Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland
Regional Managers
Your Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland Regional Managers are Alix Whittaker and Matilda Boese-Wong.
Alix Whittaker
Producer of ambitious and award-winning music videos, short films and feature films, Alix boasts a notable portfolio that includes Alien Pregnant by THUNDERLIPS, Daniel by Claire van Beek, Stray by Dustin Feneley, and Mega Time Squad by Tim van Dammen. Through her company Candlelit Pictures, Alix is immersed in developing and financing a diverse slate of feature films. Drawing from her experiences as a Producer Intern on Taika Waititi’s Hunt For The Wilderpeople, attending Ted Hope’s Producing Masterclass, Sue Maslin’s Producing Course, and Louise Gough’s Story Development Workshop, Alix has an unwavering commitment to infusing unique perspectives into the cinematic landscape.
Matilda Boese-Wong
Matilda is a Chinese/Japanese Kiwi filmmaker, working across producing, directing and art department. As an Asian New Zealander, she prioritises authentic, unheard narratives, leading her to be a founding member of the Pan Asian Screen Collective. She has worked across shorts, series, documentaries, and NZOnAir-funded music videos, with some of her work being featured in the Asian Aotearoa Arts Hui and Wellington Museum. A 2020 MFA graduate, she's skilled in production and management. She is currently producing a Day One Shorts documentary - Gloss Finish and has been selected for PASC’s Episode One: Redux programme. Recent production work includes: Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant, Last Home Renters (The Spinoff), Little Apocalypse (TVNZ+), Gatecrash (NZIFF, MIFF), and Conspiraseries (RNZ’s Tahi). Website.
2025 Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland Regional Winner
iTROLL by Permanently Confused
2025 Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland Runner Up
Maybe Daddy by Jovial Entertainment
2025 Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland Finalists
My Boo by A GOOD SQUEEZE
Open Home by A Weka Stole My Lunchbox
Once Upon a Time, There Was You by Angle3 Pictures
Two Minutes, One Cup by Anxious Tummy
MOTHER by Awkward Animations
The Dirtiest Boy In The World by chips cheese cats etc
Hope Mirrored is Despair by Enter the Hollow
RealYou by Film the People
Party Puffers by Glowtime
The Shroud by Jake The Sound Guy
Mouse No. 39 by Sealami
The Occupation by The Horny Owls
Shortlisted Films
The Last Holiday by 1001
Holiday Hitman by Auckland Film Collaborators
Seek by B Block
The Time Killer by Breakfast Battalion
Cold Ones by Bulgogi Cheese Hoagie
TOASTED by CRAKD
Parcel Pup by Frauleins, oh frauleins
MATEBOT (OR, COVID-2: SO MUCH WORSE) by G - UNIT
Something for Santa by Magic Suitcase
A Recipe For Love by Take A Hike
BLT: Bad Lunch Time by The Gluesticks
2025 Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland Winners
Wift Best Female / Gender Diverse Filmmaker
Nani Conforte - Hope Mirrored is Despair from Enter The Hollow
Nominees
Maybe Daddy - Isla Macleod from Jovial Entertainment
Anna Rose Duckworth and Michele Powles - Something for Santa from Magic Suitcase
Hweiling Ow - iTROLL from Permanently Confused
Floriane Caillot - The Occupation from The Horny Owls
City Manager Award - Future Feature
RealYou by Film the People
Nominees
The Dirtiest Boy In The World by chips cheese cats etc
Something for Santa by Magic Suitcase
iTROLL by Permanently Confused
Two Minutes, One Cup by Anxious Tummy
Best Director
iTROLL - Hweiling Ow by Permanently Confused
Nominees
Two Minutes, One Cup by Anxious Tummy
RealYou by Film the People
Maybe Daddy by Jovial Entertainment
The Occupation by The Horny Owls
Best School
The BOO-tiful Sea by Flip Phone - Western Springs College
Nominees
The P Movie by 2 More Nights at MACleans - Macleans College
Baby Fever by Despicable We - Western Springs College
