DOCNZ E-Newsletter

#30 - Dec 2009

Kia ora documentary lovers. It’s our last newsletter for 2009 with the latest information about DOCNZ 2010. There are three DOCNZ deadlines in December for Pitching Forum proposals, TVC Competition and Lab proposals. We announce the first few films at DOCNZ Festival and confirm the some of participants of DOCNZ Lab and Summit. An Early Bird special registration fee for DOCNZ Summit is available until the end of the year. Also, if you are looking to adopt something this summer, why not Adopt a Doco and in the process help us deliver DOCNZ 2010?

To our friends and supporters in New Zealand and around the world we say, thank you for being part of the DOCNZ family. We wish you all happy holidays and look forward to seeing you at DOCNZ 2010!

The DOCNZ Team

In this issue

DOCNZ Festival – First peek at films announced
DDD – DOCNZ December Deadlines
Adopt a Doco – Give Documentaries A Home
Nominations open for Outstanding Contribution to the NZ’s Documentary Industry
DOCNZ Summit – Early Bird Special
DOCNZ welcomes a new partner - The Quadrant Hotel Auckland
Industry News
Calls for submissions

1. DOCNZ Festival – First peek at films announced

The programme launch of DOCNZ Festival will take place on January 27th 2010 in Auckland. Documentaries chosen show a broad range in topics and themes, some will delve into subject matter that is controversial and political while others focus on pop culture and entertainment. 2010 sees an emphasis on New Zealand made productions – there is now a “local” specific award.

Sergio (USA) - The Academy Award long-list nominee Sergio details the life of a Brazilian UN diplomat Sergio Vieira de Mello, acclaimed around the world for his efforts in UN sanctioned humanitarian and political programs in some of the most hostile of countries. On the brink of finally settling down with the woman he loves, Sergio becomes the representative of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq. The date of his assignment? August 19th 2003, at the Canal Hotel…

Stolen (Australia) - A controversial documentary with all the hallmarks of an internationalpolitical thriller, Stolen has been stalked by protests and international politics at each festival it has shown. Filmmakers Violeta Ayala and Daniel Fallshaw started off making a different film in North Africa but as they uncovered modern day slavery suffered by the Black Saharawis in the Polisario governed refugee camps in Western Sahara, they become enmeshed in the most perilous episode of their lives as their lives and those of their subjects become at risk and prey to the most sinister political and cultural forces.

New Zealand also offers its fair share of powerful documentaries; Shirley Horrocks’ Dance of the Instant combines original footage of pioneering 1940’s modern dancers, The New Dance Group, with interviews from surviving members of the group alongside re-enactments of the new forms of dance crafted from minimal resources, while John Di Stefano chronicles the trajectory of living in New Zealand, to his native Canada, through to his ancestral home in Italy with the autobiographical You are Here.

2. DDD - DOCNZ December Deadlines

Three important DOCNZ deadlines this month:

Pitching Forum proposals: This Friday 4th Dec at 4pm
DOCNZ 2010 TVC competition: Friday 18th Dec at 4pm
DOCNZ 2010 Lab submissions: Friday 24th Dec at 4pm

3. Adopt a Doco - Give Documentaries A Home

Adoptions are hot these days. Everyone is looking to adopt something so why not Adopt a Doco? And the best part? You do not have to go to a foreign country to do it.

DOCNZ’s Adopt A Doco Programme is offering companies/individuals a unique opportunity to support the Documentary New Zealand Trust. This is an occasion to help bring great documentaries to the DOCNZ Festival 2010, while demonstrating your company’s innovative side of business – giving you a unique talking point.

Find out how you can Adopt a Doco.

4. Nominations open for Outstanding Contribution to the NZ’s Documentary Industry

The Documentary NZ Trust will introduce a new annual Outstanding Contribution to the NZ’s Documentary Industry award at the DOCNZ Awards 2010. This award is to recognise either an individual or an organization for their contribution to New Zealand’s documentary industry. The presentation will take place at the DOCNZ 2010 Awards.

Individuals, organisations and companies from all levels and sectors may be nominated. The term "outstanding contribution" may describe a single action, activity or achievement, or an entire lifetime of commitment but such contribution has added to, enhanced or changed the course of New Zealand’s documentary industry.

We invite you to take part by completing the nomination form.
The deadline for nominations is Friday January 29, 2010.

