Tom Augustine Selected for 2022 Tāhuna Writers Residency

Our congrats goes to Tom Augustine (DEGANZ) who is one of five recipients selected to take part in the 2022 Tāhuna Writers Residency. The residency was created by Great Southern Television and the Queenstown Lakes District Council, with the support of the NZFC and NZOA.

The one month residency will include workshops with leading screen practitioners, accommodation and coverage of living costs. The writers will each develop a concept for a scripted drama series to be based and produced in the Queenstown Lakes.

Philip Smith, CEO of Great Southern Television, states how thrilled they are by the calibre and range of participants in their inaugural workshop. They are eager to take these writers on the journey and provide them with the resources and the insights to make their creative visions reality.

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Members’ Films to Have International Premieres at Berlinale

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We are excited for member Michelle Savill (DEGANZ Incubator 2018) whose debut feature film, Millie Lies Low, will have its international premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival (February 10-20), as part of the Generation programme.

So far, Berlinale has announced ten features and seven shorts invited to play in Generation. According to the festival, the films selected in this programme stand out for the unconventionality and willpower of their protagonists.

Directed and co-written by Michelle, this comedy drama film finds protagonist Millie using fantasy, charm and typical NZ humour to fake a life in New York, one that she would have been living if she hadn’t missed her flight. As a secret shadow to her own life, she learns a lot that she would rather not have known. Listen to Michelle talk to RNZ about how her own experience influenced the story.

In other good news, Datsun is set to have its international premiere at Berlinale as well. The short film follows 14-year-old Matt as he takes his late father’s car on one last tour before its sold. It was edited by DEGANZ member Luke Haigh.

Congratulations again to our members!

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Moas Come Back to Life in Music Video Directed by Dan Eady

Port Chalmers Indie rock band Seafog has released the music video for their latest single title Influences. Directed and produced by DEGANZ member Dan Eady (pictured left), the music video features beautiful views of the Otago harbour and some of Dunedin’s iconic musical locations. A life sized Moa also stars, the costume courtesy of the Otago Museum.

Seafog comprises Robin Sharma, Nigel Water, Martyn Sadler and Andrew Barsby. Having met through Dunedin Teachers College, these longtime friends and collaborators have been gigging around Ōtepoti since the 90s.

Influences is the lead single on their upcoming album, Slow Death. Speaking to CMPNZ, Sharma says the song is a shout out to the Dunedin Sound they love and to their friends and whānau — all of whom have influenced them.

 

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Members Announced as Recipients of Competitive Seed Grants

The NZWG announced the recipients of the second round of Seed and Seed Advanced for 2021 late last year, with many of our members’ faces among them!

Well done to David Hay and DEGANZ Incubator alumni Nahyeon Lee and Stella Reid, who are all recipients of Seed grants. One of the most competitive writer-only grants for draft feature film scripts in NZ, this round of Seed received 148 applications.

Congrats also goes to member Jesse Griffin who is one of only two recipients of the Seed Advanced grants.

Nahyeon Lee – Vile Abjection

David Hay – Shadowboxer

Stella Reid – The Band of the True Prophet

Jesse Griffin – Childish

Congratulations to all our members again!

See the full list here

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Short Film The Finding by Rebecca Tansley Garners More Festival Selections

Congratulations to DEGANZ member Rebecca Tansley whose film, The Finding, has garnered a further three more film festival selections. The Finding is in the Oscar qualifying Silver Princess Competition for Best Fiction Film at the In The Palace International Short Film Festival in Bulgaria (February 26-March 5).

The Finding will also screen at the upcoming Dam Short Film Festival in Boulder City, Nevada (February 10-14), and the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival in California (April 6-13).

Written and directed by Rebecca Tansley, The Finding follows a teenager’s efforts to reconnect with her estranged father, forcing them both to confront a dark secret from their past.

Find out more about the film and watch the trailer here

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