DEGANZ to Manage NZ’s MIFF Accelerator Lab Participation

The Directors and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand (DEGANZ) is pleased to announce that it will be managing the participation of New Zealand short filmmakers in the Melbourne International Film Festival’s Accelerator Lab, having signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lab for 2024.

Previously, New Zealand’s participation in the MIFF Accelerator Lab was handled internally by the New Zealand Film Commission, but this initiative has gone out to industry as part of the NZFC’s change in strategy.

“Our thanks go to NZFC for putting its trust in DEGANZ to deliver this key talent development initiative for emerging New Zealand filmmakers,” said DEGANZ Executive Director Tui Ruwhiu. “We appreciate, and are sure the industry does too, the NZFC’s ongoing commitment to NZ filmmaking talent and this initiative in particular.”

The MIFF Accelerator Lab is held for four days during the Melbourne International Film Festival, which this year runs from 8 – 25 August. It is designed to nurture tomorrow’s top screen directors on the journey towards their first long-form works.

Accelerator Lab participants are selected from all short film entries to the MIFF program of the year in question. Their films are screened to the general public as part of the specially branded Accelerator Shorts package (while their films are distributed to producers and visiting financiers), giving their work wide exposure among audiences and industry decision-makers alike.

The selective-entry lab provides up to 20 short film directors with four days of workshops, screenings, seminars, and networking events on the business and creative aspects of the film industry with leading local and international screen practitioners.

“DEGANZ looks forward to working with the MIFF Accelerator Lab to ensure the selected NZ filmmakers get the most out of this highly focused opportunity to help further their careers,” Ruwhiu added.

Previous participants in the MIFF Accelerator Lab include Michelle Savill (Millie Lies Low), Jeremiah Tauamiti (For My Father’s Kingdom), Zoe Macintosh (Stylebender), Sam Kelly (Savage), Matthew J. Saville (Juniper), Jackie van Beek (Nude Tuesdays), Gaysorn Thavat (The Justice of Bunny King) and Taika Waititi (Hunt For The Wilderpeople).

DEGANZ ED Tui Ruwhiu will attend the Accelerator Lab to assist NZ’s participants, observe the sessions and participate in panels scheduled in the Lab programme.

Last updated on 31 July 2024

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‘Bookworm’ is a Joyride into the Wild at Fantasia

Bookworm, edited by Dan Kircher (DEGANZ), kicked off this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal as the opening night film. This was the feature’s world premiere, earning many positive reviews leading up to its wider cinematic release.

The film explores universal themes of fatherhood, survival, and overcoming fear against the rugged South Island landscape. When eleven-year-old Mildred’s mum lands in hospital, her life is flipped upside down when her estranged and strange father, played by Elijah Wood, flies to Aotearoa to look after her. In an attempt to bond, he takes Mildred on a wilderness camping adventure in search of the mythological Canterbury Panther. A string of increasingly absurd and treacherous adventures unfold.

Fantasia is North America’s largest genre film festival, hosting sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and action films from across the globe. By juxtaposing pop and alternative cultures in its programming, it has earned notoriety as one of the top festivals in the industry for emerging and established filmmakers alike.

You can catch Bookworm in cinemas across New Zealand from 8 August.

Last updated on 31 July 2024

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‘Ka Whawhai Tonu’ Hits #1 in NZ Cinemas

Ka Whawhai Tonu has become the highest-grossing NZ film this year after just four weeks in cinema and now sits at just over $800,000 at the box office. The screenplay was written by DEGANZ member Tim Worrall while board member Te Rurehe Paki and fellow member Martin Brinkler ACE edited the feature.

Transmission Films states that this success is a powerful testament to the story of Ka Whawhai Tonu and the desire of New Zealand audiences to embrace poignant locally-made films. NZFC CEO Annie Murray says,

The Film Commission is delighted with this result for ‘Ka Whawhai Tonu.’ This Māori language film is timely and has obviously resonated with New Zealand audiences, and we look forward to seeing it continue to reach audiences across various platforms locally and globally for many years to come.

It is great to see DEGANZ members involved in this success story. Congrats to Tim, Te Rurehe, Martin, and the rest of the Ka Whawhai Tonu team!

You can still catch Ka Whawhai Tonu in cinemas near you.

Last updated on 31 July 2024

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Jaspers Heading to MIFF’s 37ºSouth: PostScript & Direct

DEGANZ board member Celia Jaspers has been selected for the Melbourne International Film Festival’s (MIFF) 37ºSouth: PostScript & Direct. The programme enables directors, writers, and creatives from Australia and Aotearoa to meet with, pitch to, and network with selected producers.

Celia attended the 2023 programme as a producer and is excited to be returning as a director this time around.

PostScript & Direct (PS&D) will take place 8-11 August 2024 as part of MIFF’s 37ºSouth Market. Along with PS&D, the Market delivers a financing market, screenings for Australian and New Zealand films seeking world sales agents and distribution, and opportunities for IP rights holders to pitch their creative assets for screen adaptations.

We wish Celia a great time at the programme!

Last updated on 31 July 2024

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Chamber’s ‘The Lads’ Makes The Women’s List

DEGANZ member and 2022 Incubator alum Mary-Lyn Chambers‘ in-development series The Lads has made The 2024 Women’s List.

The Women’s List is an American screenplay competition to bolster women writers in the screen industry. The selected screenplays receive promotion from The Women’s List on their website and social media. Additionally, the selected writers gain access to exclusive development and networking opportunities.

The Lads is a one-hour drama series set in 1981, Wellington. Amidst the violent anti-apartheid protests against the Springbok rugby tour, a former rugby champion’s daughter goes missing, revealing a buried secret about his involvement in the suicide of a young gay violinist. This revelation and disappearance unravel his marriage, friendships, and everything he thought he knew about his glory days on the rugby field.

Mary-Lyn began working on The Lads during her time in the DEGANZ Emerging Women Filmmakers Incubator in 2022. Since then, she’s developed the project further in Keren Green’s Five in a Room writers programme, a writing residency at the Château de La Napoule on the Côte d’Azur in France, and an Auckland Table Reads. She’s now gearing up to present the project to producers for an international co-production.

Congrats Mary-Lyn; we look forward to seeing where The Lads goes next!

Last updated on 31 July 2024

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