5. DOCNZ Summit – Early Bird Special

An Early Bird registration fee for DOCNZ Summit 2010 is available for 3-day passes until the end of the month (31 December 2009).

The 4th DOCNZ Summit will be held in Auckland, 1-3 March 2010. The Summit will include master-classes, seminars, panel discussion, a Pitching Forum and networking opportunities.

6. DOCNZ welcomes a new partner - The Quadrant Hotel Auckland

DOCNZ is proud to announce a new partnership with The Quadrant Hotel Auckland. The 4-Star hip hotel will be the hub for DOCNZ 2010 guests and the exclusive accommodation partner of DOCNZ.

“It is a fantastic opportunity for The Quadrant Hotel Auckland to support this amazing international initiative”, says Hotel Manager Edward Judd.

“Working alongside the DOCNZ International Documentary Film Festival in 2010 is a perfect alignment for The Quadrant Hotel as we are all about style, funk and hip-ness, but also innovation and new ideas. We know that the DOCNZ International Documentary Film Festival will bring to New Zealand some great new insights into documentary film making”.

7. Industry News

DOCNZ heading to GZ DOC

Alex Lee and Dan Shanan will head a delegation from New Zealand attending GZ DOC (the largest documentary film festival) next week including Film Auckland and NZ producers. While in Guangzhou, DOCNZ will discuss co-production opportunities and introduce NZ’s documentary industry. A Memorandum of Understanding will also be signed. DOCNZ is grateful for the support of Asia NZ Foundation and Auckland City Council.

Katja Struder appointed DOCNZ Wellington Coordinator

We welcome our new Coordinator in Wellington, Katja Struder. Katja has a BA in Film, Television and Media Studies from the University of Auckland and a Diploma in Writing and Directing from South Seas FTV School. She spent three years working in Film and Television Production in Auckland before making the move to the capital city. She has a passion for both documentary and drama and is especially passionate about independent projects. Her love for photography and art persuaded her to return to study at Massey University in Wellington. She hopes to combine her interest in different platforms in the pursuit of her own future projects and hopes to have an ongoing involvement in festivals and the promotion of emerging artists and film makers.

“Rights on Screen” Short Film Competition

Screenrights, the organisation that administers royalty payments to rightsholders, invites students, professionals and enthusiasts in filmmaking to create a short film about what they do.

Make it funny, entertaining, and expressive for your chance to win $2,500 and a viewing of your work by major industry professionals.

“Rights on Screen” Short Film Competition

Congratulations to SPADA Awards winners

Michael Stedman (NHNZ) - The SPADA/Onfilm Industry Champion 2009
Richard Fletcher (producer of Under the Mountain) - The SPADA
Independent Producer of the Year 2009
Zia Mandviwalla - SPADA New Filmmaker of the Year
Robyn Paterson (Director) and Leanne Pooley (Producer) who met at the Date A Doco session (DOCNZ Summit 2009) won the Big Pitch at SPADA for the documentary in development.

Source: SPADA.

DOCNZ Interns

We like to farewell Carolina and Tom as they are finishing their stay with us shortly. Thank you for the hard work. We are pleased to welcome Benoit (Ben) from France to our team.

8. Calls for submissions

SXSW Austin, United States, 12–20 Mar 2010. Deadline: 3 Dec 2009 and Last Minute Deadline: 11 Dec 2009.
It's All True: International Documentary Film Festival Sao Paulo, Brazil, 8-18 Apr 2010. Deadline: 4 Dec 2009.
Tribeca Film Festival New York, United States, 21 Apr-2 May 2010. Deadline: 14 Dec 2009. Late Deadline Feature-length Work-In-Progress – 11 Jan 2010 (arrive by).
DOXA: Documentary Film + Video Festival Vancouver, Canada, 7-16 May 2010. Deadline: 18 Dec 2009.
Visions du Reel- Nyon International Documentary Film Festival, Nyon, Switzerland 15-21 April 2010. Deadline: 5 Jan 2010.
DOK.FEST- International Munich Documentary Film Festival, Munich, Germany 5-12 May 2010. Deadline: 8 Jan 2010.
Docaviv Documentary Film Festival, Tel Aviv, Israel, 6-15 May 2010. Deadline: 15 Jan 2010.
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Toronto, Canada 29 April 29 – 9 May 2010. Deadline: 15 Jan 2010.
ITVS International Call 2010 Deadline: 5 Feb 2010.