‘Bottle Money’ Wins in Beverly Hills

Bottle Money, written and directed by Rebekah Tyler (DEGANZ), won the Audience Choice Award for best short film at the 24th Beverly Hills Film Festival (BHFF).

The film stars Rebekah’s son Jack Tyler as 16-year-old Nelson who protects his siblings from the chaos of their unstable mum. He must decide how much longer he can stand to love her.

Rebekah shared with DEGANZ,

They say it’s never too late to follow your dream. I agree, because at 55 I made the decision to study directing at TAP. Two years later, my first short film BOTTLE MONEY was selected for the 24th Beverly Hills Film Festival and it received the Audience Choice Award for best short film. Congratulations to my phenomenal cast and crew, whose talent, hard work and collaboration inspired me as we weathered a four-day storm to make this beautiful film. Never give up the dream!

BHFF was established in 2001 as a cinematic and cultural patron, connecting emerging filmmakers with the community of entrepreneurs and innovators in the cinema industry. In addition to the festival screenings, it hosts a series of panels, workshops, and seminars.

Congratulations Rebekah and the whole Bottle Money team!

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‘The Moon is Upside Down’ is Out Now

DEGANZ member Loren Taylor‘s directorial debut, The Moon is Upside Down is out now in cinemas across Aotearoa.

The Kiwi dramedy follows the intersecting lives of three women as they each venture through unfamiliar landscapes, grappling with loneliness, isolation, and longing. Natalia, a mail-order bride from Siberia with dreams of running a cafe, arrives in Aotearoa to find the reality of her situation is far from what she was led to believe. Briar, a burnt-out anaesthetist, attempts to have a romantic weekend away with her long-time, online boyfriend despite their plans falling apart. Faith, a wealthy empty nester, goes to great lengths to honour a stranger’s life after unexpectedly coming into possession of their ashes.

Loren not only wrote and directed the film, but she also stars in it as Briar. Joining her in the stacked cast is Jemaine Clement (MacIntosh), Rachel House (Tuffy), Elizabeth Hawthorne (Faith), Robyn Malcolm (Hilary), Robbie Magasiva (Tim) and more.

The film has received critical acclaim in the festival rounds, winning Best First Feature Film at the PÖFF Tallinn Black Night Film Festival in 2023.

You can find screenings near you here.

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‘Homecoming’ Seeks a Boost

Emma Smart (DEGANZ) is set to edit the upcoming short film Homecoming, which is in the final week of its Boosted campaign. The team is only a few hundred away from their goal of $13,000 and needs a final push to make it over the line and receive the all-or-nothing funding. The film received Fresh Shorts funding in 2021 but needs this additional crowdfunding to bring the project to fruition.

The psychological thriller tells the story of Charlotte, a transgender woman returning home to come out to her parents, Carol and Paul. The family dinner quickly goes south as her parents struggle to accept Charlotte’s transition. Her anxieties begin to manifest themselves in dark, sinister ways.

As a genre film, the Boosted funds will help cover the expensive production design, including set dressing and special effects. It will also help cover special camera, grip, and lighting equipment.

You can find the Boosted campaign here.

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I Spy a New NZ Detective Series: ‘A Remarkable Place to Die’

DEGANZ members Caroline Bell-Booth, Josh Frizzell, and Charlie Haskell are set to direct the new Queenstown-set detective series A Remarkable Place to Die. The name references the area’s renowned mountain range, The Remarkables.

With four 90-minute episodes, the show will follow Anais Mallory when she returns to her hometown only to find a series of startling homicides. The detective has to confront past ghosts while trying to solve the current mysteries that threaten her and her family.

Creator Philly de Lacey shared in a Variety article,

Queenstown’s stunning landscape paired with its tapestry of unconventional characters, provide the perfect backdrop for this gripping murder mystery. Viewers will be drawn into the world of Detective Anais Mallory as she uncovers intriguing secrets.

The show is a co-production between Screentime New Zealand and Real Film Berlin, in association with Banijay Rights. It will air in Germany, the US, and Aotearoa with ZDF, Acorn TV, and TVNZ.

We look forward to watching when it’s out!

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‘The Lost Boys of Dilworth’ Edited by Patterson

This news piece contains references to sexual abuse. Please proceed with care.

DEGANZ member Emma Patterson edited TVNZ’s new docu-drama, The Lost Boys of Dilworth.

The hour-long special uncovers the extensive history of abuse within the Auckland all-boys school following the 2023 Dilworth Inquiry and the ongoing impacts on the victims’ lives. The inquiry revealed the experiences of 177 former students and indicated the total number of victims is likely over 230. Mark Staufer, a former student and victim of abuse as a boarder in the 1970s, led the project as the writer and narrator.

The documentary features interviews with re-enactments, shot from the child’s perspective. Co-director Peter Burger shared with Stuff that the dramatised scenes accentuate the true impact of the abuse on the children, which is further emphasised by Emma’s editing.

While covering such dark subject matter, the documentary ultimately hopes to help break the silence around sexual violence.

The Lost Boys of Dilwoth is available to watch on TVNZ+.

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