Pooley’s ‘Choir Games’ Coming to Sky Open and Neon

,

DEGANZ member Leanne Pooley‘s inspiring docuseries Choir Games is dropping on Sky Go and Neon on 4 May.

The four-part series tells the story of two choirs, New Zealand’s Kaitāia Community Voices and New York City’s Young People’s Chorus, as they embark on a life-changing journey to compete in the largest choral competition, the 2024 World Choir Games held in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

The series follows the choirs from their first rehearsals to their climactic performances, revealing their common struggles, dreams, and unyielding resilience. It also highlights the choirs’ conductors who serve as musical and personal mentors to the young singers. Despite the choirs’ different backgrounds, they are united by the joy that comes from singing and their love for music.

Leanne shares about the series,

I can honestly say this is the most joyful story I’ve ever told. The power of music to change lives is incredibly inspiring. I really think the world needs a series like this just now.

Choir Games will be available on Neon and Sky Go from Sunday 4 May, premiering on Sky Open at 7.30pm that evening.

Last updated on 28 May 2025

/by

Liang Kills It on Apple TV’s ‘Murderbot’

Roseanne Liang (DEGANZ) continues her success overseas, directing two episodes of Apple TV’s latest original series, Murderbot. She recently attended the star-studded premiere in New York City ahead of the show’s global release on 16 May 2025. Fellow Kiwi Toa Fraser was co-executive producer and one of the other directors on the show.

Based on Martha Wells’ bestselling Hugo and Nebula Award-winning book series, Murderbot is a sci-fi thriller/comedy about a self-hacking security construct who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients. Murderbot must hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe.

You can watch Murderbot on Apple TV+ on Friday, May 16, 2025.

 

Last updated on 1 May 2025

/by

‘Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua – Two Worlds’ Hits the Big Screen

The highly anticipated documentary Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua – Two Worlds celebrated its world premiere in Tāmakai Makarau Auckland on Tuesday, 29 April and is now playing in cinemas across Aotearoa.

The documentary, edited by DEGANZ member Josh Yong and directed by Incubator alum Ursula Grace-Williams, is an intimate portrait of the musician as he records his first te reo Māori album, Te Whare Tīwekaweka (A Messy House).

The film follows the renowned singer-songwriter as he embraces te reo and navigates the challenges and joys of expressing himself in a new linguistic landscape. It illuminates Marlon’s artistic evolution–his classical training, his country and folk roots, and the Māori musical traditions that have shaped him. In the heartfelt feature, he reflects on love, music, and life, questioning what he truly wants from his. The film is a raw and earnest look into Marlon’s journey of reconnection and self-discovery

Check Madman to see where Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua – Two Worlds is playing near you.

 

Last updated on 1 May 2025

/by

DEGANZ Members Selected for Script to Screen Development Initiatives

Congrats to DEGANZ members Sapna Samant and Rouzie Hassanova for being selected for Script to Screen’s South Shorts and Waitaha Screen Development Incubator programmes, respectively.

South Shorts 2025

South Shorts is an annual mentorship programme for new and emerging screenwriters from South Auckland to develop short film scripts. Over five workshops, Sapna and the other filmmakers will participate in workshops, script reads, group discussions, writing exercises, and sessions with guest filmmakers. They’ll exit the programme with a completed short film script and practical tools to move towards production.

Sapna is a writer, director and producer. She has produced short documentary Dance Baby Dance, written and produced two shorts, Kimbap and Debts We Pay, and directed her short Debts We Pay. Sapna also co-produced short-form series POV for RNZ/Tahi in 2022. She has two MAs in film, television and media studies from the University of Auckland with first-class honours in directing drama. Her script Raju was developed through this writing lab and was shortlisted for Fresh Shorts in 2021 and Day One in 2024. Other development involves South Shorts, the 2021 Show Me Shorts development lab, and the latest Screen Accelerator Project run by Tall Poppy Films and Jon Kroll in Wellington.

Waitaha Screen Development Incubator

Waitaha Screen Development Incubator is a new initiative for TV series and feature film projects in development that plan to be filmed and produced in Waitaha, Canterbury. The programme aims to support the development of original IP in the region and support creators to get projects better equipped for funding and production.

Rouzie has been selected with her second feature film Tulpar, which received the Seed Advanced Development Grant from the New Zealand Writers Guild in 2023. The project was developed through Script to Screen’s FilmUp Mentorship and the STOWE Story Lab Remote Residency 2023. Earlier in 2025, the latest draft made the Quarterfinals of the Stage 32 + Catalyst Studios Empowering Women Script Competition!, and The Writers Lab, NY.

Rouzie is an award-winning writer and director whose unique Pomak-Bulgarian (Muslim) identity brings a fresh vision to her work. She is known for her commitment to authenticity and collaboration. She crafts powerful themes and true-to-life performances in her films. Her debut film Radiogram won the Audience Award at the Sofia International Film Festival, the Best Debut Award at the Golden Rose Film Festival, and the Special Mention Award at the Vukovar International Film Festival. The feature continued its international journey, including festivals at Haifa, Dubai, Heartlands, Istanbul, and Transilvania, while streaming on Amazon Prime and SBS Australia. Her collection of award-winning shorts includes Song for Serbia (currently screening on Whakaata Māori (Māori TV)), Tree Without A Root, Vicky, and The Portrait, which travelled to the festivals Show me Shorts, Raindance, In the Palace, Galway, Big Sur, Sofia, and Wairoa Māori Film Festivals among others.

 

We are excited to see where Sapna and Rouzie’s projects go next!

Last updated on 1 May 2025

/by