The Climate Canary Going to AIDC’s The FACTory

Vanessa Wells (DEGANZ) has been invited to pitch at the Australian International Documentary Conference’s (AIDC) The FACTory. Wells earned her spot in the Central Showcase with her film The Climate Canary, which she directed and produced.

Edited by fellow member Richard Lord, the documentary explores the ecosystem between Antarctic sea ice and ocean, and the tremendous challenges facing Antarctica and our global coastlines as climate change worsens.

The programme will run from 5-8 March and is AIDC’s highly competitive international pitching showcase for new documentary and factual projects. The Central Showcase presents the project teams to commissioners, funders, streamers, networks, distributors, and sales agents. It’s a fantastic opportunity for filmmakers to access the global documentary marketplace and receive feedback from industry experts.

Congratulations to Vanessa and Richard for being one of the 15 projects hand selected by AIDC’s panel, and best of luck to Vanessa on the pitch!

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Dame Valerie Adams: MORE THAN GOLD begins its festival journey

The feature documentary Dame Valerie Adams: MORE THAN GOLD, edited by DEGANZ member Margot Francis (directed by Briar March and produced by fellow member Leanne Pooley), will begin its festival journey at this year’s International Oceanian Documentary Film Festival (FIFO) in Tahiti.

The 90-minute film tells the inspirational story of Olympic champion, Kiwi icon, Tongan leader, mother, daughter, sister, and survivor Dame Valerie Adams. Valerie shares her story with profound honesty and vulnerability that is rare among professional athletes. Through its both funny and gut-wrenching storytelling, the documentary speaks to anyone who has faced hardship, loss, or pursued a dream.

FIFO is dedicated to bringing the voices, culture, and issues of the Pacific to an international audience and offers unique professional opportunities for the artists involved. This year it will run from 4-12 February.

Congratulations to the MORE THAN GOLD team, and best of luck at the festival!

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Juniper Picked Up for US Distribution

Juniper, edited by Peter Roberts (DEGANZ), has found more success overseas with Greenwich Entertainment’s acquisition of the US distribution rights. The film will hit US cinemas on 24 February and will find its place on home platforms from 4 April.

Greenwich Entertainment is an independent film distribution company that specialises in distinctive, theatrical-quality narrative and documentary features. Juniper‘s unique and intimate perspective of a troubled grandmother-grandson relationship earns its stripes among the company’s other films.

This acquisition follows the film’s successful rounds in international festivals, including Edinburgh, Tallinn, and Brisbane. Most recently, it screened at the 2023 Palm Springs International Film Festival in the Cinema Now selection.

Well done to Peter and the rest of the Juniper team on the continued international success!

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DEGANZ Members Make Kōpere Hou – Fresh Shorts Funding Shortlist

Script to Screen and the NZ Film Commission have announced the shortlist for Kōpere Hou – Fresh Shorts which includes three DEGANZ members as directors, bringing them one step closer to securing funding for their short films.

Congratulations to members Kim Georgine for A Son’s Return Home, Victoria Boult for Invisible Dragons, and Sophie Black for Tall Hours. In addition to director credits, Victoria and Sophie are listed in writing positions.

The Fresh Shorts Fund is dedicated to identifying and nurturing the next generation of New Zealand filmmakers. This year, each shortlisted team has a one in three chance of workshopping their project with industry experts and receiving a grant of $25,000 to make their films.

Best of luck to all members on stage two of their applications!

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DEGANZ Incubator Alum Selected for He Kauahi Catalyst Funding

Congratulations to DEGANZ members and Emerging Women Filmmakers Incubator alum Jolin Lee and Mīria George for receiving He Kauahi Catalyst funding. Their filmmaking teams make up two of the three selected. In addition to being their respective projects’ directors, both Jolin and Mīria are credited with writing positions. Both teams have received $90,000 for their short films and an additional $10,000 to develop their feature film concepts.

Jolin’s short, Chrysanthemum follows an anguished gardener who develops an unhealthy relationship with a chrysanthemum plant when her daughter mysteriously vanishes in a garden centre. Mīria’s film, Open Looks, tells the story of three sisters who share a love of basketball and must battle their way back from the underworld when their world is turned upside down.

This funding from NZFC allows filmmakers to develop high-end narrative short films to progress their careers. The projects pitched are required to be tonally or thematically linked to feature or long-form content, allowing the creatives to develop the short-form content with hopes of expanding it in the future.

Read more.

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