Seed 2014

Steve worked in the Hollywood system for 16 years before transitioning into writing and producing. Recently Steve spent 4 years as the Commissioner of Drama & Scripted Comedy at TVNZ. As a screenplay consultant he has written formal analysis on thousands of screenplays, and lectured at the Screenwriter's Expo, StoryBoard, Scriptwrights, Northwest Writers Guild, and dozens of institutions and industry organisations in America and New Zealand. Steve now spends his time writing and producing and serving the screenwriters of Aotearoa NZ on the Board of NZWG.

Mathew Horrocks is a producer of short films, documentaries, and feature films in New Zealand. Producing Beyond the Known World – a NZ / Indian co-production. In the UK he worked in production roles on 28 Days Later and Calendar Girls. Mostly recently Matthew was responsible for the management of Screenwest’s development & production funding programs and manages Screenwest’s $16m WARFF fund. As the head of the funding team, he also oversees Business Affairs, Indigenous, Diversity, Production Attraction and Talent Development activities along with current VR/Immersive and Australian/Indonesian co-pro strategies.

Ainsley Gardiner (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui/Ngāti Awa/Ngāti Pikiao) is a produced and director. Producing and co-producing some kiwi greats like Kombi Nation, Two Cars, One Night – which became the first NZ short to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Film – Tama Tū, Eagle vs Shark and the highly successful Boy, which set a new record for the highest grossing New Zealand film. Ainsley directed Mokopuna, Waru, and most recently Co-Directed Cousins with Briar Grace-Smith.

Kathryn is an award-winning screenwriter & playwright and script consultant. She won Best Script Drama at the 2021 NZTV Awards (with Riwia Brown) for "The Tender Trap" and was recently shortlisted for the 2022 NZ Adam Play Award. Kathryn has significant television credits - most recently “The Brokenwood Mysteries”, “Under The Vines”, Script Editor on TVNZ limited series "Black Hands", “Fresh Eggs”, and “The Cul de Sac.” She is currently on the writing team for Series 3 "My Life is Murder" and Series 2 "Bird's Eye View".

Fiona Samuel MNZM is a writer and director for television, radio, film and theatre, and a NZ Arts Foundation Laureate. Her body of work includes the original TV drama series The Marching Girls, one-woman stage play Lashings of Whipped Cream – A Session With a Teenage Dominatrix, television documentary Virginity, short films Bitch and Song of the Siren, radio dramas Blonde Bombshell and A Short History of Contraception and telefeatures Piece of My Heart, Bliss and Consent – The Louise Nicholas Story. Victoria Texas Independent Film Festival.