Find out the latest action on the Dunedin scene and more...

Dunedin exterior Scenes for Māori Gothic horror

The Māori Gothic horror film Mārama, written and directed by Taratoa Stappard (of Taumanu and Emkhatsini), filmed exterior scenes in Dunedin. Set in North Yorkshire, England, in 1859, Mārama tells the story of a young Māori woman’s struggle to reclaim her identity and indigenous culture within the confines of Victorian-era Britain. The film’s title is derived from the protagonist's name.

Māori actor Ariana Osborne (Madam, In A Flash) stars in the lead role, supported by British actor Toby Stephens (Black Sails, Die Another Day, Percy Jackson and The Olympians), who recently completed principal photography on the project.

Dunedin Hosts Emmy-Winning Producer for Workshop

In September, Emmy-award-winning producer Jon Kroll—known for his work on acclaimed projects such as The Amazing Race, Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, and Never Say Never—visited Dunedin to facilitate a one-day workshop focused on food, travel, and adventure shows. Organized by Women in Film and Television New Zealand (WIFT) in collaboration with Film Otago Southland and Film Dunedin, the workshop provided valuable insights into the industry. During his visit, Film Dunedin Coordinator Stefan Roesch took the opportunity to showcase the region's stunning locations to Jon for potential future projects.

Dunedin Script Accelerator Grant recipients

A South Dunedin family's struggle with the housing crisis is at the heart of a new film script that has won the inaugural Dunedin Script Accelerator Grant. Local filmmakers Shane Loader and Andrea Bosshard received $10,000 to further develop their script, which focuses on how Dunedin residents are navigating housing challenges.

Bosshard expressed gratitude for the grant, noting it allows them to concentrate solely on writing. Once completed, the script will be submitted to the New Zealand Film Commission or other funding bodies to be developed into a feature film. Film Dunedin’s Stefan Roesch explained that the grant, offered through the Dunedin Film Office, encourages locals to create bold stories that highlight the city and boost its screen sector.

Celebrating Stories from The Deep South

Last month, the Southern Pilots Development Programme concluded with an engaging online pitching session, showcasing Stories from The Deep South. The three Dunedin-based teams—Dog Town, Devil’s Junction, and Southern Skies—presented their projects to 14 industry professionals. This program, delivered by Script to Screen in partnership with Film Otago Southland, fosters creativity and collaboration in the region.

Congratulations to the 2024 Southern Pilots cohort:

• Dog Town: Kathryn van Beek, Pennie Hunt, Rebecca Rowe

• Devil's Junction: Emma Schranz, Kimberly Frost

• Southern Skies: Martin Kean, Vicki Lenihan, Sue Marshall

Supported by the NZ Film Commission, this initiative aims to generate IP for local and international audiences, strengthening the creative network in Otago and Southland.

NIGHT VISION script at Austin Film Festival

Dunedin’s Ella West has been named a semi-finalist in the 2024 Austin Film Festival Script Competition. The talented screenwriter’s feature film script, Night Vision, stood out among over 10,500 submissions across the Screenplay, Digital Series, Playwriting, and Fiction Podcast Competitions, placing in the top 2% of entries. Congratulations, Ella!

New Avalanche Safety Video Series

Dunedin-based creative agency Walsh & Beck produced a new series of Avalanche Safety videos for the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council (MSC), featuring 23 informative segments aimed at helping climbers and alpine enthusiasts navigate New Zealand's challenging terrain. Filmed on location in the mountains surrounding Methven, the team successfully captured approximately 85% of the required footage during an intensive week of shooting in collaboration with MSC experts. With post-production underway, the series is set to launch in winter 2025, further enriching MSC's library of free avalanche awareness resources.

Film Dunedin speaking engagements

Film Dunedin Coordinator, Stefan Roesch, has been keeping the region’s film profile high:

• Creative Career Pathways Panel - Stephan participated in the Crafting a Creative Career panel hosted by the University of Otago's Career Development Centre, joining professionals from various creative fields. He shared insights on building a career in screen production, emphasising resilience, networking, and the growing demand for locally produced content in Dunedin's expanding film sector.

• Economic Development Conference NZ 2024 - At the Economic Development New Zealand (EDNZ) Conference in Dunedin, Stefan joined a panel discussion, Lights, Camera & The Economy – The Screen Sector’s Impact, alongside regional film office colleagues. The panel explored the significant economic contributions of the screen sector to local communities, highlighting how film production boosts economies, creates jobs, and enhances New Zealand's reputation as a filming destination. Actor, Cliff Curtis, made a surprise appearance via Zoom, sharing his invaluable insights on New Zealand’s screen industry as an economic powerhouse.

• 2024 Heritage Bytes - Stefan delivered a presentation entitled Behind the Scenes of New Zealand's Screen Industry at the 2024 Heritage Bytes evening hosted by the Southern Heritage Trust. Utilising a rapid-fire format of 20 slides shown for 20 seconds each, he informed the audience with surprising facts about the inner workings of the film industry in New Zealand.