Online Heroines: Exploring the Experiences of Aotearoa New Zealand Women Filmmakers

Abstract

The experiences of Aotearoa New Zealand women filmmakers have historically included discrimination, erasure, and exclusion; however, online platforms have been suggested as an antidote to this culture. This research explores the experiences of ten filmmakers who had published work online between 2013–2015; why they choose online platforms, what influences them to do so, what they consider successful within their practice, and what limitations and challenges they face now. Using a feminist framework, and qualitative analysis, this research has two outputs: a written thesis and a creative-led webseries, featuring nine episodes of condensed interviews with the participants available on YouTube.