Loading Docs Returns to Announce Season 10

Six new documentaries are set FOR production, beginning with their crowdfunding campaigns.

SEASON 10

From April 8th, Loading Docs embarks on a milestone Season 10 with six incredible new films chosen to enter production. We now invite audiences to be part of the creation of these important stories. Support the new cohort of filmmakers by contributing to their crowdfunding campaigns on Boosted to help them reach the all-or-nothing goal of $5,000. By reaching this minimum target, each team will unlock further funding and support from the initiative. Campaigns end April 30th and will be available to watch for free later this year.

A DOCUMENTARY-DEDICATED DECADE

The new filmmakers will join New Zealand’s premier documentary incubator which has nurtured 180 filmmakers before. Over the last decade, many of these filmmakers have gone on to achieve creative and commercial success in the New Zealand film industry, with Loading Docs to thank as an integral part of their talent development.

“To be embarking on a 10th season of Loading Docs is a proud achievement for myself, our team and all the initiative’s filmmakers who came before. This season will build upon our rich history of unveiling hidden narratives of New Zealand and telling culturally resonating stories.” – Julia Parnell, Co-Founder & Executive Producer

THE SHORT DOCUMENTARIES

Mauri Moana by Nathaniel Howe & Stevie Davis-Tana  

Faced with an invasive threat, Aotea’s community, guided by indigenous wisdom and scientific research, must unite to protect its marine life and preserve its ancestral heritage before it is too late.

Hope in the Stars by Alexis Smith & Harry Wynn

Zoologist-turned-filmmaker Alexis Smith is on a quest for extraterrestrial contact in Aotearoa. She seeks hope and healing for humanity through a transformative, otherworldly connection but what shadows will she encounter to get there?

Hifi Ulu by Chantelle Burgoyne & Hayley Felise  

Approaching his tenth birthday, Luka faces a Niuean rite of passage: his first haircut in a hifi ulu ceremony, marking a tender crossroad of culture and autonomy.

The Man Outside by Liv McClymont & Jessica Todd

Abandoned by the law, a woman’s flatmates struggle to protect her from a relentless stalker, forcing them all to become the protagonists in a real-life thriller.

Tū Tonu – Still Standing by Brady Polkinghorne & Andy Day

Champion arborist Zane Wedding confronts a defining choice between competitive glory and activism, a journey intertwining Māori wisdom with his deep love for tree-climbing.

Here the Wild Things Are by Kelly Gilbride & Madison Smith

In a weekend competition across Aotearoa, enthusiasts and ecologists race to capture nature’s unseen beauty, tackling plant blindness and questioning if photography can aid in ecological preservation.

Please support these New Zealand filmmakers by donating on Boosted’s arts crowdfunding platform to be part of the creation of Loading Docs: Season 10.

Loading Docs is a Notable Pictures initiative funded by NZ On Air and made with support from the New Zealand Film Commission and Te Māngai Pāho.