Seed 2021
Judges Panel
Sav Rodgers is a filmmaker and writer from Kansas City. His creative work centres on the queer experience through a comedic or personal lens. Director of Chasing Amy (2022). Sav is the Founder and Executive Director of the Transgender Film Center, assisting trans creators to bring finished films to audiences around the world. Serving on the Board of Directors for the Transgender Film Center, Film Society KC, and Advisory Council of the Vidiots Foundation. And a programmer at numerous film festivals, including Slamdance, Outfest, and the Victoria Texas Independent Film Festival.
Sav Rodgers
Sav Rodgers is a filmmaker and writer from Kansas City. His creative work centres on the queer experience through a comedic or personal lens. Director of Chasing Amy (2022). Sav is the Founder and Executive Director of the Transgender Film Center, assisting trans creators to bring finished films to audiences around the world. Serving on the Board of Directors for the Transgender Film Center, Film Society KC, and Advisory Council of the Vidiots Foundation. And a programmer at numerous film festivals, including Slamdance, Outfest, and the Victoria Texas Independent Film Festival.
Kath Akuhata-Brown (Ngāti Porou) is a screenwriter, director, former NZFC development executive and television documentarian. She is known for Purea (2020), Koka and Wash Day (2021).
Kath Akuhata-Brown
Kath Akuhata-Brown (Ngāti Porou) is a screenwriter, director, former NZFC development executive and television documentarian. She is known for Purea (2020), Koka and Wash Day (2021).
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.
Matthew Horrocks
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.
Ainsley Gardiner
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.
Mukilan Thangamani is a Writer/Director who was born in India, raised in Botswana and New Zealand, and now lives in Australia. He credits this nomadic upbringing for motivating his love of cultural diversity and passion for wanting to see it reflected more in media. He's done assignment work for the New Zealand Film Commission, won multiple writing contests, and was also featured on The Tracking Board’s annual ‘Young & Hungry List’.
Mukilan Thangamani
Mukilan Thangamani is a Writer/Director who was born in India, raised in Botswana and New Zealand, and now lives in Australia. He credits this nomadic upbringing for motivating his love of cultural diversity and passion for wanting to see it reflected more in media. He's done assignment work for the New Zealand Film Commission, won multiple writing contests, and was also featured on The Tracking Board’s annual ‘Young & Hungry List’.
Michelle Ehlen is a non-binary queer filmmaker who has produced, written, directed, and acted in five award-winning features, including the first lesbian comedy trilogy (Butch Jamie, Heterosexual Jill, S&M Sally) and her newly released dramedy Maybe Someday. Her films have screened in over 100 festivals worldwide, won 22 awards, and have been distributed on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and Apple TV. Michelle is currently working on an upcoming documentary called Queering the Binary, a large-scale research project and docuseries exploring non-binary identities and experiences.
Michelle Ehlen
Michelle Ehlen is a non-binary queer filmmaker who has produced, written, directed, and acted in five award-winning features, including the first lesbian comedy trilogy (Butch Jamie, Heterosexual Jill, S&M Sally) and her newly released dramedy Maybe Someday. Her films have screened in over 100 festivals worldwide, won 22 awards, and have been distributed on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and Apple TV. Michelle is currently working on an upcoming documentary called Queering the Binary, a large-scale research project and docuseries exploring non-binary identities and experiences.
Max Currie is a gay writer, director and show runner from Auckland via Palmerston North who’s put loads of queer characters and stories on NZ screens. Most recently he co-produced and directed transgender drama series Rūrangi, which is currently a NZTV Awards finalist for Best Drama, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. Max’s debut as a feature director and screenwriter was 2014’s festival darling Everything We Loved (Four Knights Film). In 2014 the film was nominated in the NZ Film Awards for Best film, Best Script, Best Director, Best Editing - and won Best Actress and Best Cinematography.
Max Currie
Max Currie is a gay writer, director and show runner from Auckland via Palmerston North who’s put loads of queer characters and stories on NZ screens. Most recently he co-produced and directed transgender drama series Rūrangi, which is currently a NZTV Awards finalist for Best Drama, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. Max’s debut as a feature director and screenwriter was 2014’s festival darling Everything We Loved (Four Knights Film). In 2014 the film was nominated in the NZ Film Awards for Best film, Best Script, Best Director, Best Editing - and won Best Actress and Best Cinematography.
Michael Bennett (Ngati Pikiao, Ngati Whakaue) is an award-winning New Zealand screenwriter and author whose films have been selected for numerous festivals including Cannes, Berlin, Toronto and New York. In 2008 Michael was the inaugural recipient of the Writers Award from the New Zealand Film Commission, and in 2005 he was awarded the British Council/New Zealand Writers Foundation Award.
Michael Bennett
Michael Bennett (Ngati Pikiao, Ngati Whakaue) is an award-winning New Zealand screenwriter and author whose films have been selected for numerous festivals including Cannes, Berlin, Toronto and New York. In 2008 Michael was the inaugural recipient of the Writers Award from the New Zealand Film Commission, and in 2005 he was awarded the British Council/New Zealand Writers Foundation Award.