A SPANNER IN THE WORKS by Avondale College
Intervention by Les Garçons - Western Springs College
Best Performer
Kalyani Nagarajan - iTROLL by Permanently Confused
Nominees
Paipera Hayes - MATEBOT (OR, COVID-2: SO MUCH WORSE) by G - UNIT
Sepi To’a ,Felicia To’a, Ella To'a - The Occupation by The Horny Owls
Brigit Kelly - Two Minutes, One Cup by Anxious Tummy
Jesme Fa'auuga - Maybe Daddy by Jovial Entertainment
Best Script
Maybe Daddy by Jovial Entertainment
Nominees
Two Minutes, One Cup by Anxious Tummy
RealYou by Film the People
Once Upon a Time, There Was You by Angle3 Pictures
iTROLL by Permanently Confused
Best Cinematography
Hope Mirrored is Despair by Enter the Hollow
Nominees
Maybe Daddy by Jovial Entertainment
Something for Santa by Magic Suitcase
The Shroud by Jake The Sound Guy
Once Upon a Time, There Was You by Angle3 Pictures
Best Production Design
The Occupation by The Horny Owls
Nominees
Something for Santa by Magic Suitcase
Hope Mirrored is Despair by Enter the Hollow
Two Minutes, One Cup by Anxious Tummy
iTROLL by Permanently Confused
Best Animation
MOTHER by Awkward Animations
Nominees
Mouse No. 39 by Sealami
Swallowed by The Backup Plan
Parcel Pup by Frauleins, oh frauleins
Tinder For Dogs by TheBeeGees
Best Editing
The Shroud by Jake The Sound Guy
Nominees
iTROLL by Permanently Confused
Maybe Daddy by Jovial Entertainment
RealYou by Film the People
Something for Santa by Magic Suitcase
Best Sound Design
The Shroud by Jake The Sound Guy
Nominees
RealYou by Film the People
Two Minutes, One Cup by Anxious Tummy
A Recipe For Love by Take A Hike
iTROLL by Permanently Confused
Best Original Score/Song
Once Upon a Time, There Was You by Angle3 Pictures
Nominees
iTROLL by Permanently Confused
Two Minutes, One Cup by Anxious Tummy
Mouse No. 39 by Sealami
Parcel Pup by Frauleins, oh frauleins
Incredibly Strange
Two Minutes, One Cup by Anxious Tummy
Nominees
Swallowed by The Backup Plan
Tinder For Dogs by TheBeeGees
Hope Mirrored is Despair by Enter the Hollow
The Dirtiest Boy In The World by chips cheese cats etc
Best Disqualified Film
Cake Fancy Small by Rouge Emu
Nominees
Breakfast in Bed by Not Too Shabby
Two Steps Closer by Quarter of a Glass
Point Of Last Seen by Any Road
Cardboard by Events Crew Squad
Best Use of Genre
The Shroud by Jake The Sound Guy - Fairytale
Nominees
RealYou by Film the People - Man Vs. Machine
Fertilizer by Vaughn A.Bandons -Man Vs. Nature
MOTHER by Awkward Animations - Found Footage
My Boo by A GOOD SQUEEZE - Ghost
Best Use of An Accident
My Boo by A GOOD SQUEEZE
Nominees
Two Minutes, One Cup by Anxious Tummy
TOASTED by CRAKD
CLARKS BLAZEY DAY by Last Minute Productions
Maybe Daddy by Jovial Entertainment
Best Use of Something Precious
Cold Ones by Bulgogi Cheese Hoagie
Nominees
Something for Santa by Magic Suitcase
MOTHER by Awkward Animations
BLT: Bad Lunch Time by The Gluesticks
RealYou by Film the People
Best Use of Miniature
CLARKS BLAZEY DAY by Last Minute Productions
Nominees
Memoria by Broken Glass
Something for Santa by Magic Suitcase
Lollipop! by Chinese Sausage Productions
The Shroud by Jake The Sound Guy
Best Use of Slow Motion
The Occupation by The Horny Owls
Nominees
Holiday Hitman by Auckland Film Collaborators
The Time Killer by Breakfast Battalion
Maybe Daddy by Jovial Entertainment
Party Puffers by Glowtime
Judges
Christina Asher
Casting Director | Filmmaker | Industry Mentor
A proud Māori creative of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngā Rauru ki Tahi, and Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi descent, with over 40 years in Aotearoa’s screen industry, Christina began her career in front of the camera as a dancer, actor and choreographer—experience that led her into casting for commercials, television drama, and film. Her casting credits span decades, from Barry Barclay’s Te Rua (1991) to recent Film productions Kiwi and Mārama, both currently in post-production.
