Maria Ines Manchego has been awarded the JC CineFem Scholarship for a female cinematographer. Part of  the New Zealand Film Commission’s new gender policy, the JC CineFem Scholarship is the first annual scholarship for female screen practitioners.

Maria Ines Manchego has been awarded the JC CineFem Scholarship for a female cinematographer. Part of  the New Zealand Film Commission’s new gender policy, the JC CineFem Scholarship is the first annual scholarship for female screen practitioners.

Twenty-five applications for the scholarship were received and a shortlist of eight was selected by a panel of NZCS cinematographers Ginny Loane, Mairi Gunn and Richard Bluck NZCS. The decision to recommend Manchego for the scholarship was unanimous.

Manchego was the cinematographer on two films by Florian Habicht, Love Story and Pulp: A Film About Life, Death and Supermarkets.

“The scholarship was initially designed to be a year-long mentorship with the recipient’s cinematographer of choice,” says Professional Development Executive, Bonnie Slater. “But during the interview process, Maria mentioned she was one year into the prestigious two-year Masters in Cinematography programme at the American Film Institute. She was about to withdraw from the second year due to the fees and the panel was interested in exploring whether the scholarship would be better used to contribute to Maria continuing the AFI course.

“Both Jane Campion and the panel felt that completing this programme would allow Maria numerous opportunities to work alongside high-calibre mentors, create an extensive portfolio and achieve an internationally recognised qualification.”

While this is a departure from what was initially proposed, all parties agree this is the best way to support Manchego’s career and, in a step which largely fulfils the original criteria, Campion has offered Manchego an intern role on an upcoming production to further extend her experience. As the timing of this will need to work around Manchego’s studies, details are yet to be confirmed.

A new scholarship will be introduced next year and will focus on a different area of the industry where female participation is low. Feedback from industry guilds will be taken into consideration when deciding on future scholarship positions.

Maria Ines Manchego has been awarded the JC CineFem Scholarship for a female cinematographer. Part of the New Zealand Film Commission’s new gender policy, the JC CineFem Scholarship is the first annual scholarship for female screen practitioners.

Twenty-five applications for the scholarship were received and a shortlist of eight was selected by a panel of NZCS cinematographers Ginny Loane, Mairi Gunn and Richard Bluck NZCS. The decision to recommend Manchego for the scholarship was unanimous.

Manchego was the cinematographer on two films by Florian Habicht, Love Story and Pulp: A Film About Life, Death and Supermarkets.

“The scholarship was initially designed to be a year-long mentorship with the recipient’s cinematographer of choice,” says Professional Development Executive, Bonnie Slater. “But during the interview process, Maria mentioned she was one year into the prestigious two-year Masters in Cinematography programme at the American Film Institute. She was about to withdraw from the second year due to the fees and the panel was interested in exploring whether the scholarship would be better used to contribute to Maria continuing the AFI course.

“Both Jane Campion and the panel felt that completing this programme would allow Maria numerous opportunities to work alongside high-calibre mentors, create an extensive portfolio and achieve an internationally recognised qualification.”

While this is a departure from what was initially proposed, all parties agree this is the best way to support Manchego’s career and, in a step which largely fulfils the original criteria, Campion has offered Manchego an intern role on an upcoming production to further extend her experience. As the timing of this will need to work around Manchego’s studies, details are yet to be confirmed.

A new scholarship will be introduced next year and will focus on a different area of the industry where female participation is low. Feedback from industry guilds will be taken into consideration when deciding on future scholarship positions.