Join this inaugural and groundbreaking examination of the NZ film and television legal landscape. This captivating program will cover the thrilling world of legal challenges and solutions in the film and television industry. Delve into exceptional insights around copyright, privacy and the fascinating topic of AI generated content. Join an innovative and entertaining panel discussion on international co-productions. This event stands out from the rest. Don’t miss out. 

Presenters

Mr. Alexander Lee, Principal, Elemental Legal
Alex worked in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Belgium. He taught law in Hong Kong and Auckland and was the Auckland Director of the Institute of Professional Legal Studies. He holds two post graduate masters in laws specialising in public law, international law and international trade law. Alex has also been actively involved in various business and trade organizations including The Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association (Past President), Thailand New Zealand Business Council (Past Chairman) and the NZ Association for Migration & Investment Inc. (Past Board Member). He does a lot of pro bono work for the wider community. He is also actively involved in screen and stage. Alex also previously taught film production at the University of Auckland. He was a National Executive Member of the Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand, Chairman of Film Auckland, Director and Founding Trustee of the Documentary New Zealand Trust, Chairman of the Asia New Zealand Film Foundation Trust and Founder & Previous General Counsel of The Oryza Foundation for Asian Performing Arts. He was previously the Head of the School of Screen and Performing Arts at UNITEC. Alex is a practising media and entertainment lawyer who is also a screen/stage director and producer and therefore, he brings a personal, comprehensive and practical understanding of the screen and stage industries to his legal practice.


Ms. Tania Goatley, Partner, Bell Gully
Tania is an experienced commercial litigator, specialising in media and advertising law, food and beverage law, and intellectual property. ​​​​​​​Tania advises on all aspects of advertising promotions, including impacts of the Gambling Act, Fair Trading Act and Privacy Act. She is also experienced in advising on food and wine labelling issues, involving advice on the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Code, the Food Act, the Wine Act and related regulations and industry codes. She has a strong media law background, advising on defamation claims, appearing in Court on name suppression issues, and providing media law training to journalists. She advises on all aspects of intellectual property law, including copyright, passing off and trade mark infringement disputes and litigation. In addition to her particular areas of expertise, Tania provides general advice on commercial and contractual disputes and litigation with successful outcomes for her clients. Chambers Asia Pacific 2023 ranks Tania as a leading lawyer for intellectual property and technology, media and telecommunications. The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023 recommends Tania for data protection, intellectual property and technology, media and telecommunications. Tania is recognised as a media and entertainment lawyer of the year and trademark lawyer of the year in the Women in Business Law Awards APAC 2023 shortlists. Tania is an active member of International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) and the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (IPSANZ).


Mr. Patrick Fair, Principal, Patrick Fair and Associates
Patrick Fair is the principal of Patrick Fair Associates, an Adjunct Professor at the School of Information Technology, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment at Deakin University, the Chairman of the Communications Security Reference Panel at the Communications Alliance, a member of the IoT Alliance of Australia Security Workstream Member Technical Advisory Standing Committee auDA and General Advisor to and an author of LexisNexis Practical Guidance Cybersecurity, Data Protection and Privacy.


Ms. Petrina D’Rozario, Manager, Screen CanterburyNZ
Ideating and executing projects with efficiency are Petrina’s forte. She started her journey in print journalism and then gravitated towards television and then film. As a producer she has made short films, tv commercials, documentaries and feature films. In her capacity as COO for Priyanka Chopra Jonas she managed the regional slate of films for the production house – Purple Pebble Pictures. Her film ‘Newton’ while CEO for Drishyam Films was shortlisted as India’s official entry to the Oscars in 2019. Currently based in Christchurch, she is the head of Screen CanterburyNZ, the regional film office for Canterbury (NZ) and manages a $1.5M grant fund to attract productions to the region.


Mr. Chris Payne, Head of International Relations, New Zealand Film Commission|Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga
Chris connects filmmakers and industry with international partners, projects and business/career development opportunities. He has a focus on facilitating official film and television co-productions under New Zealand’s 18 bilateral co-production treaties and agreements. He also leads delegations of New Zealand producers and industry to China, Singapore and Taiwan, and attends international film festivals and markets. Chris also oversees Business Affairs and Policy. Prior to NZFC, Chris worked in development and production at 100 Meter Films in Tokyo. In New Zealand he worked in screenwriting/development and production and as business development manager at a commercial law firm.


