Welcome to this Year’s DEGANZ Board

Welcome to the 2023-2024 DEGANZ Board, elected at the recent AGM on 21 October!

Thank you to returning members Robyn Paterson (President), Steven Chow (Vice-President), Phil Gore (Treasurer), Margot Francis, Rāhera Herewini-Mulligan (Ngāi Tūhoe/Ngāi Tai/Te Whānau a Apanui), Celia Jaspers, Te Rurehe Paki, Ben Powdrell, and Gaysorn Thavat together with our three new members for taking on another year of advocating for Aotearoa’s directors, editors, and assistant editors.

We warmly welcome new members, Chris Dudman, Justin Scott (Ngāpuhi), and Rebecca Tansley.

Chris Dudman

Chris Dudman

Chris Dudman’s film-making career started in 1990 when ‘Blackwater Summer’, his graduation film at the Royal College of Art in London, was nominated for a Student Oscar and went on to win numerous international awards. He spent several years directing and editing arts documentaries for television in the UK before moving back to New Zealand. He has written and directed one off documentaries and documentary series for New Zealand television including New Zealand at War, Zoo, Protecting the Border and the critically acclaimed, The Day That Changed My Life. He directed two NZFC short films – The Graffiti of Mr. Tupaia and Choice Night – and he was also the lead director and co-writer of Harry, the gritty TV3 crime series starring Sam Neill and Oscar Kightley. More recently directed two episodes of James Patterson’s true crime anthology drama series Murder Is Forever for Discovery ID USA and the dramatic sequences in the award-winning TVNZ docu-drama By the Balls. Chris has also directed Television commercials throughout his career, firstly with Silverscreen and then through his own production company Robber’s Dog Films. His latest offering is New Zealand’s favourite ad of the moment, the three-legged dog for Trustpower.

Justin Scott

Justin Scott (Ngāpuhi) is a Director and Producer who prides himself in sharing stories from underrepresented communities. As a Queer, Māori, Neurodiverse man living with ADHD, his practice often touches upon stories from these communities and explores intersectionality. Currently, Justin is working as a director and associate producer for upcoming TVNZ series Four Go Flatting – following four young men with intellectual disabilities tackling flatting and independence for the first time. He has been working as a director for Sunday morning series Attitude for the past four years, also directing on the company’s children’s show George and Me for HEIHEI, and intersectional series What’s the Disabili-tea for RNZ. Alongside his directing work, Justin has produced numerous short films with a Te Ao Māori focus including He Hekenga Tūhura and HAKA HAHA. Both of these films have had successful international festival runs, with both premiering internationally at the world’s largest indigenous film festival ImagineNATIVE in Toronto. Prior to his work in the documentary space, Justin cut his teeth working in Children’s television including Let’s Get Inventin’ and Sticky TV.

Rebecca Tansley

Drawing on a long career in storytelling across the media Rebecca has been focused on telling stories for the screen for more than ten years as a director, writer and producer working across documentary, drama and the performing arts. Her award-winning documentaries Crossing Rachmaninoff and The Heart Dances have screened at festivals around the world, in cinemas throughout New Zealand and on Netflix and HBO respectively. Her film of a live opera, Semele, won a 2022 NZTV award for best Entertainment Programme while her short film of the same year, The Finding enjoyed more than a dozen festival outings including Academy Award-accredited In the Palace and Show Me Shorts. Her latest film with NZ Opera, The Strangest of Angels, premiered in the New Zealand International Film Festival in 2023 and was awarded Special Mention for Extraordinary Artistic Achievement at the 60th Golden Prague International Television Festival. Rebecca is currently developing her third feature documentary and has a feature screenplay in development.

A special thank you to Caroline Bell-Booth, Sam Kelly, and Annie Collins, who are stepping away after dutifully serving on the board.

You can see this year’s board’s bios here!

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20+ DEGANZ Members as NZTV Award Finalists

The New Zealand Television Awards (NZTVA) announced the finalists for 2023, with over 20 DEGANZ members’ mahi receiving nominations.

Each year, the NZTVA recognise and honour the excellence, special skills, and unique talents of those working in television. This year, the awards will be held in Tāmaki Makaurau on 5 December.

Check out the DEGANZ finalists in the list below:

Screen Auckland Best Director: Drama / Comedy Drama

Jesse Griffin

Educators 

South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ+ and TVNZ 2

Best Editing: Documentary or Factual

Cushla Dillon

No Māori Allowed

Kindred Films / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

Emma Patterson

Kids Wired Differently

Ruckus / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

Best Editing: Drama / Comedy Drama

Jonno Woodford-Robinson

One Lane Bridge

Great Southern Television / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

NZ On Air Best Drama

The Brokenwood Mysteries

South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

Directors: Katie Wolfe (Ep1), David de Lautour (Ep2), and Jacqueline Nairn (Ep5)

Editor: Kerrie Roggio (Ep1 and 5)

The Gone

Kingfisher Films / Keeper Pictures / Southern Light Films / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

Director: Peter Burger (Ep3 and 6)

Best Comedy

Homebound 3.0: Season 1 Episode 1

Kevin & Co / Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ / ThreeNow and Three

Starring: Michelle Ang (Incubator 2020)