Fortunate to be part of the vibrant Pōneke arts scene, she seized the opportunity created by the 1993 Centennial of Women’s Suffrage to direct her first documentary Tui Tuia—an international Indigenous co-production alongside First Nations creatives from Canada, Australia, and Scandinavia.
Christina is a founding member of Te Manu Aute, the kaupapa that gave rise to Whakaata Māori, and served as Chair of Ngā Aho Whakaari from 2016–2019. Her contributions to the industry have been recognised with the WIFT Mana Wāhine Award (2017) and the New Zealand Film Commission's Te Aupounamu Māori Screen Excellence Award (2021). Today, she lives in Tāmaki and remains a passionate advocate for emerging talent, supporting up-and-coming filmmakers through mentorship and industry networks. IMDB.
Tamar Münch
Tamar Münch is an entertainment publicist with three decades of experience working in both New Zealand and Australia. Now operating independently as a freelancer, she previously worked as a publicist in-house across both production companies and broadcasters.
Tamar is the Founder and Company Director of The Public Good, a boutique Auckland-based communications consultancy specialising in entertainment & arts publicity and media communications. As New Zealand’s most-experienced Unit Publicist, Tamar has worked across literally hundreds of screen productions, both domestic and international. She’s also managed release PR campaigns for a wide variety of film and television productions, collaborating with filmmakers, distributors, streaming platforms and broadcasters to connect their projects with audiences. Additionally, her expertise includes social media strategy and execution, impact campaigns, creative services delivery, personal brand management, media training and crisis communications.
Tamar is regular film and television reviewer for RNZ’s Nine to Noon and is a Level 2 certified Iyengar Yoga teacher.
Dan Kircher
Dan Kircher is a film editor based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. He cut Michelle Savill’s Millie Lies Low (2022), Ant Timpson’s Come To Daddy (2019) and David Farrier’s Mister Organ (2022).
Dan's work has played at SXSW, Berlinale, Tribeca and TIFF. His other credits include dysfunctional family caper Bookworm (2024), Te Reo Māori martial arts adventure The Dead Lands (2014) and the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s film production of Giselle (2013). He recently completed work on the Māori gothic horror Mārama.
Paula Whetu Jones
Paula Whetu Jones (Te Aitanga a Māhaki, Whakatōhea, Ngāti Porou) is a writer, director and creative producer with a career spanning 25+ years across documentary, drama and hybrid work that doesn’t sit neatly in any box. She’s best known for her unconventional storytelling — from raw, intimate documentaries like Gang Girls and Mama Tere to the bold, genre-bending series Spinal Destination, based on her own lived experience of paralysis. Paula is also a committed mentor, backing storytellers to take up space and tell stories their way.
Jane Bucknell
Jane Bucknell is an accomplished film maker based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa, New Zealand. She has over two decades of experience and numerous credits in costume design, production design and art direction.
Jane was born and raised in Te Tai Tokerau, Northland, and is of Ngāpuhi, Ngati Hau, Ngati Pukenga, Fijian and Scottish whakapapa. In 2015 she was selected to attend the Production Design Studio at the Berlinale Talents Festival in Berlin, Germany.
