News

James Napier Robertson.s screenplay of The Dark Horse was named best feature script at the 5th annual New Zealand Writers Guild Awards (Swanz).

Directed by Napier Robertson and produced by Tom Hern, The Dark Horse is based on the true story of New Zealand speed-chess champion Genesis Potini, played by Cliff Curtis (Once Were Warriors, Whale Rider). James Rolleston (Boy) co-stars as Genesis. nephew Mana.

Despite a bipolar disorder, Potini turned a group of at-risk youth into budding chess champs. In its Toronto review The Hollywood Reporter praised the film as "an emotionally potent story of redemption anchored by a heart-piercing lead performance from Cliff Curtis.".

Transmission Films will open the film in Australia on November 20.

The full list of Swanz winners: Best Feature Film Script James Napier Robertson . The Dark Horse Best Short Film Script Gregory King . UFO Best Play Aroha Awarau . Luncheon Best Television Comedy Episode Millen Baird...

Pioneering New Zealand TV producer Caterina de Nave, who was Sbs.s Commissioning Editor for Drama, Comedy and Entertainment from 2009 until. her retirement earlier this year, died in Sydney on Sunday, aged 67.

She had leukemia. At Sbs her commissions ranged from dramas Better Man and East West 101 to the award-winning comedy Housos.

She began her TV career in Auckland in the early 70s, initially as a script editor on Play School. She was the first female to be appointed Head of Entertainment at Tvnz..

She then became Head of Development at South Pacific Pictures, the then in-house subsidiary of Tvnz , where she helped to develop, create and produce Shortland Street, the first Kiwi drama series to screen five nights a week.

In 2000 she joined TV3 as Head of Drama and Comedy, where she commissioned strip club series The Strip, Outrageous Fortune and bro'Town and executive produced the comedies The...

Sue Masters has re-joined Sbs as the executive producer of drama.

Masters reports to Alison Sharman, who was named head of commissioning for Sbs One and Sbs 2 last year.

Her appointment follows the retirement of Caterina de Nave as Ep of drama and comedy, TV and online.

.Sue will be a fantastic addition to the team and we are very much looking forward to having her on board to continue progressing our drama slate,. Sbs Head of TV Tony Iffland told If.

.Sue has an outstanding track record in Australian drama production, which our Sbs audience will soon come to appreciate..

Sbs has not announced a new local drama this year but a spokeswoman said, "We have several in development at the moment and hope to make a key announcement for 2015 very soon."

Masters was appointed supervising executive producer for comedy and drama for Sbs in 2008. In 2010 she was the...

Executives from all Australian free-to-air networks and Foxtel will provide rare insights into the kind of shows they.re looking for at this year.s Screen Forever: Spaa Conference.

In a new Meet the Buyer strand, each Australian broadcaster will present a session. Executive producers, commissioning editors and development executives will recap on the year, discussing the shows that worked and those that flopped.

They.ll outline the content they are seeking and why; the timeslots they are looking to fill; the audiences they are trying to attract; and how best to present new ideas for consideration. The executives participating include:

Ten: Rick Maier, Executive Producer, Cherrie Bottger, Network Head of Children's Television Nine: Jo Rooney, Network Drama Executive, Andy Ryan, Executive Producer of Drama, Adrian Swift, Director of Development, Karen Dewey, Head of Reality and Factual Foxtel: Jim Buchan, General Manager Factual Acquisitions, Josie Mason-Campbell, Managing Executive Producer Seven: Stevie K Murray,...