Seed & Seed Advanced Results Announcement Date:
May 5, 2021
Grant Recipients
Seed Recipients:
When their school threatens to shut down their precious badminton club, two co-dependent besties are determined to smash their first ever championship and prove their club is worth fighting for.
Gwendolyn Lin
Blood, Sweat and Shuttlecocks
When their school threatens to shut down their precious badminton club, two co-dependent besties are determined to smash their first ever championship and prove their club is worth fighting for.
A young woman, testing the boundaries of the cult in which she was raised, gets messages from the outside world that incite a journey of self discovery and rebellion.
Stella Reid
The Band of the True Prophet
A young woman, testing the boundaries of the cult in which she was raised, gets messages from the outside world that incite a journey of self discovery and rebellion.
When an Asian actress lands the "role of a lifetime" the very process of production plunges her mind and her body into horror, as the role tries to destroy her from the inside out.
Nahyeon Lee
Vile Abjection
When an Asian actress lands the "role of a lifetime" the very process of production plunges her mind and her body into horror, as the role tries to destroy her from the inside out.
To free himself of a mind controlling implant that has turned him into an assassin, an elite mixed martial artist must hunt down the mysterious puppet master who can see and control his every move.
David Hay
Shadowboxer
To free himself of a mind controlling implant that has turned him into an assassin, an elite mixed martial artist must hunt down the mysterious puppet master who can see and control his every move.
A Zhizha (Taoist paper sculpture) craftsman reluctantly agrees to teach a new generation about the dying art, in an effort to overcome his grief from the recent loss of his wife and son during childbirth.
Daryl Wong
Lost in the Fire
A Zhizha (Taoist paper sculpture) craftsman reluctantly agrees to teach a new generation about the dying art, in an effort to overcome his grief from the recent loss of his wife and son during childbirth.
The romantic relationship between a scarred, lonely Indian school girl and an immortal, cannibalistic monster threatens to devour everything around them.
Rajneel Singh & Annamarie Connors
Leave Me Cold
The romantic relationship between a scarred, lonely Indian school girl and an immortal, cannibalistic monster threatens to devour everything around them.
Uninterested in reconnecting with her estranged Chinese family, Lily's life is upended when she unintentionally time travels back to 1960 New Zealand; the heyday of their ancestral fruit shop.
Sinead Lau
Not this Time
Uninterested in reconnecting with her estranged Chinese family, Lily's life is upended when she unintentionally time travels back to 1960 New Zealand; the heyday of their ancestral fruit shop.
Two entrepreneurial sisters try to overcome sexism in start-up funding by inventing a fake male cofounder for their company, but the fictional dude quickly takes over, derailing their business and unraveling their relationship.
Teresa Bass
Exit Strategy
Two entrepreneurial sisters try to overcome sexism in start-up funding by inventing a fake male cofounder for their company, but the fictional dude quickly takes over, derailing their business and unraveling their relationship.
PANIC across Aotearoa New Zealand as iconic national landmarks go missing. Two young siblings Daisha and Ari will have to learn to work together to prove themselves in a world of adults in order to crack the case of this GREAT KIWI CAPER.
Jackson Herman
The Great Kiwi Caper
PANIC across Aotearoa New Zealand as iconic national landmarks go missing. Two young siblings Daisha and Ari will have to learn to work together to prove themselves in a world of adults in order to crack the case of this GREAT KIWI CAPER.
In Ancient Polynesia, a rivalry between warriors sets off a decade long revenge plan for a young Tongan orphan. An angel and mythical creature seek to intervene before its too late.
Nastassia Wolfgramm
Chronicles of Polynesia - Tangi e Lupe (The Dove's Cry)
In Ancient Polynesia, a rivalry between warriors sets off a decade long revenge plan for a young Tongan orphan. An angel and mythical creature seek to intervene before its too late.
Seed Advanced Recipients:
A teenager who's been raised in a bunker, and convinced by her father that she's the second coming of the Messiah, questions everything she's been taught after she's exposed to the outside world for the first time.
Saviour
A teenager who's been raised in a bunker, and convinced by her father that she's the second coming of the Messiah, questions everything she's been taught after she's exposed to the outside world for the first time.
When a wealthy doctor suffers a serious stroke, the perfect lives of his wife and two adult children are capsized. But when they discover he has a secret family, all hell breaks loose.
Childish
When a wealthy doctor suffers a serious stroke, the perfect lives of his wife and two adult children are capsized. But when they discover he has a secret family, all hell breaks loose.
A young man escapes from his abusive past into the world of 1930's deer culling, but his budding feelings for a fellow culler forces him to confront aspects of himself he would rather keep buried.
Whaiaipo
A young man escapes from his abusive past into the world of 1930's deer culling, but his budding feelings for a fellow culler forces him to confront aspects of himself he would rather keep buried.
A novice pigeon snarer is called upon to capture a forest deity who guards two oak trees needed to complete the construction of a traditional Grand House.
Moonflower
A novice pigeon snarer is called upon to capture a forest deity who guards two oak trees needed to complete the construction of a traditional Grand House.
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