Regional Wrap

Independent Projects Fill Gap in Canterbury Amid Industry Slowdown

Amid industry slowdown, Canterbury sees a surge of independent projects, including features, documentaries, and short films.

Jessica Todd

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It's been a busy few months for independent projects in Canterbury, stepping in to fill the gaps left by the general slowdown in the industry. Block one of the independent feature film *Sons of a Bitch* (dir. Zac Beckett-Knight) wrapped this week, following the exploits of farm dogs Jack (Emma Newborn) and Russell (Amelia Dunbar), who recount a traumatic trip to Ashburton involving a cult-like flock of sheep led by a well-endowed Ram (Josh Thomson).

Another exciting project is *Maurice & I* (dir. Rick Harvie, Jane Mahoney), a feature-length documentary celebrating Sir Miles Warren and Maurice Mahoney's hugely influential architectural partnership, and their legacy that was all but lost in the devastating Christchurch earthquakes. Boosted is running one of their largest-ever arts crowdfunding campaigns to help finish the film and get it into cinemas—please consider donating if you're reading this in time!

In addition, two short films from Series 7 of *Someday Stories* were produced or set in Otautahi. *I Stand For Consent* (dir. Liv McClymont) is a documentary advocating for compulsory consent education in schools, while *The World Around Me* (dir. Hasan Jhan Arslan) is a drama set in 2001, following a young second-generation Turkish immigrant navigating life as an outsider in Aotearoa.

Round 6 of the Screen CanterburyNZ grant has been completed, with the two recipients being Canterbury-based productions: the children's drama series *Maui & Elvis* and a *Kiri & Lou* feature film.

The inaugural Waitaha Screen Wānanga, hosted at Lumière Cinema, featured several well-known screen professionals, including film directors David White, Glenn Standring, Gillian Ashurst, Slavko Martinov, and narrative design expert Alexander Swords. The event, organized by Te Puna Matarau | Canterbury Screen Industry Group with support from Screen CanterburyNZ, the New Zealand Film Commission, and New Zealand on Air, was a successful all-day event and is expected to become an annual fixture in the region.

The Canterbury screen industry is alive and well, with these projects serving as a testament to the region's resilience and creative energy.

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