DEGANZ Members Selected for Script to Screen’s Story Camp Aotearoa and FilmUp 2026

2026 is kicking off strong with exciting development news! Congratulations to the eight DEGANZ members who have been selected for Script to Screen’s feature film initiatives, Story Camp Aotearoa and FilmUp. Both programmes will take place later this year and offer the filmmakers a stepping stone towards making their first features.

Members Jamie Lawrence, Te Waiarangi Ratana, and Lucy Wigmore will be packing their bags to attend this year’s Story Camp Aoteara. All three are attending the development programme in both writing and directing roles on their respective projects.

Story Camp, which has tikanga and Māoritanga embedded in its kaupapa, is unique in its ability to encourage filmmakers to shut out the noise of their day-to-day lives in order to dig deep into their script’s development. The five-day residential development lab enables participating filmmakers to hone their craft, voice, and vision, deepening their understanding of the needs of their script. In addition to one-to-one sessions with industry advisors, participants also engage in project-based group workshops, panel discussions, sessions with actors, and talks from guest advisors from other art forms. Each team will also work with advisors who are chosen specifically for the needs of the project and where it sits in the development journey.

Meanwhile, Lynda Chanwai-Earle, Liv McClymont, Hweiling Ow, Phillida Perry, and Stella Reid are taking part in the twelfth edition of FilmUp.

The feature film mentorship programme is for writers, directors, and producers who are ready to take the next step towards making a feature film. Across six months, each filmmaker will pair with an esteemed industry mentor, participate in group work and round tables, and receive wrap-around support in the development of their projects and careers.

See more about the projects for both programmes below.

Story Camp Aotearoa 2026

DAZ

Writer/Director: Jamie Lawrence
Producer: Thomas Coppell

Manu Masters

Writer/Director: Te Waiarangi Ratana
Producer: Keisha Castle-Hughes

The Delusions

Co-Writer/Director: Lucy Wigmore
Co-Writer: Michael Beran
Story Collaborators: Gin Wingmore and Tandi Wright

FilmUp 2026

Little Yellow Peril

Writer: Lynda Chanwai-Earle

Wunderbar

Writer/Director: Liv McClymont

Pohpoh Wants to Die

Writer: Hweiling Ow

THE LONGEST DRINK IN TOWN

Producer: Phillida Perry

Stage Challenge

Writer/Director: Stella Reid

Last updated on 29 January 2026