DEGANZ member James Fink-Jensen‘s debut feature film Smoky has been shortlisted for Best First Feature at the 2026 Young Director Award (YDA) in Cannes, France.
Established in 1998 by the Commercial Film Producers of Europe, YDA is a non-profit initiative dedicated to discovering, supporting and elevating emerging directing talent. The organisation champions the role of producers as active partners in talent development, helping directors refine their craft, find their voice and build sustainable careers in the screen industry. Over nearly three decades, YDA has become a respected platform where new filmmakers connect with established industry professionals, test fresh ideas and launch long-term careers.
Smoky is one of just seven debut features selected from around the world and the only film from Aotearoa to be shortlisted this year.
James will travel to Cannes later this month to represent the film at the awards event.
http://degnz.sensedesign.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Smoky.png4561200admin/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/DEGANZ_logo_home.pngadmin2026-06-03 17:46:542026-06-04 14:23:42‘Smoky’ Among Seven Global Debut Features Shortlisted for YDA
This week, we’ve got a new crime drama series, the trailer for the highly anticipated feature doco Lomu, a new music video from a local artist, and a new factual tele-special!
DEGANZ member Max Currie leads the lineup with Bust Up, a fresh take on the buddy-cop crime genre, while Vea Mafile’o (DEGANZ) and co-director Gavin Fitzgerald’s Lomu offers an intimate portrait of one of the most iconic figures in rugby history ahead of its NZIFF premiere.
Director and editor Gwen Lin (DEGANZ) brings a distinctive visual style to local musician Lehali’s music video for her new electronic dance pop song ‘@kateshepp_1893.’ Meanwhile, fellow member Fa’alava’au Jeremiah Tauamiti’s tele special 400 Weddings and a Funeral, edited by Debbie Matthews (DEGANZ), celebrates the humour, heart and cultural significance of Pasifika ceremonies in Aotearoa.
A bold six-part one-hour crime drama, Bust Up puts a fresh spin on the buddy-cop genre: the two cops at the centre of the story are ex-lovers. Starring Morgana O’Reilly (The White Lotus, Housebound) and Roimata Fox (A Remarkable Place To Die, The Wrecking Crew), the series follows former romantic partners Deb Brighton and Mihi Renata, who are unexpectedly reunited after a decade apart and forced to work side‑by‑side as police officers in the small fictional town of Waitote, the garden gnome capital of Aotearoa. Together, the pair must navigate a series of crimes as bizarre as they are dangerous, and as the stakes escalate, so does the emotional tension, pushing Deb and Mihi to confront the unresolved feelings they’ve spent years trying to bury.
Ahead of its Aotearoa premiere in NZIFF as the festival’s centrepiece film, the trailer for feature documentary Lomu has been released. The film is a powerful and compelling portrait of the man behind the legend, Jonah Lomu, the most adored son of the Pacific, a legendary All Black, who transcended the game with his immense power and unstoppable determination.
Join hosts Bella Kalolo and Haanz Fa’avae-Jackson on a cultural deep dive into Pasifika weddings and funerals in Aotearoa! It’s packed with laughs, traditions, and insights from iconic Pasifika personalities.
