Taryn Brumfitt

Taryn Brumfitt, mother of three, is a writer, director, speaker and the founder of the Body Image Movement. Taryn rose to fame after she posted a naked picture, post-baby, of herself on Facebook, which went viral. Her debut feature Embrace is a documentary all about body obsession. Her role is to harness and facilitate positive body image activism by teaching women the value and power of loving their bodies, from the inside out.

Embrace

Monday 1 August, 6.15pm at Isaac Theatre Royal

Bridget Ikin and Alison Maclean

Bridget Ikin is an award-winning producer in both Australia and New Zealand. In a career spanning over 30 years and committed to producing quality cinema, her feature films include: Jane Campion’s An Angel at My Table; Alison Maclean’s Kitchen Sink and Crush; Clara Law’s Floating Life; Sarah Watt’s Look Both Ways and My Year Without Sex; and most recently Sherpa, which screened at NZIFF15. Along with her feature films and documentaries, Ikin has produced Art + Soul, Warwick Thornton’s landmark documentary series on contemporary Aboriginal art for the ABC, and combined her producing with senior positions at the public broadcaster SBSi and the FFC (now Screen Australia).

Born in Canada, Alison Maclean emigrated to New Zealand in her teenage years. She came to international attention when her short film Kitchen Sink was nominated for a Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival and won eight awards at festivals worldwide. Following her success with two feature films – Crush (1992), which was an official selection at Cannes, and Jesus’ Son (1999), which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and earned Alison a Best Director nomination – Alison also directed episodes of Sex and the City, Carnivale, The Tudors, The L Word and Gossip Girl, along with music videos. In addition to her narrative work, she has co-directed the documentary Person of Interest, which screened in competition at the Sundance Film Festival. Alison now resides in New York.

The Rehearsal, based on the novel by Eleanor Catton (The Luminaries), was shot in Auckland and reunites award-winning collaborators Bridget Ikin (producer) and Alison Maclean (director).

The Rehearsal

Sunday 31 July, 5.45pm at Isaac Theatre Royal

Heath Cozens

Heath Cozens is a journalist, cinematographer and filmmaker. Raised in New Zealand, he spent 18 years in Japan, where he worked in broadcast news, documentaries and commercial film. He’s earned a crust as a local producer on television shows for Discovery Channel, History, Travel Channel and MTV. He has edited for Bloomberg and shot for the likes of AFP and Al Jazeera. Heath moved to New York late in 2013, where he continues his work. Doglegs is his feature documentary debut, one which he produced, directed, shot and edited.

Doglegs

Tuesday 2 August, 8.30pm at Hoyts Northlands

Phil Keoghan

New Zealand-born television personality and multiple Emmy award-winner Phil Keoghan is a producer, director and actor best known for hosting the US version of The Amazing Race since its debut. Keoghan, a known adventurer and bike enthusiast, produced Phil Rides Across America in 2012, a documentary about his 2500-mile pedal in just 40 days benefiting the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Le Ride was born after he read The Mile Eater by New Zealand’s cycling historians, and was introduced to the remarkable story of Harry Watson and his amazing Tour de France journey in 1928. Le Ride pays tribute to our modern day heroes of the road.

Le Ride

Friday 29 July, 8.15pm at Isaac Theatre Royal

Head to our Aotearoa section for more information on New Zealand filmmakers in attendance.