We're delighted to announce the participants in AWITO 2025.

From an initial pop-up intensive course we have gone on to create a world class film school with 8 short films in production and a second fulltime 15 week programme AWITO 2025 running March - July 2025 funded by the New Zealand Film Commission Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga.

The film intensive is a place of learning, as well as an experience, and an experiment devoted to a deep connection to self and to material. It is based on the belief that each of us filmmakers has a sacred psyche that dreams to express itself poetically, humorously, dramatically through visual story telling. We want to create a space where risk and ambition are playmates, honoured and respected. A place where curiosity and inquiry is never ending and persistence and hard work shape intuition and outcomes. A place where the best you can do today isthe starting place for tomorrow... where there is no giving up, because improvement might be possible. A place where every student is challenged, encouraged and valued for their unique gifts.

Thanks to Netflix's generous sponsorship, AWITO began in November 2022 in the heart of Wellington's film community of Miramar. Ten AWITO students and four Crest participants embarked on a life-changing year of artistic practice under the guidance of Jane Campion. 2024 has been a busy year of production of the upcoming AWITO short films. We're very grateful for all the filmmakers, workshop leaders, artists, production crew, performers and facilities houses who contributed so wholeheartedly to the success of AWITO 1.

LTR: Prisca Bouchet, Hash Perambalam, Samuel Te Kani, Ana Scotney, Paloma Schneideman, Freya Finch, Eleanor Bishop, Mingjian Cui, Todd Karehana, Nick Mayow

LTR: Awanui Simich-Pene, Yamin Tun, Hiona Henare, Martin Sagadin