Leading creator takes on key role at NZ Film Commission

The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) has announced that director Ainsley Gardiner has been appointed as its head of financing.

Ainsley (Ngāti Awa, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Ngāti Pikiao and Te Whakatōhea), an acclaimed producer and director, will begin her role on 8 July.

She says: “Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga New Zealand Film Commission has a tradition of supporting New Zealand film and feature film talent. I have been honoured and grateful for the NZFC’s repeated support and I am now ready to serve that kaupapa.

“It’s clear that the NZFC is going through a period of rapid change and that, and Annie’s (Murray) leadership, is what attracted me to this role. I’m looking forward to contributing to a new vision that will empower the next generation of New Zealand filmmakers. I can’t wait to get started.”

Chief executive Annie Murray said she was “delighted” with Gardiner’s appointment.

“She has a wealth of experience as a producer on some of New Zealand’s best-loved films and joins us at a key time as we transform our organisation to deliver well on our strategic priorities, deliver results within a tight financial environment and – most importantly – ensure we can properly partner, support and deliver solutions for the film industry into the future.

“Ainsley will undoubtedly have a significant impact on our team as he leads these initiatives and beyond.”

Gardiner’s body of work in the industry is well-known and impressive, with over twenty short and feature films, documentaries and television series to her credit.

Since her early days learning from the likes of Merata Mita, Cliff Curtis and Larry Parr, Gardiner has gone on to have notable collaborations with Taika Waititi (producer of Waititi’s short films Ttwo cars, one night AND Dam Hereand we are working on Eagle vs Shark and Waititi’s breakthrough hit Boy).

She was one of nine Māori female directors to write and direct this acclaimed feature film Waruwhich was nominated for the 2017 Toronto Film Festival. Her second feature film, Cousinsco-directed with screenwriter Briar Grace-Smith, was the highest-grossing New Zealand film of 2020.

Ainsley most recently co-directed two seasons Not evena six-episode television comedy for Neon and Sky Open in the 2022/2023 season.

She was one of the producers of the 2018 comedy hit. Upper Breakers which premiered at SXSW and was sold to Netflix. Ainsley has hosted a shorts program for Māori Television, and previously served on the NZFC’s Māori development arm, Te Paepae Ataata, and as a member of the Story Camp Script-To-Screen Advisory Board.

Gardiner has worked extensively as an external script evaluator and mentor for emerging Māori and female writers, directors and producers. In 2018, she received the Mana Wåhine Award at the Wairoa Film Festival and was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to film.

The appointment of Head of Funding comes at a key time for the NZFC. In a newsletter issued on Thursday (4 July), Chairman Alastair Carruthers said he recognised that the restructuring of the organisation was causing stress for some, particularly NZFC staff.

“Everything that happened was aimed at aligning the organization with the new strategy that we recently published in our Statement of Intent (SOI) and Statement of Performance Expectations (SPE).

“The Board has listened carefully to feedback from across the sector and looks forward to seeing how the impact of this more decisive direction plays out in the coming months and years.”

Murray noted that in addition to Gardiner’s appointment, there will be several other appointments. The Bulletin confirmed the departure of 11 NZFC staff members in the past six months.

He adds: “To give our teams time to adjust to the new structure, there is no longer a July 22 development funding deadline. In response to industry feedback, we have made a significant change to the feature film production investment limit.

“In response to industry feedback and in the context of inflation and rising costs, the NZFC Board has agreed to increase the standard funding limit for feature film production investment from $2 million per film to $2.5 million, from 1 July 2024.”