Leanne PooleyONZM is a Canadian filmmaker based in Auckland, New Zealand. Pooley was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, she immigrated to New Zealand in the mid-1980s and began working in the New Zealand television and film industry before moving to England where she worked for many of the world's top broadcasters (BBC, Channel 4, PBS, Discovery etc.). She returned to New Zealand in 1997 and started the production company Spacific Films. Her career spans more than 25 years and she has won numerous international awards (including the People's Choice Award for Documentary at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2009). Leanne Pooley was made a New Zealand Arts Laureate in 2011 and an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year's Honours List 2017. She is a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
2022 saw Pooley move from directing to producing with three documentaries released. Feature Film "Dame Valerie Adams: More Than Gold", "Beyond Conversion" for TVNZ and "Fightback:Joseph Parker" for streaming platform DAZN.
In 2020 Pooley directed two feature documentaries. "We Need To Talk About A.I." for Universal Pictures and GFC films and "The Girl on the Bridge" for Augusto Entertainment and the NZ Film Commission. The former explores the existential risk and exponential benefits of Artificial General Intelligence. The latter follows suicide survivor and activist Jazz Thornton as she confronts teenage suicide head on.
In 2015 Pooley's animated WW1 Feature "25 April" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before screening at film festivals around the world. "25 April" was the first New Zealand movie to be in contention for an Academy Award for animation.
In 2013 Leanne directed Beyond the Edge, a 3D feature film about the 1953 Ascent of Everest by Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay. The film was a runner-up for the People's Choice Award for Documentary at the Toronto International Film Festival.
In 2009 Pooley made the documentary The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls, a theatrical feature about the lives of lesbian, singing, twin sister comedy duo, the Topp Twins. The film has won 21 International Awards including at the Toronto International Film Festival, the Melbourne International Film Festival, the Gothenburg International Film Festival, the Seattle Film Festival, New Doc New York, The Nashville Film Festival and the Florida Film Festival among others. It also won Best Feature at the NZ Film & TV Awards, and reached just under $2 million at the New Zealand box office.
Previous documentaries include; Being Billy Apple released in 2007 about the legendary pop turned conceptual artist who used his own identity to explore the concept of artist as art object and whose idea driven works about branding and 'art and life' broke new ground in London and New York; Shackleton's Captain, a documentary about Frank Worsley, captain of Shackleton's Endurance, The Man Who Has Everything for the American Discovery Network, Kiwi Buddha as seen on National Geographic and Haunting Douglas, described by Variety Magazine as an "Expertly crafted video portrait of modern dancer/choreographer Douglas Wright".[1]Haunting Douglas earned Pooley the "Best Director" award at the 2005 New Zealand Screen Awards. Pooley made The Promise about the life of euthanasia advocate, Leslie Martin, winning the "Best Documentary" award at the 2006 New Zealand Screen Awards. Her documentary Try Revolution explores how rugby was used to help end apartheid in South Africa and featured among others Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Pooley's production company is Spacific Films based in Auckland, New Zealand.
Leanne serves as a judge for The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; EMMY Awards. She has taught documentary at various universities and filmschools and is an active member of the New Zealand Director’s Guild and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Leanne lives in Auckland with her husband and two children.
Filmography
DIRECTOR We Need To talk about AI - GFC - Universal Pictures - 2020 The pros and cons of Artificial General Intelligence.
DIRECTOR: The Girl On The Bridge - Augusto - NZFC - 2020 The story of mental health activist and suicide survivor Jazz Thornton.
DIRECTOR 25 April (2015) - General Film Corporation - NZFC - 2015 An animated feature documentary about the WW1 Gallipoli campaign.
DIRECTOR" "Beyond the Edge" - General Film Corporation - NZFC - 2013 A 3D feature film about the 1953 Ascent of Everest by Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay.
PRODUCER: "Finding Mercy" - Spacific Films - 2012 TVNZ/The Knowledge Network - 2012 A heart breaking documentary about two little girls and a friendship that came to represent the lost promise of Zimbabwe.
DIRECTOR: "Shackleton's Captain" - Gebrueder-Beetz/Making Movies - TVNZ/ZDF/ARTE - 2012 A Dramatised documentary about Frank Worsley, Captain of Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated Endurance expedition. Starring Craig Parker.
DIRECTOR: The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls - Diva Productions - 2009 A documentary film about New Zealand entertainers the Topp Twins which has won over 20 international awards including the "Cadillac People's Choice Award" at the Toronto International Film Festival. It is the most successful documentary ever made in New Zealand.