In 2018 she was part of a group of Māori filmmakers invited to travel to Toronto, Canada to premiere the short film My Brother Mitchell as part of the ImagineNative indigenous film festival. Some of her more recent production design credits for New Zealand TV series include The Panthers, Madam, Dead Ahead and Tangata Pai. Jane is an active member of the worldwide Production Designers Collective and dedicated mentor to a number of emerging film makers.
Andrew Cozens
Andrew Cozens is the General Manager of Madman NZ, with over 15 years sales and marketing experience in film distribution. During that period Andrew has worked on hundreds of films across all aspects of their lifecycle - finding the best path to market through festivals, cinema release, digital and ancillary platforms.
As General Manager for Madman he is responsible for leading the acquisitions portfolio on local films and the marketing strategy for our biggest releases. Recent releases under Madman include local sensation Tinā, and Academy Award winners Flow and The Substance. Upcoming releases include kiwi dramedy Workmates and the true life drama Pike River, starring Melanie Lynskey and Robyn Malcolm
Andrew is passionate about championing local stories, supporting emerging talent and bringing audiences together around the magic of cinema.
Andrew graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Arts in Film and English (2007).
Marianne Infante
Marianne Infante is a Kapampángan-Filipino multidisciplinary creative powerhouse and mentor. She is the Executive Director of PAT (Proudly Asian Theatre) where she began her producing career in 2017 and later co-founded her own creative company TKC (Te & Kuya Collaborative) where she co-produced ‘Mekeni’ (Someday Stories) and launched her Filipino acting course. In 2023-2024. Marianne mentored 25 of Aotearoa’s future theatre producers AKL, WLG and CHC through Producers In Training ‘PIT’ (funded by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage).
As well as an experienced producer, Marianne is an award-winning actor (stage and screen), writer, an Intimacy Professional, and an emerging director. Infante wrote and presented the first Filipino theatre play (‘Pinay’ at Basement Theatre in 2019), the first Kapampángan short-film (‘Mekeni’ with Someday Stories 2021) and starred in NZ’s prime time show Shortland Street as ‘Nurse Madonna Diaz’ for four years being the first Filipino core cast member in the 34 seasons of the TV soap.
Geoff Lamb
Geoff Lamb ASE is an award-winning film and television editor with nearly three decades of experience in the industry. He has cut a diverse slate of high-profile projects, from critically acclaimed feature films to premium television dramas. Lamb’s career highlights include editing the breakout horror hit Talk to Me (2023) and Bring Her Back (2025).
Kelly Mitchell
Kelly Mitchell is a distinguished Indigenous Māori Makeup, Hair, and SPFX Designer with a celebrated career spanning over 25 years in film and television. Kelly has built an award-winning career that combines technical excellence with deep cultural storytelling.
She recently led the Hair, Makeup, and Special Effects design for the powerful feature film Kōkā (2025). Her work was pivotal in shaping the emotional and visual language of the film, further cementing her role as a leading voice in indigenous screen design.
Kelly’s work on The Gone Season 2 has also been receiving international acclaim—named one of the BBC’s Top 5 cop dramas, and ranking as one of Ireland’s most-watched series on RTÉ One. Her makeup and hair design played an essential role in creating the series’ moody, realistic tone.
In 2023, Kelly won the NZTVA Award for Best Makeup Design for The Gone, and was also nominated for her work on One Lane Bridge 3. She previously received a 2022 nomination for her designs on the acclaimed series The Panthers. Her portfolio includes contributions to Oscar-winning productions such as The Power of the Dog by Jane Campion.
Kelly’s ability to breathe life into characters—from gritty crime thrillers to stylised historical epics to pop culture—has made her a trusted name across Aotearoa and beyond. Passionate about storytelling and transformation, she continues to champion Indigenous representation on screen while also mentoring emerging artists.
When she’s not on set, Kelly is an avid traveller, explorer, and lifelong learner—always seeking new inspiration to bring back to her craft.