DEGANZ member Curtis Vowell is currently directing Seize Them!, a British comedy financed by Entertainment Film Distributors, which will handle the UK and Ireland release. According to Collider, the movie has begun principal photography in London and will take six weeks to shoot in Kent and Wales.

Starring Amiee Lou Wood (Sex Education), Loffy Adefope (Shrills), Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz) and Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton), the comedy is set in the dark ages and follows Queen Dagan as she is toppled by a revolution led by Humble Joan. Queen Dagan must face up to hardship and danger to win her kingdom back.

Curtis adds Seize Them! to his directorial filmography, alongside New Zealand movies Baby Done and micro-budget feature Fantail.

Crime thriller short, MUNKIE, is having its online premiere at Short of the Week on March 25. Directed and edited by DEGANZ board member Steven Chow, MUNKIE follows a daughter’s violent plan of revenge against her overbearing parents as it spins out of control.

MUNKIE screened across the world at various film festivals such as Fantasia, Boston Underground, NZIFF and San Diego, where it won Audience Choice Short. The short film is finally arriving online and will be available on Short of the Week from 3am NZDT tomorrow. Check out the MUNKIE Instagram page for behind the scenes insights and more details.

Congratulations to Steven and the team behind MUNKIE.

Fightback – Joseph Parker, an intimate documentary on the Kiwi heavyweight boxer, is now streaming on NEON. Produced and directed by Leanne Pooley (DEGANZ) for DAZN Originals (UK), the film follows Parker as he prepares for his fight against Derek Chisora in 2021.

Leanne brings us a charming side of Parker, guaranteed to make you both laugh and cry. Watch as Parker navigates a new coach, new country and a new start.

Catch Fightback – Joseph Parker on NEON.

A panel of speakers in front of a festival audience.

We are excited to have partnered with CLIPPED Music Video Festival to support directing and editing talent behind New Zealand’s top music videos!

As its name suggests, CLIPPED Music Video Festival is the only festival in Australia and NZ dedicated to celebrating the music video art-form and the creators behind them.

A one night only event this year, the Festival is set to showcase the high calibre works in the Music Video Awards Competition, award over AU$20,000 worth of prizes, and feature artist and filmmaker Q&As.

DEGANZ is putting its support behind the NZ awards categories for Best Directing and Best Editing. We would like to congratulate all of the awesome Top 10 New Zealand finalists! The winning directors and editors will be chosen from among the Top 10.

 

 

On Friday 25 March, CLIPPED 2021-22 will be taking place at Ritz Cinemas in Randwick, Sydney. But for folks in Aotearoa, you can tune into the live streamed event with the NZ finalists screening at 9pm NZDT.

DEGANZ members can also attend the live stream for free! Check out the Industry Events in our member newsletter out Thursday for a link to VIP tickets.

Production company Eight has welcomed Charlotte Evans (DEGANZ) to its list of directors.

A recent top finalist at the 2022 Clipped Music Video Awards with her MV for Benee’s Happen To Me, Charlotte is continuing her commercial work with Eight. Outlined on the mad-daily website, she spoke of her move to the production house:

“I’m looking forward to pushing my creative boundaries on commercial projects with them and creating a body of work that we can all be proud of.”

Charlotte started her career in London working as an assistant editor. After 14 years in editing, she moved into the directorial space. She has since gone on to make several award-winning projects both overseas and here in New Zealand.

She joins other DEGANZ members Jamie Lawrence and Josh Frizzell at Eight.

Congratulations Charlotte, we are looking forward to seeing your future work.