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: "Being Billy Apple" - Spacific Films - 2007 Television New Zealand A profile of the artist known as Billy Apple who was at the forefront of both the POP and Conceptual art movements and who alongside the likes of Andy Warhol helped to redefine the meaning of the word artist.
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: TRY REVOLUTION – Spacific Films - 2006 Television New Zealand / M-Net (South Africa) / SBS (Australia) How rugby helped to bring down Apartheid in South Africa featuring Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: THE PROMISE – Spacific Films -2005 Television New Zealand / CBC (Canada) / LINK (USA) / TPS (Taiwan) Feature-length documentary following the incredible journey of Leslie Martin, the euthanasia advocate who was convicted of attempting to murder her mother. Winner "Best Documentary" and "Best Camera" 2006 NZ Screen Awards. Winner "Special Mention" Feature Length Documentary DocNZ 2005. Screened "Input 2006" (Taiwan) selected "Best Of Input" (Brazil).
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: HAUNTING DOUGLAS – Spacific Films - 2003 Television New Zealand / ABC (Australia) / YLE (Finland) Feature-length documentary about the life and work of Douglas Wright, one of the world’s greatest dancer/choreographers. Screened NZ Film Festival, San Francisco Film Festival (finalist Golden Gate Awards), Sydney Film Festival, Dance on Camera Festival-New York, Reel Dance Festival-Sydney, Vancouver Film Festival, Commonwealth Film Festival – Manchester, Cinedans- Amsterdam, IMZ – Brighton, Golden Prague, Reel Affirmations - Washington, Festival de Cine de Granada. Winner "Best Director" and "Best Editor" 2005 NZ Screen Awards. Winner "Best Documentary" Reel Dance Awards 2004 Sydney
PRODUCER: THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING - NHNZ - 2001 Discovery Health (International) A ground breaking docudrama about men’s health issues.
PRODUCER: KIWI BUDDHA - Spacific Films - 2000 National Geographic (International) / TV3 (New Zealand) / Danish Public Broadcasting / RTÉ (Ireland) / Israel / Korea / France The story of Rinpoche, the Southern Hemisphere’s first Buddhist High Lama
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: RELATIVE GUILT - Spacific Films - 1999 TV3 (New Zealand) Guilt by association, the family of a murderer. Winner "Best Documentary" 1999 Qantas Media Awards.
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: EVERYMAN - "PAPABILE" – BBC Manchester - 1997 BBC / ( over 50 Territories) A docudrama examining the ancient process of Papal elections.
DIRECTOR: MODERN TIMES-"RELATIVE STRANGERS" – Mosaic Films - 1997 BBC (UK) Exploring the complicated nature of our relationship with in-laws.
DIRECTOR: EYEWITNESS - "Pond & River " - Café Productions –1996 BBC / OPB (PBS America) / (over 80 territories) Part of the Emmy Award-winning series combining history, science, and mythology with nature.
DIRECTOR: EVERYMAN "The Silent Export" - BBC Manchester- 1995 BBC (UK) A docudrama exploring the experiences of Irish Women who travel to England for abortions.
DIRECTOR: BIG SCIENCE (X4) -Wall to Wall Productions – 1994 BBC (UK) A weekly series exploring the moral, ethical and philosophical implications of modern science.
DIRECTOR: DEADLINE (X6) - Real Life Productions – 1994 Channel 4 (UK) A 6-part behind-the-scenes look at the sometimes bizarre world of a regional news channel.
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: EVERYMAN -"GODS CANDIDATES" – BBC Manchester - 1994 BBC (Worldwide) various territories A documentary about Vatican politics.
DIRECTOR: BRAVE NEW WORLD – Open Media – 1994 Channel 4 (UK) A science film investigating the implications of genetic research on reproductive technology.
DIRECTOR/CAMERA: 40 MINUTES-"WILL THEY RING" - MOSAIC PICTURES – 1993 BBC (Worldwide) various territories A documentary about the problems faced by patients waiting for organ transplants.
DIRECTOR/CAMERA: 40 MINUTES - "A Change of Heart" –Mosaic Pictures - 1993 BBC (Worldwide) various territories A look at the issues surrounding the use of pig’s organs for human transplantation.
DIRECTOR/CAMERA: INSIDE TRACK ON PARENTING - LWT – 1993 ITV (UK) An informative magazine programme about the trials of parenting.
DIRECTOR/CAMERA: FIRST HAND – First Hand Productions - 1990-92 Television New Zealand A series documenting the lives of extraordinary New Zealanders.
The New Zealand Film Commission is a New Zealand government agency formed to assist with creating and promoting New Zealand films. It was established under the New Zealand Film Commission Act 1978.
