Someday Stories Series 7 release dates announced. Call for Series 8 applicants

Someday Stories, a yearly short-film series run by The Outlook for Someday, has six short films being released this September as the seventh series of the program.

Someday Stories has a focus on filmmakers early in their careers, supporting their journey to becoming professional filmmakers, making films with a focus on sustainability. Someday Stories has now delivered 42 short films across its seven series', successfully supporting and upskilling emerging filmmakers. The Outlook for Someday has a wide definition of sustainability, including films that focus on social change, or tell a story from an underrepresented perspective.

Series 7 includes three documentaries and three dramas, each running between 9-12 minutes. This year's films include topics of consent, cultural identity, community connection and environmental protection. These short films will be hosted online by RNZ and Māori+ and broadcast on Whakaata Māori. The films will be released one at a time on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 3 September to 20 September. 

The Outlook for Someday is pleased to announce that they are now open for proposals to be a part of 2024's Someday Stories Series 8. NZ On Air has granted additional funding to produce eight short films next year, with increased budgets per film. More information can be found on The Outlook For Someday website. The deadline for applications to be a part of Series 8 is 20 October.

Information on this year’s films follows:

I Stand For Consent

Genre: Documentary
Release date: 4 September

When a shocking survey reveals the horrific extent of sexual harassment at her old high school, a filmmaker returns to discover what the school & students plan to do now.

Director - Olivia McClymont (she/her)
Producer - Jessica Todd (she/her)

Te Huka o Te Tai

Genre: Documentary
Release date: 6 September

A rural community in Te Araroa has their way of life threatened by the development of a barge facility that promises logging export jobs, but will disrupt wetlands and seashore in the process.

Director - Keeti Ngatai-Melbourne [Ngāti Porou, Tuhoe] (she/her) 
Producer - Madeleine Hakaraia de Young [Ngāti Kapu] (she/her)
Producer - Matilda Poasa [Saleaula, Falelatai, Faleasi’u - Samoa] (she/her)

The World Around Me

Genre: Drama
Release date: 11 September

Navigating life as an outsider in Aotearoa, a young second-generation Turkish immigrant seeks acceptance and belonging. 

Writer/Director - Hasan Jhan Arslan (he/him)
Producer - Gretchen Hatton (she/her)

Tō Te Wai

Genre: Drama
Release date: 13 September

A young Māori woman leads a fundraiser to purchase polluted farmland to turn into a nature reserve. When she is called out for not consulting with local mana whenua, she is forced to confront her disconnection from her own marae.

Director & Co-Writer: Georgia-May Russ [Ngāti Maniapoto] (she/her) 
Co-writer: Michaela Te Awa Bird - [Ngāti whakaue (Te Arawa), Ngāti Manawa Ngāpuhi] (she/her)
Producer: Jewels King - [Tainui / Waikato; Ngāti Ruanui, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Māhanga Hourua] (she/her)

Ballsy

Genre: Drama
Release date: 18 September

When an insecure teenage boy gets hit in the balls for the first time while playing cricket, he lies about the pain to appear strong in front of his friends.

Writer/Director - Warren Rodricks (he/him)
Producer - Bala Murali Shingade (he/him)

The Generation Gardener

Genre: Documentary
Release date: 20 September

Steven Yin shows the beauty and struggle of creating Bonsai as he runs a garden studio and Bonsai nursery with his family and teaches the next generation of Bonsai artists in Aotearoa. 

Director - Luke Ross (he/him)
Producer - Alice Youngquest (she/her)