Julia Parnell and Ashleigh Roworth are the first applicants to be selected for the New Zealand Film Commission’s International Placement Initiative.
Designed for emerging to mid-career writers, directors and producers from Aotearoa New Zealand, this initiative offers the opportunity to develop overseas industry networks, learn and refine filmmaking skills, and gain work experience within selected global film companies.
Award-winning documentary director and producer, Julia Parnell, will spend six months at London-based Misfits Entertainment. Her body of work, SIX60: Till the Lights Go Out, Waiata Anthems, The Chills: The Triumph and Tragedy of Martin Phillipps, seamlessly aligns with the production company’s high-end documentary output.
“I’m thrilled and deeply honoured to be selected for the Misfits Entertainment placement. After a career spent directing and producing documentaries in Aotearoa, this is a rare opportunity to step into a world-class environment, absorb new ways of working, and challenge myself to think even bigger. I’m excited to bring these insights back to New Zealand and continue growing our documentary stories for a global audience,” says Parnell.
Ashleigh Roworth will spend six months at Keeper Pictures in Dublin, a company experienced in co-productions, including Come To Daddy and The Gone (Seasons 1 & 2), as she continues her journey toward producing films. Ashleigh began her career in advertising, working with clients such as New Zealand Rugby, Wētā Workshop, and Allbirds. Now focused on film production, she recently produced the short film, A Very Good Boy, directed by Sam Te Kani, part of Jane Campion's A Wave in the Ocean programme.
“I’m so thankful to be selected to relocate to Dublin and work with Keeper Pictures. This placement is a huge opportunity for my career as a filmmaker. I'm excited for the experience I’ll gain and the connections I’ll make, and to bring this back to the industry in Aotearoa. Ngā mihi to both NZFC and Keeper Pictures for making this placement possible,” says Roworth.
NZFC Head of Funding, Ainsley Gardiner, is convinced of the long term benefits these world-leading film mentorships will have on the film sector in Aotearoa.
“Our film community thrives on relationships, and these international placements create significant opportunities for both the selected individuals, as well as the projects and communities they serve in Aotearoa. Having an emerging practitioner and seasoned professional secure placements with leading global companies reassures me the lessons learned will have an impact at an industry level. We’ve had a wonderful response since announcing our International Placement Initiative and are working hard to finalise the remaining positions, which we’ll announce as soon as possible."
Lizzie Gillett, Head of Documentary at Misfits Entertainment, shared her enthusiasm.
“Misfits Entertainment is very happy to be part of the NZFC’s ambitious and forward-thinking work placement scheme. Julia Parnell has already established herself as a successful, hard-working documentary filmmaker in New Zealand and we know she will add to what we, at Misfits, can do. We’re especially excited about her skill and experience developing projects creatively, seeing what the best and most powerful angle is on a story, establishing a rapport with contributors, and her enthusiastic attitude. This initiative will add a significant amount of resource to our team here and we’re grateful and thrilled to be part of it.”
On a personal note, Gillett added, “I grew up in Dunedin, New Zealand, and came to London in my early 20s to try and get a successful career in documentaries going. I have benefitted hugely from the size and breadth of the documentary industry here in London, and I know Julia will too. I’m excited to introduce Julia to this community and all our networks which starts with our wonderful Misfits team in Soho Square.”
The team at Keeper Pictures also expressed their excitement about Ashleigh’s placement, including Yvonne Donohoe, Head of Creative/Producer.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be taking part in this exciting initiative with the NZFC and look forward to welcoming Ashleigh to join the Keeper family in Ireland for six months. Recently through our Irish/New Zealand co-production series The Gone, we’ve enjoyed a wonderful collaboration with New Zealand’s incredible local industry. We’re looking forward to continuing the exchange of ideas, experiences, and creative energy this new opportunity will bring.”
“In Ashleigh’s interview, she brought a calm confidence, genuine curiosity, and an authentic connection to our ethos and the kinds of stories we champion. There was an openness in how she approached the conversation that really resonated with us, and a clear desire to learn by doing, qualities that we value deeply,” she adds.
Julia and Ashleigh will begin their placements later in 2025.