Mandalina Stanisich’s Bass Line to Screen Throughout Germany

DEGANZ member Mandalina Stanisich’s 2018 short film Bass Line is set to screen at the Silver Screen – European Film Festival for Generations (EFFG). During the festival, screenings take place in about 100 venues across Germany to more than 13,000 viewers.

The Heidelberg University and Institute of Gerontology in Germany established EFFG in 2010. The festival features films, both drama and doco, that study themes of demographic change and ageing. It aims to promote images of positive, healthy, and active ageing and intergenerational dialogue.

Bass Line follows elderly couple Johnny and Kuini as they grapple with debilitating health issues in an increasingly unempathetic environment. While Johnny suffers from PTSD as a war veteran, Kuini’s recent diagnosis of dementia strains their relationship. Yet, despite these challenges, the this short film is a story of resilience, courage, and true love.

Mandalina’s film has made rounds in international festivals and exhibitions such as the Veterans Film Festival and NEW Gallery in 2020. It also received an honourable mention at the Be Epic London International Film Festival this year. Our congratulations to Mandalina.

 

/by

NZIFF: NZ’s Best 2022 Short Film Competition Winners

After the sold-out screening of New Zealand’s Best 2022 short film competition, Whānau Marama: NZIFF announced the winners. DEGANZ member Bala Murali Shingade’s Perianayaki, written and produced by Shreya Gejji and edited by Shailesh Prajapati (DEGANZ) swept up two awards!

Perianayaki won the Creative New Zealand Emerging Talent Award with a cash-prize of $4,000 and the Flicks Award for Best Short Film with $7,500. Additionally, actor Jeyagowri Sivakumaran received a special mention for her vulnerable performance as the titular character. Inspired by the story of the real-world Perianayaki, the film’s heartfelt, slice-of-life narrative encourages empathy in all who watch it.

Additionally, Trees, directed by Tom Scott and Ben Bryan, won The Auckland Live Spirit of The Civic Award with a cash-prize of $4,000.

Jury member Tim Wong said, “We were ultimately drawn to two shorts at opposite ends of the spectrum of excellence: one that swung for the fences and committed to a vision, and another that grounded itself quietly yet profoundly in the everyday. Trees was striking in its confident ambition, while Perianayaki was searingly truthful, with a central performance we won’t forget.”

The Audience Award, voted for by the public, will be awarded on the closing night of the festival in Wellington on August 14. This winner will walk away with a 25% share of the box office sales from the competition’s total screenings.

Congratulations to Bala, Shailesh and the Perianayaki team and to the other finalists and winners!

Read more

/by

NZ Films Selected for Edinburgh, 4 out of 5 Involving DEGANZ Members

The 75th Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is featuring multiple members’ mahi this year! The festival runs from 12-20 August and will screen five NZ projects across various programmes.

Member Michelle Savill’s Millie Lies Low and Matthew Saville’s Juniper, edited by member Peter Roberts, are making their UK premiere in the festival’s Heartbreakers programme. They will appear alongside other films exploring the fraught relationships of friends, family, lovers, and cheaters.

Meanwhile, Nude Tuesday, directed by DEGANZ member Armagan Ballantyne, and feature film Whina will celebrate their European debuts. Nude Tuesday, a literally gibberish film devised by Armagan and fellow DEGANZ member Jackie van Beek, is set to screen as the Central Gala film.

Additionally, the festival’s New Shorts: On Leaving programme will feature member Mīria George’s short film fire in the water, fire in the sky. This strand features stories about migration, from the anticipation of leaving and journeying to the physical and psychological consequences after the move.

Both Armagan and Michelle will attend the festival with the support of NZFC and the EIFF, respectively.

We are excited to see these Kiwi films achieving international recognition in their festival rounds. Congratulations to Michelle, Peter, Armagan, Jackie and Mīria!

Read more

/by

Jake Tabata’s Boosted Campaign for The Creature Closes Soon

DEGANZ member Jake Tabata’s Boosted campaign for horror, queer web series The Creature closes on 26 August! The project is in the final stretch, currently sitting at 73% of its total goal of $9,000.

This project is Jake’s first excursion into directing. Since completing his BA studying Screen Production and Drama at the University of Auckland in 2020, Jake has worked on numerous plays and short films. He is also a committee member of Equity New Zealand’s Inclusion Committee.

Jake is thrilled to bring The Creature to life as an opportunity to share a deeply personal story that authentically represents the queer and East Asian communities. The script’s inspiration grew from him wanting to process and explore his own dating and relationship anxiety. He hopes this story resonates with and helps those in the throws of online dating realise they are not alone.

Additionally, Jake is particularly excited to work with such a diverse group of industry newbies as most of the team are emerging queer and BIPOC creatives. The production’s kaupapa focuses on authentically telling queer stories, upskilling young creatives, and ensuring accessibility to the finished project. Jake and the creative team want young queer people to feel seen, heard, and validated through this story.

If you would like to support this project and team, visit their Boosted page or follow them on Instagram or Facebook.

/by

Mothers of the Revolution Shortlisted for Best Single Documentary Grierson Award

Mothers of the Revolution, directed by Briar March and co-edited by DEGANZ board member Margot Francis, Simon Coldrick, John Gilbert, and Tim Woodhouse, has been shortlisted for a 2022 Grierson Award. Along with seven other films, it is in the running for Best Single Documentary – Domestic.

The documentary delves into the women-led protests against nuclear production during the Cold War. While history has greatly minimised their efforts, the film uncovers the mystery behind the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp and highlights the women as wartime heroes. It reflects the tensions of the time by playing out like a drama-thriller with infiltrations of top secret government military bases and hidden messages transmitted under cover of night. Tales of conflicted families and love make this tension all the more real and personal. The film celebrates the women’s accomplishments and how they have inspired individual action to change the world.

The Grierson Awards, also known as the British Documentary Awards, recognise and commemorate documentaries that have significantly impacted the genre, demonstrating quality, integrity, creativity, originality, and overall excellence. Established in 1972 to honour the Scottish doco filmmaker John Grierson, the awards are now a key event in the UK film calendar.

We wish all the best to Margot and the Mothers of the Revolution team.

/by