News

Welcome to Global Breakouts, Deadline’s fortnightly strand in which we shine a spotlight on the TV shows and films killing it in their local territories. The industry is as globalized as it’s ever been, but breakout hits are appearing in pockets of the world all the time and it can be hard to keep track. So we’re going to do the hard work for you.

To New Zealand we head for a gripping series that deals with themes of betrayal, redemption, ageing and sexism, which has been making waves locally. Starring Robyn Malcolm and Peter Mullan, After the Party showcases New Zealand production at its very best. With a number of big deals across the line, including to the UK’s Channel 4, this one could be coming to a small screen near you soon.

Name: After the Party

Country: New Zealand

Producer: Lingo Pictures & Luminous Beast...

Exclusive: Hulu has picked up exclusive U.S. streaming rights to the second season of New Zealand transgender drama Rūrangi, which recently won an International Emmy for best short-form series.

The second season is in post-production and estimated to be finalised for Q1-2023.

The first season, which was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award, charted the story of transgender activist Caz Davis who returns to the remote, politically divided dairy community of Rūrangi, hoping to reconnect with his estranged father, who hasn’t heard from him since before Caz transitioned. In the second season, Rūrangi’s culture war intensifies between the transgender activists, farmers, and local Māori, while ancestors from the past reach out to the living with unfinished business.

Returning cast are Elz Carrad, Āwhina Rose Henare Ashby, Ramon Te Wake, Aroha Rawson, Renee Lyons, Renée Sheridan and new cast members include Cohen Holloway and Liam Coleman recasting...

Heading home to Rurangi

Rurangi, due to reach UK cinemas on Friday 25 February, is the story of burnt out New Zealand/Aotearoan trans activist Caz (Elz Carrad) who returns to his hometown and reconnects with his former life. Exploring his relationship with his father, who is campaigning against incursion by Big Dairy, and his ex-boyfriend, who doesn’t know about his transition, it takes on issues around masculinity, race and community responsibility. I interviewed director Max Currie, who was sitting in front of a bright window drinking his morning cup of tea as I sat in my darkened study with an evening cup of cocoa on what was technically the previous day – one of the oddities of conversing with people on the other side of the world.

We reflect on the fact that I’m probably part of the film’s natural audience – something which can make it tricky, as a critic,...

Drama about a trans activist’s return to the small New Zealand town he fled as a teenager is straightforwardly told, but with great warmth and optimism

This heartfelt, straightforwardish drama from New Zealand ends with a belting cover of Bronski Beat’s LGBTQ+ anthem Smalltown Boy: a song about a young man leaving home to find love and acceptance in the city. Rūrangi picks up a similar story a decade later, when a trans man goes back to the dairy farm where he grew up. It’s a film that thrums with warmth and gives the rest a lesson in how to get trans representation right: all the trans roles are played by trans actors (and for good measure some non-trans – or non-specific – roles too).

Elz Carrad gives a likably vulnerable performance as Caz, who ran away as a teenager to Auckland, where he has made a new family in the LGBTQ+ community,...

Exclusive: Hulu has picked up U.S. rights to New Zealand transgender drama series Rurangi from The Yellow Affair.

Directed by Max Currie, the series has also been cut as a film and is currently on theatrical release in New Zealand. It recently won the Audience Award at Frameline San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival and played at the New Zealand International Film Festival. Hulu has picked up the series rights.

The drama follows transgender activist Caz Davis who returns to the remote, politically divided dairy community of Rūrangi after a decade away, hoping to reconnect with his estranged father, who hasn’t heard from him since before Caz transitioned.

Trans activist Cole Meyers is series writer and co-producer. Oliver Page is co-creator and writer. Cast includes trans actor Elz Carrad, Kirk Torrance, Āwhina Rose Henare Ashby, Arlo Green, Ramon Te Wake, Aroha Rawson, Renee Lyons, Renée Sheridan.

A second...

Caz (Elz Carrad) has spent a long time in the city, away from his family, away from his roots. He didn't go back even when his mother died. He wanted the funeral to be about her. How could it be if he scandalised everyone there by turning up and looking like a stranger when they all expected to see a girl? But he misses his dad - and so, ten years after he originally left, he returns in the hope of reconciliation.

There's a lot going on in Max Currie's film, which started life as a web series. As well as coming out to his dad (Kirk Torrance), who doesn't even recognise him at first, he has to go through the process with best friend Anahera (Awahina Rose Ashby), who is still angry at him for leaving, and with ex-boyfriend Jem (Arlo Green), who has always identified as straight.

Screen Ireland has revealed a further round of stimulus measures to support the sector during the pandemic. The new measures are designed to aid production companies and creative talent in developing slates that are ready to move into production once lockdown measures lift. The measures include a slate development fund valued up to €3M; an additional €1M in development support; financial planning support up to €150k total; and a funding scheme for skills development. As part of the investment, Screen Skills Ireland has repurposed two of its funding schemes. The Festivals and Events Funding Scheme has been repurposed as a Skills Development Events Funding Scheme and The International Bursary Award Scheme has been repurposed as a Bursary Award Scheme to support industry professionals to take online skills development courses. Screen Skills Ireland will also introduce two new funding schemes. Additionally, 90% of funding is being provided upfront on all development loans...