Erikssonโ€™s Acknowledgements set for World Premiere

DEGNZ member Arvid Erikssonโ€™sย Acknowledgements, a dreamy art film shot at Auckland’s iconic Parnell Baths, will have its world premiere at Film Invasion Los Angeles this month, a festival which celebrates independent and art-house film. It will compete for the Best Experimental Short Film Award.

The film is based on a poem by NZ poet Louise Wallace and features Kiwi comedian Donna Brookbanks (Funny Girls) as a bored pool attendant and the voice of veteran actor Elizabeth McRae. Acknowledgements reflects on the marvel of other people and how we all affect each other.

Arvid is currently developing another abstract short while directing commercial projects and writing on a feature.

Watch the trailer here:

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Members Behind Contemporary Horror Series Teine Sฤ

Now available, the chilling series Teine Sฤ: The Ancient Ones tells stories of modern day issues impacting Pacific women, who will either be blessed or cursed when they look to ancient goddesses of the past for guidance.

The Pasefika horror series was written, directed and crewed by people of the Moana. Acclaimed directors Sima Urale and Toa Fraser (DEGNZ) mentored the young writers and directors of Teine Sฤ.

Recently selected for DEGNZ’s Emerging Women Filmmakers Incubator, Matasila Freshwater wrote and directed episode 4, titled Hiama, a story from the Solomon Islands.

In this video, she speaks about the themes and reasons behind the story.


DEGNZ member Jack Woon was series editor.ย “It was a joy to see the kaleidoscope of visions from the five writer/director teams, to cut together the silken images shot by DOP Andrew McGeorge and to be given free rein to mould rhythm and soundscape as the series editor.”

Watch it on Prime TV with episodes airing every Thursday at 9:30pm. The five episode series – each episode roughly ten minutes – is also available to watch on Sky Go and The COCONET, and will be available on NEON from May 20.

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Youngโ€™s The Last Ocean Documentary One of the Best

DEGNZ member Peter Youngโ€™s film, The Last Ocean, has been named one of the top 10 best ocean documentaries by ScreenRant.

Released in 2012 and directed by Peter, one of Aotearoaโ€™s leading nature cameramen, The Last Ocean follows activists as they race to protect Antarctica’s Ross Sea from being ravaged by fishermen, and raises the simple ethical question: do we fish Earthโ€™s last untouched ocean or do we protect it?

This question was answered in 2017 when a joint proposal by New Zealand and the United States unanimously voted to make the Ross Sea a marine protected area. Speaking to NZ Herald in 2017, Peter expressed his relief and happiness that this decision โ€œbrings closure to an incredible 10-year journey, one that began with a passionate few and grew into an international environmental movementโ€.

The Last Ocean is available to rent or buy here.

 

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Waiata / Anthems Celebrates Mฤori Music

DEGNZ member Julia Parnellโ€™s new short documentary series Waiata / Anthems is now streaming on TVNZ OnDemand. Directed and produced by Julia, the seven episode series follows iconic Kiwi musicians as they share untold stories of fear and discovery while they translate and record their hit songs in te reo Mฤori.

Following on from the number one album of the same name, Waiata / Anthems follows musicians Hollie Smith, Che Fu, Annie Crummer, Bic Runga, Drax Project, Logan Bell, MELODOWNZ and Don McGlashan.

Speaking in a press release, Julia stated how proud she is to share these stories and how she hopes โ€œthis series will impact the deepening of our relationship with te reo and act as a springboard for more Mฤori music in the chartsโ€.

Watch the series and see the accompanying live performance music videos, released on Youtube by TVNZ.

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Ang Given the Greenlight

Congratulations are in order for member Michelle Ang, an alumni of DEGNZโ€™s Emerging Women Filmmakers Incubator, as NZ On Air has confirmed funding for Riddle Me This, an animated journey of eight four-minute episodes that chronicle tamariki using their powers of critical thinking and imagination to solve intriguing riddles.

Michelleโ€™s A Grain of Rice Productions received $265,950 in funding. The series will be released on NZ On Air and TVNZโ€™s HEIHEI channel.

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