Raised by Refugees Returns with McGill

Season two of Pax Assadi’s Raised by Refugees, with episodes directed by DEGANZ member Kate McGill, is out now! Kate has worked on the show from the get-go as the casting director and one of the series’ directors.

Inspired by Assadi’s childhood, the show follows adolescent Pax as he navigates life in the early 2000s. His parents immigrated to Aotearoa in the late ’80s as refugees and want their son to get good grades. All Pax wants is to fit in, which proves to be particularly difficult following a major international incident.

Season two dives deeper into the world and relationships established in season one, with Pax now in college and confronted with parties, alcohol, and girls. The show also investigates Pax’s parents’ story more, with season two featuring a flashback episode to 1980s Pakistan, revealing how they met and what they had to overcome to start a new life overseas.

The show has received critical recognition, winning the NZTV award for Best Comedy in 2022.

You can watch seasons one and two on Neon and Sky.

Last updated on 9 November 2023

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‘Ms. Information’ in Cinemas Now

After premiering at Whānau Mārama NZIFF this year, Ms. Information, directed by Gwen Isaac (DEGANZ), is now playing in cinemas nationwide.

The feature documentary is a visceral and intimate look into the life of the polarising, pink-haired microbiologist, Siouxsie Wiles, during her two years of public appearances around COVID-19. In March 2020, Gwen found herself in Siouxsie’s house as she stepped into the public eye and spoke out about the impending pandemic. What followed is the story of a mother and scientist who became a celebrity during extraordinary times.

The film has an all-woman team behind it, rare especially in the documentary space. Gwen shared with DEGANZ how important it is for her to support women in creative leadership positions in Aotearoa. She said:

So many of our New Zealand stories are totally cinematic and I hope that there are women directors coming up through the ranks – and being given opportunities –  to develop the skillsets to ensure our taonga are seen on the big screen. I did a lot of the filming for Ms. Information on my own […]. Sometimes the situation required crew and I did my utmost to find women soundies and DP’s to help engender the vibe I was going for, ideal for a film with a feminist Kaupapa.

You can check if Ms. Information is coming to a theatre near you here.

Last updated on 9 November 2023

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Hunter’s Handycam Time Machine

DEGANZ member Sarah Hunter invites viewers into the time machine that is her new docuseries, MARAUDERS. Through archive handycam footage, she reveals a never-before-seen side of iconic Kiwi musical group Fat Freddy’s Drop on their 2003 European tour.

The docuseries’ real-time linear delivery showcases the group’s early grit, character, and music-making process. Sarah joined the tour as the group’s photographer, but her documentation took an unexpected turn when she began filming on a borrowed handycam. Now, twenty years later, the footage spans four seasons, showcasing how the band made a name for itself internationally, and the groundwork that ultimately led to the acclaimed Based on a True Story album.

Seasons one and two are out, covering the band’s six-week stint in London. Seasons three and four are out later this month, on 13 and 20 November, respectively.

Catch the series on RNZ here.

Last updated on 9 November 2023

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‘Te Hokinga Mai – The Return’ Out Now

The first two episodes of Te Hokinga Mai – The Return, produced and directed by DEGANZ member Kathleen Mantel, are available to watch on Whakaata Māori now.

The eight-part docuseries offers an intimate look into people’s journeys across Aotearoa as they connect with their Māori whakapapa and whenua. While some are just beginning this journey of connection, others are further down the path.

The opening title offers a glimpse at how Aotearoa’s rapid urbanisation impacted the indigenous people of the land. The series unpacks this further, featuring a new and unique story each week from different parts of the country.

Catch the series here.

Last updated on 9 November 2023

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Gardiner-Hoskins Wins at ImagineNATIVE

DEGANZ member Piata Gardiner-Hoskins, with Todd Karehana, won the ImagineNATIVE Film Festival’s Experimental Audio Award for their scripted drama podcast The River. The accolade comes with a $1,500 cash prize.

Piata co-directed and co-wrote the six-episode crime podcast. When a young woman disappears, three estranged cousins must join forces to solve the mystery. But all paths lead to a river that flows both ways – Waihara.

Other DEGANZ members’ mahi also screened during the festival. Among the 13 Kiwi productions accepted to the festival were Inky Pinky Ponky, directed by Ramon Te Wake; Red, White & Brass, co-edited by Ben Powdrell; and No Maori Allowed, edited by Cushla Dillon.

ImagineNATIVE, based in Toronto, is the world’s largest presenter of indigenous film and media arts. This year’s festival featured films spanning 74 Indigenous Nations and 40 Indigenous languages.

Congratulations, Piata, on the win!

Last updated on 9 November 2023

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