and board member Renae Maihi.

We Are Still Here is a poetic and powerful statement of resistance and survival, conceived as a cinematic response to the 250th anniversary of James Cook’s arrival in this region. The movie is a joint indigenous initiative between Screen Australia’s First Nations Department and the NZ Film Commission. The other directors involved are Beck Cole, Danielle MacLean, Dena Curtis, Richard Curtis, Miki Magasiva, Mario Gaoa and Tracey Rigney.

See the full list of films announced so far at NZIFF.

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DEGANZ Members Selected for Te Puna Kairangi – Premium Productions Fund

Congratulations to the DEGANZ members who are involved in projects green-lit in the final production funding round of Te Puna Kairangi – Premium Productions for International Audiences Fund. The fund was jointly administered by the three funding agencies: the NZ Film Commission, NZ On Air and Te Māngai Paho.

Creamerie (Drama Series 6 x 22min)

Audiences are in for another round of madness as Creamerie has been funded for a second season. Created by DEGANZ member Roseanne Liang, JJ Fong, Perlina Lau and Ally Xue, the black comedy will follow on from that cliffhanger.

Creamerie Season One is available to watch here.

After the Party (Drama Series 6 x 43min)

DEGANZ member Peter Salmon is set to direct this new drama series. After the Party follows Penny as her world implodes when she accuses her husband of a sex crime, and nobody believes her. Five years later, she must decide what’s more important – the truth, or rebuilding her relationship with her daughter. The series is being written by Dianne Taylor. Peter Salmon will also produce with Helen Bowden.

Escaping Utopia (Documentary Series 3 x 45 min)

Michelle Savill will serve as one of three directors, alongside Justin Pemberton and Natalie Malcon, on this documentary series that focuses on the question: what if your entire life was based on lies?

The Panthers (Drama Series 6 x 44 min)

Member Becs Arahanga, Halaifonua Finau and Tom Hern are the writers of Season 2 of The Panthers. The second season follows the Polynesian Panthers as they begin a new chapter of their lives; now juggling young families and jobs in the capitalist world, working for ‘The Man’. But the revolution waits for no one.

The Panthers Season One is available to watch here.

Congrats again to all of our members! We can’t wait to see your projects come to life.

See the full list of projects here.

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Aidee Walker Directs Kid Sister Now on TVNZ OnDemand

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Kid Sister has landed on TVNZ OnDemand! There are 5 episodes to binge now, directed by DEGANZ member Aidee Walker. The sitcom was created and written by New York-based Jewish Kiwi Simone Nathan, who also stars as the lead. Kid Sister follows Lulu, a loveable train wreck, as she goes on a crazy ride whilst trying to balance her love of her Jewish family and culture with finding her own path.

Congratulations to Aidee and the team behind the show. Positive reviews have started to roll in with The Spinoff’s Sam Brooke writing, “It’s a reminder that New Zealand doesn’t make enough of these kinds of personality-driven TV projects, shows that revolve around a singular highly watchable character.”

The experience for Aidee on Kid Sister was very different to the normal television model in New Zealand. She would describe it as director-led, thanks to the encouragement of producer Emily Anderton. Aidee spent nine months working on the show, including doing all the post production and sign offs with her producer.

Aidee’s directing credits for television include Mystic for CBBC and TVNZ, and local shows The Brokenwood Mysteries and Westside. She participated in DEGANZ’s inaugural Women Filmmakers Incubator in 2016.

Kid Sister was edited by Alex Boyd. Tammy Williams was the cinematographer and the show was executive produced by Harriet Crampton at Greenstone TV and Simone Nathan.

Watch Kid Sister here

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Screenlink: Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget – June 13

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We all want to make amazing work that looks exceptional. But what can you do when your budget doesn’t look so great?

Come and connect with us in Wellington on June 13 as we discuss this familiar challenge.

DEGANZ and NZCS presents a panel with:

Cinematographer Richard Bluck NZCS (Under the Mountain)
Cinematographer Jess Charlton (Loimata, The Sweetest Tears)
Writer/Director Sam Kelly (Savage)
Moderated by Director/Actor Katherine McRae (Water Baby)

With an abundance of experience between them across short-form and long-form projects, our panellists will offer invaluable insight. In Aotearoa, even minuscule budgets haven’t stopped us from producing extraordinary stories!

