The fifth series of Someday Stories, a creative development platform for emerging filmmakers, is set to launch on Wednesday 8 September. The fresh crop of short films that inspire, challenge, uplift, and question will premiere online every Monday and Wednesday in September, accessible through a variety of online platforms including PlayStuff and Someday Stories’ own channels.
Since 2017, Someday Stories has supported creatives between the ages of 18 and 29 to tell their own stories, showcasing their abilities on their journey to becoming professional film-makers. Focused on building professional skills through industry mentorship and upskilling young makers to enter the field, the Someday Stories framework has now successfully delivered thirty short films over five series. Attracting large online audiences with each iteration, previous films have been accepted into international festivals such as The International Wildlife Film Festival (Montana, USA), OutFest (Los Angeles, USA) and Malmo International LGBTQ+ Short Film Festival (Sweden).
For Series 5, a vast array of topics from cultural and gender identity to environmentalism and fake news are explored, with these contemporary short films showcasing the ambition and diverse perspectives of young creatives coming up into the film industry in Aotearoa. With genres ranging from drama, documentary, and mockumentary, the six short films developed in Series 5 are:
Mekeni
Release date: Wednesday 8th September; Drama
Aotearoa’s first short film in Kapampángan-Filipino language, Mekeni explores how an unexpected encounter connects a Filipino-Kiwi daughter and her migrant father, causing them to confront their ongoing grief in the face of impending further loss.
Director: Alyssa Medel-Khew, Co-Producer & Writer: Márianne Infante, Producer: Todd Waters
With industry mentoring from Script Consultant Lynda Chanwai-Earle and Production Mentor Shuchi Kothari
He Takatāpui Ahau
Release date: Monday 13th September; Drama
Addressing the role of gender on our marae in a cinematic first, He Takatāpui Ahau follows a gentle non-binary person as they decide to go back to their tūrangawaewae despite uncertainty that they’ll be accepted for who they are.
Director & Writer: Alesha Ahdar, Producer: Komako-aroha Silver
With industry mentoring from Max Currie
Taiao
Release date: Wednesday 15th September; Documentary
With the film-maker returning from the USA to reconnect with his people and rohe, Taiao explores how and why we use Aotearoa’s natural environment the way we do, presenting a snapshot of the times we live in through this flagship experimental, nonverbal documentary.
Director: Andrei Talili & Micah Winiata, Producer: Micah Winiata
With industry mentoring from Jerry Tauamiti
A Fracking Tour of Taranaki
Release date: Monday 20th September; Documentary
As emission targets loom, this short documentary highlights an environmental catastrophe persisting in Aotearoa’s backyard – the expansion of oil and natural gas operations in Taranaki.
Concept & Director: Ethan Alderson-Hughes, Producers: Jean Bell & Ali Nicholls
With industry mentoring from Jim Marbrook
Pet Day
Release date: Wednesday 22nd September; Drama
Exploring men’s mental health in rural Aotearoa, two horse-loving best friends are confused by their Step-Dad’s emotional reaction when they bring home a gift from their teacher.
Director & Writer: Ruby Harris, Producer: Stephanie Escalante
With industry mentoring from Script Consultant: Johanna Smith and Production Mentor Alix Whittaker
A Peek Inside The CHCH Internet Troll Agency
Release date: Monday 27th September; Comedy/Mockumentary
Exploring fake news with tongue firmly in cheek humour, a documentary crew is granted special access through a family member into the Christchurch branch of the top-secret Social Cyberspace Agency.
Directors and Writers: Lucie Jones & Genevieve Kent, Producer: Mikaela Rüegg
With industry mentoring from Script Consultant Thomas Sainsbury and Production Mentor Dean Hewison
Someday Stories Series 5
Films premiere at 11am on day of release
Streaming on PlayStuff, RNZ, and Māori Television On Demand
As well as the Someday Stories website, Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo