Filmography

PRODUCER: Dame Valerie Adams: MORE THAN GOLD – Eight/NZFC, 2022                                            The story of Dame Valerie Adams, Olympic Champion, Kiwi Icon, Tongan Leader, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Survivor…Winning was just part of her journey.

PRODUCER: Beyond Conversion – Eight/TVNZ, 2022                                                                                The journey to ban Conversion Practices in Aotearoa.

PRODUCER/CO-DIRECTOR:  FIGHTBACK – JOSEPH PARKER – Spacific/DAZN Originals (UK), 2021.    An intimate, sometimes hilarious look at the life of a heavyweight  boxer as he fights his way back to the top.

DIRECTOR/WRITER: WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT AI- GFC Films/Universal Pictures (USA), 2020              A feature documentary that asks whether the enormous benefits of Artificial General Intelligence out-way the exponential risks. Is humanity on a catastrophic trajectory with machines?  

DIRECTOR/WRITER: THE GIRL ON THE BRIDGE – Augusto Entertainment (NZ), 2020                                                                                                                         This feature documentary is a powerful look at the devastating youth suicide epidemic.  Shot over two years it follows 22 year-old Jazz Thornton, suicide survivor and activist, as she struggles to tell the story of the friend she lost.

DIRECTOR/WRITER: 25 APRIL – General Film Corporation (NZ), 2015.
An animated documentary feature about the WWI Gallipoli campaign. 25 APRIL premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and was one of just nine films selected for competition at the Annecy Animation Film Festival (one of the World’s premiere animation festivals).  It is also the first New Zealand animated film to be in contention for an ACADEMY AWARD.
Nominated “Best Documentary” NZ Film Awards 2017
Nominated “Best Director” NZ Film Awards 2017
Nominated “Best Editor” NZ Film Awards 2017

DIRECTOR/WRITER: BEYOND THE EDGE  -GFC (NZ), 2013.
A 3D feature film about Sir Edmund Hillary’s 1953 assent of Everest. The movie premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
Winner “Best 3D Film” Cameraimage Cinematography Film Festival 2014
Winner “Best Director Documentary” NZ Screen Awards 2013
Winner “Grand Prix des Festivals” Matterhorn CineMountain Festival 2013
Winner “Best Cinematography” Matterhorn CineMountain Festival 2013
Winner “People’s Choice Award” Trento Film Festival 2013
Winner “People’s Choice Award” Flicks 2013
Runner-up “People’s Choice Award Documentary” Toronto International Film Festival 2013
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DIRECTOR/WRITER: SHACKLETON’S CAPTAIN- Making Movies(NZ)/gebrueder-beetz(Germany) 2012.
A feature length dramatised documentary about Frank Worsley,  Captain of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance which was crushed by pack-ice off the coast of Antarctica in 1915. Staring Craig Parker.
Winner “Best Cinematography” NZTV Awards 2012

PRODUCER: FINDING MERCY- Spacific Films-2012 Television New Zealand/Knowledge (Canada) 2013.
The heart-breaking story of two little girls, one black and one white, and a friendship that came to represent the lost promise of Zimbabwe. The film premiered at IDFA (International Documentary Festival Amsterdam).
Winner “Best New Director” (Robyn Paterson) DocEdge Film Festival 2013

DIRECTOR: TOPP TWINS–UNTOUCHABLE GIRLS– Diva Films (NZ) 2009
Theatrical feature documentary about the lives of New Zealand icons, the yodeling, lesbian, twin sister duo; The Topp Twins. The film premiered at The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and having grossed nearly $2 million at the box office it is the most successful documentary in New Zealand history.
Winner “People’s Choice Award Documentary” Toronto International Film Festival 2009
Winner “Best Film” NZ Film Awards 2009
Winner 21 International Awards! (See About Leanne: Awards and Honours) ***

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER:BEING BILLY APPLE–Spacific Films-2007   Television New Zealand.
The  life story of Billy Apple, a living work of art, who alongside Andy Warhol, David Hockney and others re-defined what it meant to be an artist.

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: TRY REVOLUTION – Spacific Films – 2006   Television New Zealand/M-Net (South Africa)/SBS (Australia)
How rugby helped to bring down Apartheid in South Africa featuring Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Finalist “Best Documentary” New Zealand Screen Awards 2007
Finalist “Best Documentary”New Zealand Television Awards 2007

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: THE PROMISE – Spacific Films -2005
Television New Zealand / CBC (Canada) / LINK (USA) / TPS (Taiwan)
Feature length documentary following the incredible journey of Leslie Martin, the euthanasia advocate who was convicted of attempting to murder her mother.
Winner “Best Documentary” NZ Screen Awards 2006
Winner “Best Camera” NZ Screen Awards 2006
Winner “Special Mention” Feature Length Documentary DocNZ 2005.
Screened “Input 2006” (Taiwan) selected “Best Of Input 2006” (Brazil).

