NZFC Funds Documentaries about Women, by Women

Earlier this month, The New Zealand Film Commission released its May funding decisions. Congratulations to DEGANZ members Gwen Isaac and Katherine McRae, whose projects were two of the three applications successful in receiving the Feature Film Finishing Grant.

Ms. Information, a documentary feature directed by Gwen, focuses on polarising microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles. The pink-haired scientist stepped into the media spotlight during the coronavirus outbreak in New Zealand, resulting in the public’s mixed responses. For production, the crew followed Siouxsie for the two consecutive years of her public service. It reveals what women in power are forced to deal with and challenges the viewer’s perception of misinformation. As the film’s logline says, “Being a woman, expert, and leader can be a dangerous formula in dangerous times.” 

Katherine’s Pacific Mother explores what choices women have when giving birth. The documentary follows the free-driver Sachiko Fukumoto as she navigates the impersonal default systems of maternity. In her search for alternatives, she reconnects with mothers across the Pacific to reclaim traditional birthing knowledge. It will screen at this year’s DocEdge festival in Auckland on 3 June and in Wellington on 8 June.

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DocEdge Superhero Annie Goldson

DEGANZ member Annie Goldson has been chosen as this year’s Doc Edge ‘Superhero’. The ‘Documentary Superhero’ is a yearly title honouring those who contributed significantly to the industry. 

Festival director Alex Lee comments that the ‘superhero’ inspires others in the industry and works hard to achieve excellence. He adds, “Annie’s work is exemplary in its authenticity and humanity and shows New Zealand filmmakers the way to tell and the importance of universal storytelling. They are called not by the fame or the fortune but rather are driven by the necessity to bring these stories to the world.”

Annie directed over 12 films and is best known for Punitive Damage, Georgie Girl, Brother Number One, Kim Dotcom: Caught in the Web, and A Mild Touch of Cancer. Her latest film Red Mole: A Romance is in post-production. 

In her interview with the University of Auckland, Annie discussed how honoured she feels and what to look out for in the festival. When asked about her film recommendations from this year’s programme, she mentioned her teaching career at the University. She says the festival is so broad and rich that some would be perfect for teaching in her courses.

She made her selection of both national and international films:

Congratulations, Annie!

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Ow Selected for FIAPF and WIA’s Stories x Women

The International Federation of Film Producers Association (FIAPF) and Women in Animation (WIA) have selected DEGANZ member, Hweiling Ow (2021 Incubator), to participate in the second edition of the Stories x Women program for her new animated project, The Golden Pig.

The program works to increase diversity within animation globally, providing support and international opportunities for women animators from emerging film and animation communities from Africa, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific. FIAPF and WIA are particularly interested in uplifting creatives who want to tell authentic and unique stories.

Sponsored by the Walt Disney Company with additional support from Sony Pictures Entertainment, participants will receive mentorship and one-on-one coaching sessions from internationally acclaimed animation experts. The course will prepare the delegates to pitch their project at the Annecy International Animation Festival and Market (MIFA) later this year.

This selection follows the release of Hweiling’s 3D animated short, Cheng Beng, earlier this year. The short was made as part of the Unreal Engine Short Film Challenge in 2022.

Congratulations to Hweiling on the exciting opportunity!

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‘The Polycees’ on the Loose in LA Dances With Films Festival

Congratulations to DEGANZ Board member, Celia Jaspers, for her new fantastical adventure short selected to screen at the Dances With Films festival in Los Angeles! Directed, written, and produced by Celia, The Polycees was chosen as one of the 250 finalists. 

The family-friendly short takes you on a wild ride through parliament, unearthing a secret government below Aotearoa’s iconic Beehive. It’s up to Lee, the prime minister’s daughter, and Spoo, a cheeky puppet creature, to keep the secret of the bustling network of The Polycees under wraps. Full of puppet mischief, sudden villain plot twists, and gentle satire, there is something for the whole family.

Image Credits: IMDb

As part of the Dances With Films festival, The Polycees will screen at the TCL Chinese Theatres in June this year. The festival highlights independent filmmakers and screens a wide range of feature films, documentaries, shorts, and animations. It is exciting to see a Kiwi children’s film included in the mix!

Don’t keep it a secret, and support The Polycees.

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First Look at New Maori Action Feature ‘Ka Whawhai Tonu’

The new action-adventure drama KA WHAWHAI TONU has hit the worldwide market at Cannes. It is written by DEGANZ member Tim Worrall and edited by DEGANZ Board Member Te Rurehe Paki.

Set in Aotearoa in 1864, the film reveals the story of a crucial battle in the land wars between Māori and Colonial forces. With impossible odds between the armies, it shows courage and heroism from the Indigenous people. The historical drama, filmed in Te Reo Māori, follows two teenagers forced to make adult decisions and take hold of their destinies.

The film introduces young actors Paku Fernandez and Hinerangi Harawira-Nicholas in the lead roles. It also stars Temuera Morrison (Ngāti Whakaue, Ngati Maniapoto), Cliff Curtis (Ngāti Rongomai, Ngāti Pikiao), and Jason Flemyng (X-Men: First Class).

NZFC’s He Pounamu Te Reo Māori Feature Fund Initiative, New Zealand on Air, and Te Māngai Pāho provided funding for the feature. Tim also received assistance from the Sundance Native Lab.

KA WHAWHAI TONU is set to release on Matariki Weekend in 2024. This release corresponds with the 160th anniversary since Chief Rewi Maniapoto refused to surrender and proclaimed, 

E hoa, ka whawhai tonu mātou, Āke! Āke! Āke! (Friend, we will fight on forever, forever and forever!).

This famous phrase still leads to calls for sovereignty today. 

As Tim said to The Hollywood Reporter, 

It has been a great privilege to be part of telling this story to honour our courageous ancestors who fought and died to ensure that we survived.

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