PERSONAL AND TOUCHING TALES OF AOTEAROA: SOMEDAY STORIES SERIES PLATFORMS EMERGING FILMMAKERS
Someday Stories is back with Series 6, platforming the exceptional work of six emerging young filmmaking teams, and supporting them to produce their first professionally funded short film project. These incredible and thoughtfully considered films will premiere every Monday and Wednesday throughout late August to mid-September, with the first film launching online on Monday 29th August. All of the films will be accessible to watch through the Someday Stories channels and their screen partners; RNZ, Whakaata Māori and PlayStuff.
Someday Stories received a record 77 applications for this series, and are thrilled to present the six films that have been completed, including four dramas and two documentary projects. This year’s films share stories of identity and experiences of language, grief and whānau.
Someday Stories has been supporting creatives between the ages of 18 and 29 to tell their own stories since 2017. Over that time they’ve been showcasing these creative’s abilities and supporting them on their journey to becoming professional filmmakers. With a strong focus on building professional skills through industry mentorship and upskilling young makers to enter the industry, the Someday Stories framework has now successfully delivered thirty-six short films over six series. With each new series that comes out, online audiences have grown, enabling previous films acceptance into international festivals including; The International Wildlife Film Festival (Montana, USA), OutFest (Los Angeles, USA) and Malmo International LGBTQ+ Short Film Festival (Sweden).
Someday Stories is made possible with the support of funding agencies; NZ On Air & Te Māngai Pāho.
The films in Someday Stories Series 6 present stories that are based on true events and tell tales of prevalent societal issues and experiences, working to remind us of what’s important in life, or how our choices affect not only us but generations to come. The six short films in Series 6 are:
Mary Mary
Release: Monday 29th August, 2022
Rating: M
Genre: Drama
An out of wedlock pregnancy forces eighteen year old Mary to take things into her own hands at great personal risk, altering the course of more than one life.
Writer/Director: Gabriella Gilbert
Producers: Ashleigh Roworth,
Consulting Producer: Emma Mortimer
Production Mentor: Michelle Savill
Script Consultant: Fiona Samuel
Kava ‘o Aotearoa
Release: Wednesday 31st August, 2022
Rating: G
Genre: Documentary
A collective of Pasifika cultural guardians reactivate ancient Tu’i Tonga kava ceremony for contemporary use in Aotearoa in a way that honours tangata whenua.
Concept & Director: Joshua Teariki Baker
Producer: Maria Tanner
Production Mentor: Andrew McGeorge
Birthday
Release: Monday 5th September, 2022
Rating: M - Adult Themes
Genre: Drama
Celebrating a birthday, a young boy and his exhausted babysitter wait for his unusually late parents.
Writer/Director: Sam Goodey
Producers: Ashlyn Phillips & Sam Goodey
Production Mentor: Kathy McRae
Script Consultant: Fiona Samuel
LARP: Heroes, Villains & Fantasy
Release: Wednesday 7th September 2022
Rating: M
Genre: Documentary
Live Action Roleplay enables people to explore their identities, helping them to overcome physical, mental and social barriers.
Director: Holli Lovesy
Producer: Paul Kennedy
Production Mentor: Dylan Reeve
Maumahara
Release: Monday 12th September, 2022 (Te Wiki o te Reo Māori)
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
A recycling truck driver takes his son on a night shift and tries to impress upon him the importance of not losing his reo.
Writer & Director: Kaitiaki Rodger
Producer: Kat Glass
Production Mentor: Catherine Fitzgerald
Script Consultant: Fiona Samuel
Hand in Hand
Release: Wednesday 14th September, 2022
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
At a 1970’s NZ school where sign language is banned, two deaf girls risk it all to experience true friendship.
Writer/Director: Shelley Waddams
Producer: Georgia Hoskins-Smith
Production Mentor: Georgina Conder
Script Consultant: Fiona Samuel
Part of the innovative ‘The Outlook for Someday’ project, Someday Stories is a wrap-around supportive framework exclusively for emerging filmmakers who have not previously received production funding. With support from NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho, the initiative provides industry mentorship and development support, as well as funding, for creatives who present a strong concept and have previously demonstrated significant promise with their self-funded films.
The industry mentoring forms a key part of the support structure of Someday Stories, offering participants access to some of Aotearoa’s best creative minds for feedback and support. This year has seen production mentors that have worked on some of Aotearoa’s best television and film.
A sustainability film project for young people, The Outlook for Someday also includes a nationwide series of filmmaking workshops (Someday Workshops), a leadership and mentorship programme for young creative entrepreneurs (Someday Leaders), and an annual film challenge (Someday Film Challenge). With the objective to help grow a generation of sustainability storytellers, their ethos is one of creative freedom, inclusiveness and talent development.
Someday Stories Executive Producer Chris Widdup says, “Someday Stories provides a vital opportunity for emerging young filmmakers to get their first funded professional filmmaking opportunity without having to compete with more seasoned industry professionals. We feel incredibly privileged to work with a cohort of young filmmakers who now have the opportunity to embark on a rewarding career.”
Someday Stories are planning to open applications for Someday Stories 7 later in 2022 (subject to funding). They will be specifically aiming to commission at least one film that conveys te ao Māori and has at least 50% te reo Māori content. They will also be aiming to commission at least one film with Pasifika content.
Someday Stories Series 6
Films premiere at 11am on day of release
Streaming on PlayStuff, RNZ and Whakaata Māori On Demand
As well as the Someday Stories website, Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo
Mary Mary:
Monday 29th August, 2022
Kava ‘o Aotearoa:
Wednesday 31st August, 2022
Birthday:
Monday 5th September, 2022
LARP: Heroes, Villains & Fantasy:
Wednesday 7th September 2022
Maumahara:
Monday 12th September, 2022
Hand in Hand:
Wednesday 14th September, 2022