News

FIFO Celebrates DEGANZ Members’ Mahi

The International Oceanian Documentary Film Festival (FIFO) returns for 2026 with six DEGANZ members' work featured! The festival is on now from 6-15 February in Tahiti, celebrating and amplifying the voices and cultures of Oceania through a…

DEGANZ Watch List: Premiere and Returning Series

This DEGANZ Watch List features both a new and a returning series, with DEGANZ members as directors and editors on the projects. Up first is Tom Sainsbury's new dramedy series, Small Town Scandal, directed by DEGANZ members Ghazaleh Gol and…

2026 Is Upon Us

Blog

While there has been a delay in the good weather arriving, it’s now back. At least for the moment where I’m sitting and writing this. In Auckland. It’s just one of the positives of the New Year. At the box office: Tinā is currently…

‘TENOR,’ ‘TOITŪ’ and ‘Invisible Dragons’ Head to Santa Barbara

News

Three films from DEGANZ members are featuring at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) next month. SBIFF is running from 4-14 February, marking the 41st iteration of the festival, discovering and showcasing the best in independent…

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

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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…

Mafile’o and Grace are WIFT Award Finalists

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The WIFT Awards are back for 2026, with DEGANZ members Vea Mafile’o and Robyn Grace selected as finalists! WIFT NZ established the awards in 2004 to recognise, celebrate, and encourage the achievements of women in film, television, and…

Maire’s ‘Silver Lining’ Commissioned for Day One Shorts

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Here comes another round of Day One Shorts! This year, DEGANZ member Harriett Maire is directing one of the eight funded projects. Day One Shorts is a series of short films by emerging filmmakers from across the motu. A mix of factual and…

DEGANZ Watch List: In Case You Missed It… Motel Murders and Sex Robots

DEGANZ Watch List, News

In case you missed it... Here are some recent works from DEGANZ members that dropped over the holiday period. First up is NZ on Air's latest crime drama, Blue Murder Motel, with DEGANZ member Josh Frizzell as one of the directors of the premiere…

Vale Aroha Awarau

News

It is with deep sadness that we mark the death of DEGANZ member Aroha Awarau, who passed away peacefully on 14 January 2026 in hospice after a short battle with cancer. Aroha joined DEGANZ in 2025 and was selected to participate in the Melbourne…

So Where Do We Stand?

Blog

As we come to the end of 2025, it’s worth taking a look at where the NZ screen sector stands. Global market pressures have been buffeting the New Zealand screen sector for years, and our hair is a little more than tussled. Our industry…

Welcome to the 2026 DEGANZ Board

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As we wrap up the year and look ahead to 2026, please join us in welcoming the new DEGANZ Board, elected on 18 October at the AGM! President Ben Powdrell, Vice President Rāhera Herewini-Mulligan (Ngāi Tūhoe/Ngāi Tai/Te Whānau a Apanui),…

DEGANZ Members Sweep at NZSA Awards

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The New Zealand Screen Awards (NZSAs) took place in late November last month, with a multitude of awards going to DEGANZ members and their work. DEGANZ was a proud sponsor of two awards this year: the DEGANZ Best Director and Best Editor…

‘Lea Tupu’anga / Mother Tongue’ Under Consideration for the Oscars

News

DEGANZ member Vea Mafile’o's incredibly successful short film, Lea Tupu'anga / Mother Tongue, is now under consideration for an Oscar nomination ahead of the 2026 awards. Writer and actor Luciane Buchanan announced this exciting news via…

‘Secrets at Red Rocks’ Nominated for Three Children’s & Family Emmys

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Congratulations are due to DEGANZ members editor Alex Boyd and director David Stubbs for their work on the drama series Secrets at Red Rocks, which has received three Children's & Family Emmy Award nominations! Alex is recognised in…

‘Ace’ Scores Show Me Shorts’ People’s Choice Award

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Ace, written and directed by Ray Edwards (DEGANZ), won the hearts of audiences across the motū and is taking home the 2025 Show Me Shorts People's Choice Award. The 15-minute short follows six-year-old Jimmy as he sets out on an epic quest…

‘Beyond the Beat’ Bags Second Season

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DEGANZ member Gal Hochman's Beyond the Beat, in collaboration with Chillbox Creative, is returning for a second season. Season one of the factual web series followed five artists as they transformed some of Aotearoa's biggest hits. In each…

Vale Costa Botes

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It is with deep sadness that we mark the passing of long-time DEGANZ board member Costa Botes, who died on 21 November 2025 after a decade of living with cancer. A renowned documentary filmmaker, a generous mentor, and a dedicated advocate for…

A Kōrero with Animation Studio Mukpuddy

A Kōrero With..., Blog

As a follow-up to this year's Animation Matchmaking series, DEGANZ's Izzi Hoskyn sat down with Ryan Cooper and Alex Leighton, two-thirds of the team leading Mukpuddy Ltd. Mukpuddy originated from humble beginnings in 2002, starting in a basement…