Gabriel Luke Reid is a New Zealand director, screenwriter and producer working in television, film and theatre. His doctoral thesis examines the impact of digital technologies on film production.
The Topp Twins are the folk singing and activist sister comedy duo of New Zealand entertainers Jools and Lynda Topp. They are known for their country music influenced style, live shows and television performances. They often perform as characters, the most notable being the roles Ken & Ken, and Camp Mother & Camp Leader.
Florian Habicht is a New Zealand film director. Florian was born in Berlin, Germany and moved with his family to the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, when he was eight. He went to high school in Kerikeri before attending the University of Auckland's Elam School of Fine Arts.
Douglas James Wright was a New Zealand dancer and choreographer in the New Zealand arts establishment from 1980 until his death in 2018. Although he announced his retirement from dance in 2008, on the occasion of the publication of his first book of poetry, Laughing Mirror he subsequently continued to make dance works, including touring The Kiss Inside during April 2015.
David Long is a musician, composer and producer. In 2020 he won best score at the APRA Silver Scrolls for the BBC drama series, The Luminaries. He composes mainly for film and television but also contemporary dance. He has worked on all of Peter Jackson’s films of the last two decades. He performs with two bands, The Labcoats and Teeth.
Paul Regan Swadel was a New Zealand film director and producer.
Bryan Bruce is a New Zealand documentary maker and author.
Sima Urale is a New Zealand filmmaker. Her films explore social and political issues and have been screened worldwide. She is one of the few Polynesian film directors in the world with more than 15 years in the industry. Her accolades include the Silver Lion for Best Short Film at the Venice Film Festival for O Tamaiti (1996).
Vaosa ole Tagaloa Makerita Urale is a documentary director and playwright, and a leading figure in contemporary Polynesian theatre in New Zealand. She has produced landmark productions in the performing arts. She is the writer of the play Frangipani Perfume, the first Pacific play written by a woman for an all-female cast. Working in different art mediums, Urale also works in film and television. She is the director of the political documentary Children of the Revolution that won the Qantas Award (2008) for Best Māori Programme.
Justin Pemberton is a documentary filmmaker based in New Zealand.
The inaugural New Zealand Screen Awards were held on Wednesday 27 July 2005 at SkyCity Theatre in Auckland, New Zealand. Following the demise of the GOFTA awards, the Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand founded the New Zealand Screen Awards to honour excellence in New Zealand film and television. Due to there having been no film awards in 2004, the eligibility period was from 1 October 2003 to July 2005. In the weeks ahead of the awards presentation, sponsor SkyCity screened a series of nominated short films. The film In My Father's Den was nominated in all 12 of the feature film award categories and won 10 awards.
The 2012 New Zealand Television Awards were the new name of the New Zealand television industry awards, following the demise of the Aotearoa Film and Television Awards. The awards were held on Saturday 3 November at The Great Room of the Langham hotel in Auckland, New Zealand, with highlights screening on TV ONE on Sunday 4 November. The New Zealand Television Awards took a similar format to the previous Qantas Television Awards, honouring excellence in New Zealand television and television journalism. This was the final New Zealand television awards presentation organised by Think TV, after Television New Zealand withdrew its support in 2013.
Lisa-Jane Taouma is a Samoan New Zealand writer, film and television director, and producer.
Roseanne Liang is a New Zealand film director. Her first feature film, My Wedding and Other Secrets, was the first theatrically released feature film made by a Chinese New Zealander and became 2011's highest grossing local feature film. She also co-created, directed, and co-wrote the 2021 TV series Creamerie.
The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls is a New Zealand documentary film, directed by Leanne Pooley and released in 2009. The film profiles The Topp Twins, a lesbian comedy music duo from New Zealand.
Ruawaro is a rural community in the Waikato District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island, situated south of Lake Whangape and west of Huntly.
Dame Julie Bethridge Topp, known as Jools Topp, is one half of the Topp Twins, a music comedy duo from New Zealand; the other member is her twin sister Lynda Topp. Jools Topp has been singing and entertaining with her sister for decades, touring live music and comedy performances as well as performing in TV and film. The sisters were both appointed Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours.
Dame Lynda Bethridge Topp, is one half of the Topp Twins, a music comedy duo of New Zealand, the other member being her twin sister Jools Topp. Lynda Topp has been singing and entertaining with her sister for decades, touring live music and comedy performances as well as TV and film. Both sisters were appointed Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours.
Kirsty Cameron is a New Zealand costume designer, production designer, writer, and film director.
References
↑ Scheib, Ronnie (20 February 2004). "Haunting Douglas". Variety. Los Angeles, CA. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
