How did you score your role at NZIFF?

If I’m being honest, pure chance. One of the staff here asked if I’d be interested in joining the team…always the way in Wellington – you never know when you’ve met someone who a few months later will bring you onboard the coolest little film festival in New Zealand.

What does your role involve?

I’m an intern for the Outreach team, which means I’m essentially helping the wider public to become aware of the wonderful array of films on offer at this year’s NZIFF.

What are your must-see films during NZIFF 2018?

Mandy, Rafiki, Climax, Mirai and Virus Tropical.

Aside from getting to see loads of films, tell us why you signed up for the gig?

To learn more about the film industry and how to get your work in front of a cinemagoing audience. Ultimately, these audiences are the most important people in the industry because the films are made for them – it’s their support that allows more stunning movies to be made. Helping to bolster this support is an absolute honour.

What’s it like at NZIFF?

I’ve met a range of truly lovely and friendly people during my time here with NZIFF and have learned a great deal about what happens in the film industry once the business end of getting these films to the public arrives. The outreach and communications team are truly the most lovely people and I look forward to be able to spend time with them not only as colleagues but as friends.

I’ve also learnt how important it is to know how your film fits into the current audience market, how many different markets could be interested and the importance of producing a great synopsis.

What do you do as day job, outside of NZIFF?

I work part-time with the brilliant team out at The Roxy Cinema in Miramar and double as a freelance composer – I recently graduated from Victoria University. I get to write music for film, theatre, you name it I’ll give it a go. Composing is my love and passion and hopefully I’ll get to be on the credits list of a festival film one day!

What’s your earliest or best cinema experience?

Hmmm…this is a tough one, it must be attending the midnight premier at The Embassy of Star Wars Episode 7: The Force Awakens! Regardless of whether the film is essentially a rehash of A New Hope (Please JJ don’t read this interview), the atmosphere in the cinema that night and the pure ecstasy I felt hearing that most wonderful and fantastical of opening fanfares is a moment I will forever cherish.

Name a few of your favourite films…

This changes on such a regular basis that it will be incomparable to my five favourites in a weeks’ time, but here we go: Star Was Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back, The Lion King, Paris, Texas, Princess Mononoke, and Jurassic Park.

What has your experience at NZIFF taught you?

Always expect the unexpected. Mostly my experience has reaffirmed just how much I love film and the world it’s created. This experience has provided me with priceless information and knowledge that will help me in my own career pursuits in the future.