Last year at the NZCS Cinematography Awards, while celebrating the industry’s finest work, a stark reality became evident—award after award was being presented to men, with very few women making it to the stage. This highlighted an ongoing issue: gender imbalance in New Zealand’s camera departments.
Each year, NZCS works closely with sponsors like lighting manufacturer Creamsource, who generously purchase 20 tickets and gift them to WIFTNZ (Women in Film and Television New Zealand), ensuring that women in camera have no financial barrier to attending. However, the issue runs much deeper.
At the 2024 NZCS Cinematography Awards, only 17 out of 200 entries came from women—just 8.5%. While female entrants had a similar success rate to their male counterparts (29.4% vs. 31.5%), the low number of submissions remains a significant challenge. This is particularly disappointing considering the rising trend we saw in 2023, when women took home 11 of the 58 awards—just under 20%.
NZCS has been committed to addressing this imbalance for years. In 2018, we launched the Gender Diversity Program, which has since driven a 700% increase in female membership, growing from 6 to 48 members. This program creates paid internships and camera trainee roles on productions, ensuring that women can gain the hands-on experience needed to progress in their careers.
Recognising the need for further action, WIFTNZ reached out to NZCS with an idea: a showcase event where key decision-makers could meet women working in camera and see their work firsthand. Tammy Williams, a cinematographer, NZCS member, and WIFTNZ Board member, was instrumental in driving this initiative. She pitched the idea to both WIFTNZ Executive Director Patricia Watson and NZCS Executive Officer Amber Wakefield, and together, we made it happen.
From left to right: Niki Winer, Nina Wells, Tammy Williams, Daniela (Nani) Conforte, Laetitia Belen, Juedi (Kioko) Wang.
On April 1st, the vision for greater representation in cinematography came to life at the Women in Camera Showcase. The event brought together 22 talented women from across the camera department, giving them the opportunity to present their reels to a room full of producers and line producers—the key decision-makers when it comes to hiring.
Hosted at Department of Post’s state-of-the-art theatre, the showcase was a celebration of skill, artistry, and opportunity. Department of Post has long supported cinematographers on set through dailies colour and monitoring packages, and this event was a natural extension of that commitment—helping to elevate and highlight the talent working in our industry.
The night was filled with energy, camaraderie, and enthusiasm. Cheering and encouragement filled the room, reinforcing a real sense of progress. And long after the reels stopped playing, the conversations continued—sparking new connections and potential collaborations that will help shape the future of the industry.
Patricia Watson, Executive Director WIFTNZ, addresses the audience.
Patricia Watson addressed the room, reinforcing why events like these matter. She pointed out that women in camera are often paid less than men, work on lower-budget projects, and as a result, have less financial capacity to submit their work for awards and less work to even submit. She urged those in attendance to be active participants in change: “While you might not be directly in control of who is hired in the camera department, you do set the tone. By simply asking that a woman be hired in camera on your production, you can help shift the balance. We are not trying to replace men—there’s room for everyone—we are just striving for more equality.”
And the work doesn’t stop there. In the coming days, WIFTNZ and NZCS will follow up by sending an extensive directory to producers across the industry. This will include contact details, experience levels, websites, and reels of women working in camera—putting the talent directly in front of decision-makers and eliminating the excuse of “we couldn’t find any women.”
Additionally, NZCS is relaunching its website this year, which will include a comprehensive ‘Camera Crew’ directory. This resource will allow both local and international producers, cinematographers, and studio executives to filter their requirements and access clear information about skills, expertise, and experience for potential hires. We hope this will not only help create a more balanced camera department landscape but also promote local crew over international hires when those roles can be filled right here in New Zealand.
The Women in Camera Showcase was a night of action, connection, and optimism—proof that the industry is ready for change and that together, we can make it happen. This event was an important step, but it’s just one piece of the bigger picture. By continuing to work together—NZCS, WIFTNZ, and the industry at large—we can create meaningful, lasting change.
From left to right: Julie Zhu, Nicole Ashley, and Pia Sidhwa introduce themselves.
This wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of our industry allies. Aliesha Staples, owner of Staples VR, knows firsthand the importance of lifting other women up. She stepped in to offer editor services—free of charge—so that women in the earlier stages of their careers, who didn’t yet have a showreel, could have one put together to showcase their work. Likewise, James Brookes and James Gardner, co-owners of Department of Post, continue to be treasured supporters of NZCS. Their unwavering generosity, from offering their venue to wrangling footage, has been invaluable.
The showcase also highlighted the incredible diversity of women working in the camera department. The 22 women presenting their work represented a broad spectrum of backgrounds, including different ethnicities, gender identities, and experiences. It was a true celebration of the rich and varied voices that make up New Zealand’s camera community.
The audience sits back and relaxes for the showcase.
Equally, the showcase highlighted the wide range of genres and areas of the screen industry represented by the producers and line producers in attendance. From online content creation to large-scale scripted dramas and local broadcasters, the diversity in the types and scope of productions was remarkable. Representatives from companies such as Warner Bros, Sky, South Pacific Pictures (SPP), Greenstone, Sunpix and others were present, along with many independent producers. Some of these independent producers are responsible for bringing in the high-profile, large-scale international productions to New Zealand—further emphasising the global nature of our industry. Their presence underscored just how vital it is for women in camera to be part of this storytelling landscape across different platforms and productions.
We often hear, “Men want placements and paid internships too.” And yes, of course they do—but the reality is, they’re not on the back foot. According to the ACS report A Wider Lens, only 9% of Directors of Photography (DOPs) on Australian feature films and TV dramas between 2011 and 2019 were women. Men dominated 91% of those roles. This stark disparity highlights the systemic barriers women face in advancing to leadership positions. Additionally, the report found that no women DOPs worked on big-budget features (USD 10M+) in the year prior to COVID-19, while men had full access to these high-profile opportunities. These findings mirror what we see in New Zealand, reinforcing why programs specifically supporting women in camera are essential. We are not asking for a handout—we are creating pathways to correct a long-standing imbalance.
Cinematographer, Zyanya Jackson connects with producer Katie Kempe.
A huge thank you also goes to Donny Duncan NZCS, an accredited NZCS member and the society’s Professional Development Manager, who was there on the night to support this initiative. Donny oversees our Gender Diversity in Camera Program, which has created over 30 camera trainee internships and DP attachments since 2019—tangible proof that targeted action makes a difference.
Also, a huge thank you to Patricia Watson and the entire WIFTNZ team for their unwavering support and collaboration with NZCS. Patricia’s leadership is a constant source of inspiration, and we truly appreciate her energy and commitment to driving positive change within the industry.
None of this would be possible without the ongoing support of the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC). Their core funding enables WIFTNZ to take on initiatives like this, and they also provide some funding to NZCS to continue our highly successful Gender Diversity Program. Their support underscores the industry’s commitment to lasting change.
Call to Action: If you’re hiring, mentoring, or producing—ask yourself: “Who am I giving opportunities to?” The future of our industry depends on it.
~ Amber Wakefield, Executive Officer NZCS ~
