NZAPG and NZFC announce Commercial Film Mentorship Programme: Female Directors

The NZ Advertising Producers Group, in association with the New Zealand Film Commission, has announced the successful applicants for the inaugural NZAPG Female Commercial Director Mentorship Programme to support talented new female directors.

Awanui Simich-Pene – FINCH
Anna Duckworth – Thick as Thieves & Exit Films
Morgan Albrecht – Flying Fish
Asuka Sylvie – Sweetshop

The NZAPG assessment panel would like to recognize the high calibre of applicants and applications that made it a challenging process to reach the final selection.

Says Bex Kelly, chair, NZAPG: “We are delighted to be giving four talented filmmakers another avenue for development and are looking forward to introducing them to our agency partners and collaborators.”

The four successful applicants will now undertake a three month, paid internship with four leading production companies. This new programme will enable the four successful applicants an immersive experience in the highly focused craft of commercial film workflows-from treatment writing, casting, storyboarding, meetings, through to post production and more.

The commercial film industry has long been a shining light in developing the story-telling and craft of leading filmmakers internationally-and here in Aotearoa.

NZAPG, and the participating production companies, are passionate about supporting the next generation of filmmakers. Skills learned under the programme are specific, but applicable to their ongoing craft in a wide range of formats.