The New Zealand Film Commission is putting $800,000 towards a documentary about former Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern.
In a statement the Film Commission says the documentary explores the rise of violent extremism and online hate in New Zealand, while covering Dame Jacinda's leadership.
The commission says the documentary is not authorised nor endorsed by Dame Jacinda, and she has no editorial involvement.
"It is important to note this is not a biopic. Rather, the documentary explores the rise of violent extremism and online hate in New Zealand, following Jacinda Ardern's leadership trajectory as an example of how these forces played out through one of the most tumultuous periods in modern times.
"The documentary records a period of New Zealand's history."
The documentary is being produced by Emma Slade of Firefly Films, with the writer-directors Pietra Brettkelly and Justin Pemberton.
The Commission says Brettkelly and Pemberton are among New Zealand's most experienced documentary makers and the project was in the Commission's slate presented at Cannes Film Festival in May 2023 to potential international partners, under the name Jacindamania.
In total it is expected the documentary will cost $3.2 million to make.
There has been significant investment from local and international partners, meaning strong market confidence, which indicates there is an audience for the film in New Zealand and overseas, the Commission says.
"The average NZFC contribution so far this financial year has been $1.5m for scripted features, and $863,000 for documentaries. It is worth noting that at 25 per cent of the total budget, NZFC's proportional contribution to this film is substantially less than usual for documentaries, due to the level of third party investment."
The film is scheduled to go into production later in 2024, and to be released in August 2025.
5 comments
WHY ?
Posted on 10-03-2024 17:05 | By Equality
What an abuse of tax payers money - (presuming the Film Commission is funded by the government?) - a real smack in the face!
The fact that, quote "the documentary explores the rise of violent extremism and online hate in New Zealand, following Jacinda Ardern's leadership" says it all.
Surely best forgotton - rather than exploited for the rest of the world to see to what extent she provolked normally passive kiwis to act in such an untimely fashion, that she felt she had to resign for fear of losing her life.
History will record the damage Dame Jacinda Ardern caused to NZ during her 6 year reign and history will not be kind.
OMG
Posted on 10-03-2024 17:19 | By BAATS
That public money is being spent on this proposal is obscene - I trust the responsible Minister of Government will tell the Film Commission to withdraw or if they refuse replace the dim wits
3.2 million - No Thanks
Posted on 11-03-2024 07:19 | By Thats Nice
Why are they putting Jacinda Ardern in it? 70% of people simply won't watch it because of her - silly move and waste of money.
Will they cover up
Posted on 11-03-2024 08:05 | By an_alias
I wonder if we'll see the I;ve created two classes of NZ citizens....mmhhhh
Maybe not a good decision.
Posted on 11-03-2024 12:24 | By morepork
Although I never voted for her I have respect and regard for Jacinda Ardern as a person. I believe she was manipulated by the coalition and there were extremists behind the scenes who took the opportunity to try and replace democracy with tikanga. (It was altogether too close to succeeding...) It is not really fair to sit in an armchair and judge ANY PM. The circumstances leading to Jacinda's resignation are nothing for any of us to be proud of. But the timing of this movie may not be a good decision. The country needs time to recover from the divisions that arose out of her government and if the movie just becomes a propaganda piece for extremism, it won't serve any useful purpose.
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