Educators: Season 3 Episode 1

South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ+ and TVNZ 2

Director: Jesse Griffin

Co-Creator: Jackie van Beek

NZ On Air Best Documentary

No Māori Allowed 

Kindred Films / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

Editor: Cushla Dillion

Best Original Reality Series

The Walkers: Season 2 Episode 3

Hi Mama Productions / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+

Editor: Huhana Ruri-Panapa

Best Format Reality Series

The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes

Great Southern Television / TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+

Editors: Tibor Riddering and Steven Chow

The Dog House NZ 

South Pacific Pictures / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+

Assistant Editor: Megan Robinson

NZ On Air Best Children’s Programme

Mystic

Libertine Pictures & Slim Film + TV / TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+

Director: Peter Burger (Ep5-8)

NZ On Air Best Pasifika Programme

Inky Pinky Ponky: Season 1

Tikilounge Productions / The Coconet / Whakaata Māori

Co-director: Ramon Te Wake

Best Sports Programme

Scratched : Aotearoa’s Lost Sporting Legends

Hex Work Productions / The Spinoff

Field Director: Piata Gardiner-Hoskins

Best Entertainment Programme

Ka Pō, Ka Ao Rob Ruha with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra

Satellite / Whakaata Māori

Editor: Ben Chesters

 

It’s great to see so many familiar names on the list!

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Bop to the Top of the South Film Festival

The Top of the South Film Festival is returning for its ninth year, with films from DEGANZ members Danika Leigh Ciullo and Brian Gill in the ‘The Savage and Savage Aotearoa‘ programme.

Danika’s short, Shredded, follows two young men when one must race the clock to find a missing phone number to save his best friend’s life.

In Solitaire, written and directed by Brian, a desperately lonely security guard’s playing cards come to life during a game of solitaire.

The festival is Top of the South Filmmakers Incorporated’s (TSF) primary annual fundraiser. This year’s festival director, appointed by the TSF Executive Committee, is fellow member Douglas Brooks.

TSF is a non-profit collective of filmmakers from across the Nelson, Marlborough, and Tasman regions looking to push the boundaries of creativity in film. The society aims to support the growth of the film industry in the region by facilitating professional development opportunities for filmmakers and providing opportunities for them to showcase their films and techniques.

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MistyFlicks Picks DEGANZ Members

The Misty Flicks Film Festival is featuring multiple DEGANZ members’ mahi this November. The festival highlights films shot in the Waikato and Central Aotearoa regions or that have a connection with these regions through cast and crew. Other films can also screen at the festival if the team behind them will attend the festival to present a workshop at the festival.

The programmers chose films of various genres and styles to bring an eclectic visual experience for festival attendees. Along with the numerous screenings, the festival also hosts workshops, panels, and social events for filmmakers and film buffs to enjoy.

Shorts Programme 1

Mothering Sunday

A horror, dark comedy short where terrifying revelations are made during a Mother-Daughter argument.

Director: Liv McClymont

Under Cover

In this dark comedy thriller, two women are tasked with unravelling the mystery behind their friend’s shady boyfriend, only to stumble upon a web of shocking secrets.

Director: Guillaume Arnoulet

Minimally Invasive

An anxious patient fears his concerns are being ignored when his routine operation yields unexpected findings.

Director & Editor: Adam Harvey

Shorts Programme 2

Proud Hooligan

In this AI-generated story, James and his unlikely companion, Helen, must stand up to the proud hooligan, Roy Randall. I mean, who else is going to defend those elderly ladies? Along the way, James learns about love, true friendship, and the need to get better at hiding his deadly knives.

Director & Editor: Guillaume Arnoulet

For Thom

An isolated teenage girl suffering from suicidal thoughts and depression tries to reconnect with her best friend Milly in an attempt to fix her fragile mental state.

Director: Rafa Yam

Editor: Guillaume Arnoulet

Feature Film

Real Cowboy

A fresh new comedy! Jimmy wants to be a Real Cowboy, but there is so much to learn, staying on your feet and well, staying alive for a start!

Director: Kevin R. Luck

 

In addition to screening in their respective programmes, both Minimally Invasive and Proud Hooligan are featuring in the festival’s Short Film Showcase. These films represent the best of the shorts programmes and are finalists for the Best Short award this year.

Congratulations to everyone selected!

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Taylor’s Directorial Debut at PÖFF

DEGANZ member Loren Taylor‘s directorial feature debut, The Moon is Upside Down, is having its world premiere at the 2023 PÖFF Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. The film will screen in the First Feature Competition, a collection of first films of promising talents.

The Moon is Upside Down, written by Loren, follows three women as they navigate an unfamiliar landscape and the contours of the human heart. First, there’s Natalia, a duped mail-order bride. Then, there’s Briar, a numbed anaesthetist determined to have a romantic weekend. Last is Faith, an empty nester on an unexpected mission of mercy.

PÖFF describes the film as “a must-watch, a thought-provoking examination of connection, loneliness, and the unpredictable twists of fate.” It also praises Loren’s directing for blending humour and introspection, allowing audiences to connect with the characters, identifying with their loneliness, yet laughing out loud at their surreal circumstances.

Being selected for PÖFF is not to be taken lightly as it is one of the 15 A-list festivals accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Association, alongside Cannes, Venice, and other world-renowned festivals.

Congratulations Loren! We look forward to the Aotearoa premiere in 2024.

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