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: HAUNTING DOUGLAS – Spacific Films – 2003
Television New Zealand / ABC (Australia) / YLE (Finland)
Feature length documentary about the life and work of Douglas Wright, one of the world’s greatest dancer/choreographers.
Winner “Best Director” NZ Screen Awards 2005
Winner “Best Editor” NZ Screen Awards 2005.
Winner “Best Documentary” Reel Dance Awards Sydney 2004
Featured in Top Ten of the book “100 Essential New Zealand Films” (Awa Press, 2009)

PRODUCER: THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING – NHNZ – 2001
Discovery Health (International)
A ground breaking docudrama about men’s health issues.

PRODUCER: KIWI BUDDHA – Spacific Films – 2000 National Geographic (International) / TV3 (New Zealand) / Danish Public Broadcasting / RTE (Ireland) / Israel / Korea / France
The story of Rinpoche, the Southern Hemisphere’s first Buddhist High Lama

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: RELATIVE GUILT – Spacific Films – 1999 TV3 (New Zealand)
Guilt by association, the family of a murderer.
Winner “Best Documentary” 1999 Qantas Media Awards.

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: EVERYMAN – “PAPABILE” –BBC Manchester – 1997   BBC / (50 Territories)
A docudrama examining the ancient process of Papal elections.

DIRECTOR: MODERN TIMES-“RELATIVE STRANGERS” –Mosaic Films – 1997  BBC (U.K.)
Exploring the complicated nature of our relationship with in-laws.

DIRECTOR: EYEWITNESS – “POND & RIVER” – Café Productions –1996    BBC / OPB (PBS America) / (over 80 territories)
Part of the Emmy Award winning series combing history, science, and mythology with nature.

DIRECTOR: EVERYMAN-“THE SILENT EXPORT”– BBC Manchester- 1995  BBC (U.K.)
A docudrama exploring the experiences of Irish Women who travel to England for abortions.

DIRECTOR: BIG SCIENCE (X4) -Wall to Wall Productions –1994  BBC (U.K.)
A weekly series exploring the moral, ethical and philosophical implications of modern science.

DIRECTOR: DEADLINE (X6) – Real Life Productions –1994 Channel 4 (U.K.)
A 6 part behind the scenes look at the sometimes bizarre world of a regional news channel.

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: EVERYMAN -“GODS CANDIDATES” –BBC Manchester – 1994
BBC (World wide) various territories.
A documentary about Vatican politics.

DIRECTOR: BRAVE NEW WORLD – Open Media –1994 Channel 4 (U.K.)
A science film investigating the implications of genetic research on reproductive technology.

CO-DIRECTOR/CAMERA: 40 MINUTES-“WILL THEY RING”– MOSAIC PICTURES –
1993 BBC (World wide) various territories.
A documentary about the problems faced by patients waiting for organ transplants.

CO-DIRECTOR/CAMERA: 40 MINUTES – “A Change of Heart” –MOSAIC PICTURES – 1993. BBC (World wide) various territories.
A look at the issues surrounding the use of pig’s organs for human transplantation.

DIRECTOR/CAMERA: INSIDE TRACK ON PARENTING – LWT –1993 – ITV (U.K.)
An informative magazine programme about the trials of parenting.

DIRECTOR/CAMERA: FIRST HAND –First Hand Productions – 1990-92
Television New Zealand. A series documenting the lives of extra-ordinary New Zealanders.

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (The Oscars).

The Screen Director’s Guild of New Zealand – Past Board Member

Women in Film and Television – NZ Branch

FILM SCHOOL TEACHING EXPERIENCE

University of Auckland – 2001- 2004 – School for Creative and Performing Arts; Lecturer in Documentary

Various guest speaker engagements re: documentary filmmaking, including; Otago University, Unitec, AUT, British Director’s Guild, Royal Television Society (U.K.), British Academy of Film & Television Arts, Norwegian Film School (London visits).

RELEVANT EDUCATIONAL DETAILS:

DRAMA DIRECTOR’S WORKSHOP – The Sundance Institute – USA – 1996
This programme was a one week director’s workshop limited to 30 directors from around the world. It was held at the Sundance Institute home of the Sundance Festival and was run by Joan Darling one of Hollywood’s most successful Actor’s Coach/Directors.

RADIO & TELEVISION ARTS – Ryerson University – Toronto, Canada –1985
This is a three year degree programme with a limited intake of 80 students from across Canada. I left after my first year as I was offered work in the film industry.

UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG COLLEGIATE – High School Diploma – Canada –1982
The Collegiate offers grade 12 within the University environment. I graduated with university entrance level grades

DRAMA STUDIES – The American Academy of Dramatic Arts – USA –1982 Acting programme summer session.

DRAMA STUDIES – The Manitoba School of Performing Arts – Canada –1980-82 Part-time acting classes