Tag Archive for: Loading Docs

Members’ Films Feature in Latest Season of Loading Docs

The latest Loading Docs season titled The Power of Emotion has been released on the Loading Docs website. Eight short documentaries make up the collection, including films made by DEGANZ members Sophie Black, Harry Wynn, Ashley Pitman, Rajneel Singh, and Vea Mafile`o.

Sophie Black directed Believing is Seeing, which explores the mysterious phenomenon of mass psychogenic illness. With the help of Dr. Robert Bartholomew, this short discovers the effect of technological advancement on our brains–Is social media making us sick?

Believing Is Seeing Directed by Sophie Black

Harry Wynn directed Shred, which follows male bodybuilders as they prepare for a local competition. Pushing the pursuit of looking good to the extreme, these young men deal with the pressure of social media as they try to achieve an unattainable physique.

Shred Directed by Harry Wynn

Ashley Pitman directed The E Blacks follows kiwi video gamers as they fight for the chance to represent their country at the Commonwealth Games. For the first time ever, Esports will be included in a major international sporting event and the pressure is on to level up for the event. The E Blacks was produced by The Unkindness (Rajneel Singh and Annamarie Connors).

The E Blacks Directed by Ashley Pitman & Produced by The Unkindness (Rajneel Singh and Annamarie Connors)

Vea Mafile`o produced Beneath the Surface, which follows a world champion swimmer as she prepares for the Commonwealth Games. Revealing hidden truths about her experiences and motivations, the short is as much about equality as it is about the pool.

Beneath The Surface Produced by Vea Mafile`o

Co-founded by DEGANZ member Julia Parnell, Loading Docs is a unique initiative that produces short documentaries that captivate and inspire audiences locally and internationally, while developing and promoting New Zealand filmmaking talent.

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Loading Docs 2022 Launches Crowdfunding Campaign for Members’ Films

Loading Docs 2022 has announced the eight projects selected to take part in their ninth season titled Powers of Emotion. Our members are among the different teams selected, and are now looking to secure funding.

Director Sophie Black will explore the mysterious phenomenon of psychogenic illness in Believing is Seeing. With the help of Dr. Robert Bartholomew, this short discovers the effect of technological advancement on our brains – is social media making us sick?

Shred, set to be directed by Harry Wynn, follows male bodybuilders as they prepare for a local competition. Pushing the pursuit of looking good to the extreme, these young men deal with the pressure of social media as they try to achieve an unattainable physique.

The E Blacks follows kiwi video gamers as they fight for the chance to represent their country at the Commonwealth Games. For the first time ever Esports will be included in a major international sporting event and the pressure is on to level up for the event. The E Blacks will be directed by DEGANZ member Ashley Pitman and produced by Rajneel Singh.

Produced by Vea Mafile’o, Beneath the Surface follows a world champion swimmer as she prepares for the Commonwealth Games. Revealing hidden truths about her experiences and motivations, the short is as much about equality as it is about the pool.

The teams behind each project must now raise $3,500 through their Boosted crowdfunding campaigns. Once achieved, the teams will unlock funding from Loading Docs and go on to produce their films.

See here for more information about the projects and to support your fellow filmmakers. Loading Docs is funded by NZ on Air, with support from NZ Film Commission and Te Māngai Pāho.

Congratulations and good luck to our members!

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Members’ Short Films Feature in the Latest Season of Loading Docs

The latest Loading Docs season titled Tumanako/Hope is set to premiere online on August 26. Eight short documentaries make up the collection, including films made by our members director Mia Maramara and producer/editor Bianca Delalic.

Mia Maramara directed Only Human, which follows the youngest liberal daughter of an old-fashioned father, who can no longer accept their irreconcilable differences. In this personal story, she has to decide whether to cut her father out of her life for good.

Only Human by Mia Maramara


Bianca Delalic is the producer of When Nobody Was Looking, a short documentary about Dr. Oliver Sutherland who discovers disturbing cases of abused children in state care, including imprisonment and torture of children as young as nine. Fighting a racist system, this insect scientist stands up to expose abuse in the notorious Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital, but will justice ever be served?

Dr. Oliver Sutherland is the subject of When Nobody Was Looking. Photo: Sally Symes, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections


Co-founded by DEGNZ member Julia Parnell, Loading Docs is a unique initiative that produces short documentaries that captivate and inspire audiences locally and internationally, while developing and promoting New Zealand filmmaking talent.

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Maramara Raising Funds for Loading Doc Only Human

Director and member Mia Maramara’s project Only Human is part of season 8 of the award-winning Loading Docs initiative. Only Human is an animated short film that asks the question: Is it possible to break up with your family?

They say you can’t choose your family, but can you overcome irreconcilable differences with those you love the most? The youngest daughter of an unconventional Filipino family explores the complexities of communicating across countries, generations and the internet.

Starting with crowdfunding campaigns, Loading Docs has announced eight new short documentaries by eight filmmaking teams. Brought together under the theme of Tūmanako/Hope, Loading Docs invites audiences to get behind the crowdfunding stage by supporting the creation of important Aotearoa stories. In a time of upheaval, filmmakers have opted to make documentary projects with themes that are personal to them.

But first, the filmmakers must raise $3,500 on homegrown website Boosted.org.nz to unlock further funding from Loading Docs. It’s an all or nothing campaign running from today until April 15. If filmmakers don’t raise the funds, the documentary won’t get made. To find out more visit: www.loadingdocs.net/tumanako

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