There will be time for questions from the audience as well.

WHEN: Mon 13 June, 7pm – 8:30pm
WHERE: Southern Cross Bar, 39 Abel Smith Street, Te Aro, Wellington

Cash bar with nibbles provided

DEGANZ / NZCS member – Free
Non-member – $10
Please register below

Our Payment and Cancellation Policy

Parking: Pay and display 2-hr max parking available on Abel Smith Street and Cuba Street. Car park building located nearby on Marion Street.

Orange Traffic Light Notes

For the safety of yourself and others:

  • Face masks are required to be worn indoors by all attendees.
  • Please do not attend if you are sick with COVID-19, cold or flu symptoms or have been asked to self-isolate.
  • We may shift the event to Zoom at the same date and time if COVID-19 cases are a concern and will notify all registrants.

Registration Form

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This event is presented by the Director and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand and the New Zealand Cinematographers Society as part of the Screenlink series.

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Rehearsal & Performance for Pan-Asian Directors & Actors

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DEGANZ and the Pan-Asian Screen Collective welcome screen directors and actors of Pan-Asian heritage for this Rehearsal & Performance workshop, led by actor/director Jennifer Ward-Lealand.

Pan-Asian participants will get to practise their craft in a fun, supportive environment; expand their knowledge of rehearsal processes; and discover language for rewarding collaborations.

Jennifer (Te Atamira) Ward-Lealand, CNZM, has worked extensively in theatre, film, television, musical and radio for 40 years. She is also an accredited Intimacy Coordinator (Intimacy on Set, UK) for stage and screen. Jennifer is a co-founder of The Actors’ Program and President of Equity New Zealand (since 2007). She is a patron of Q Theatre, Theatre New Zealand and the Te Manu Tīroriori Trust, and a trust board member of the Actors Benevolent Fund.

Her film work includes Desperate Remedies, Vermilion and Dead. TV and web series include Friday Night Bites, Xena: Warrior Princess and intimacy coordinator for Creamerie. She has directed a number of theatre productions and in 2021, directed her first short film, Disrupt, which has been accepted into three international festivals thus far. She is now in post-production as a co-director for the te reo children’s series, Poniponi.

Workshop Details

When: Saturday 18 June, 9:30am – 4pm

Where: St Luke’s Church and Community Centre, 130 Remuera Road, Remuera, Auckland

Cost: DEGANZ / PASC / Equity NZ members – Free
Includes lunch and tea/coffee

Our Cancellation Policy

Open to directors and actors of Pan-Asian descent who are members of either DEGANZ, PASC and/or Equity New Zealand.

Spots are limited as participants will break out into groups to rehearse scenes. We will be taking in five directors and ten actors. These include three standby and observer spots for one director and two actors.

If your name is selected, DEGANZ will contact you directly to confirm your participation.

Preparation

DEGANZ will provide scenes for the class at least one week in advance. Both directors and actors will be expected to do some script prep beforehand.

Orange Traffic Light Notes

For the safety of yourself and others:

  • Do not attend if you are sick with COVID-19, cold or flu symptoms or have been asked to self-isolate.
  • You must wear a surgical or medical-grade mask or higher when indoors. You do not need to wear a mask when acting, eating or drinking, or if exempt from wearing a mask. DEGANZ will supply you with a mask if you need one.
  • Please observe 1 metre physical distancing during scene work.
  • We may organise Rapid Antigen Testing at the start of the day. We will assess this closer to the date.

Register Your Interest

Registrations close Tuesday 7 June, 11AM.

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The Rehearsal & Performance Series is hosted by Directors and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand with the support of Equity New Zealand and funding from the New Zealand Film Commission

This workshop is part of a DEGANZ initiative aimed at supporting the development of new and emerging Pan-Asian, Pasifika and Māori directors

Presented in association with Pan-Asian Screen Collective

Logos NZFC, PASC and Equity NZ

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