Ms. Vicky Pope, Producer
Vicky Pope is an award-winning producer with over 15 years of experience working across film, television and advertising. Her short and feature film productions have sold around the world and screened in prestigious international festivals including Cannes, Venice and Berlin. Vicky’s feature film producing credits include the critically acclaimed theatrical documentary Trouble is My Business directed by Juliette Veber. In 2012 she produced NZ comedy Two Little Boys, directed by NZ director Robert Sarkies (Out of the Blue, Consent, Scarfies), that premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2012 and starred Bret McKenzie (Flight of the Conchords). In 2013 Vicky produced and distributed NZ independent documentary Gardening with Soul directed by Jess Feast. The film won Best Documentary at the 2013 NZ Film Awards and became one of the highest-grossing NZ documentaries at the box office at the time. Vicky’s most recent production is Sam Kelly’s debut feature film Savage that premiered in competition at Busan and London BFI Film Festivals in 2019. The film has released theatrically worldwide in 2020, and secured a local box office of more than $1.5M, making it one of the top 20 NZ releases of all time. Under her production company POP Film, Vicky has numerous projects in development including high-end drama series The ARK created by Robert Sarkies, Samuel Van Grinsven’s second feature Went Up The Hill being developed in co-production with Sam Jennings and Kristina Ceyton of Causeway Films in Australia, and Big Girls Don’t Cry from debut writer/director Paloma Schneideman.


Ms. Keri Johansson, Senior Associate, Buddle Findlay
Keri is a commercial lawyer specialising in tech, media and privacy. She has a special interest in media law and advises broadcasters, producers and new media operators on content, production, licensing and regulatory issues.


Ms. Tasha Ioelu, Senior Solicitor, Buddle Findlay
Tasha is in Buddle Findlay's employment team, specialising in all aspects of the employment relationship, from drafting and reviewing employment agreements and policies, to managing personal grievances, misconduct investigations, poor performance processes, restructures and redundancies. She also advises on health and safety compliance and privacy issues, including by helping clients work through onerous information requests. She assists clients with dispute resolution including through mediation and before the Employment Relations Authority.


Mr. Dan Chisholm, Senior Associate, Mortlock McCormack Law
Dan specialises in commercial, music and entertainment law. Dan is a former professional musician and currently acts for prominent musicians and labels in New Zealand and Australia. Dan advises on a range of music related agreements including; songwriter, recording, management, producer, publishing, distribution and licensing agreements. Outside of Mortlock McCormack Law Dan can be found enjoying an espresso out with his wife and two daughters, or playing drums in bands at local bars.


Mr. Matthew Horrocks, Manager, Screen Auckland
Matt has an international career in screen content and strategy. He is currently the manager of Screen Auckland, the agency responsible for attracting and facilitating screen production for Auckland’s $1.5b screen sector. His previous role was as an Investment Advisor on the $50m Premium Production Fund (Te Puna Kairangi) which supports high-quality productions that tell New Zealand stories for global audiences. From 2017-2021 he worked for Screenwest in Australia. As the Head of Screen Investment & Strategic Projects he was responsible for the management of Screenwest’s development & production funding programs and $16m WARFF fund. As the head of the funding team, he oversaw Business Affairs, Indigenous, Diversity, Production Attraction and Talent Development activities along with VR/Immersive and Australian/Indonesian co-pro strategies. Matt has produced short films, documentaries and feature films in New Zealand, including BEYOND THE KNOWN WORLD – a NZ/Indian co-production. In the UK he worked in production roles on 28 DAYS LATER and CALENDAR GIRLS. Matt was a Development Executive, and Industry Training Executive for the New Zealand Film Commission during a highly successful period for the NZ film industry. He has guest lectured at the University of Auckland, played a key role in setting up Script-to-Screen, and designed and instigated the “Big Screen Symposium,” New Zealand’s leading annual event for film and TV makers.


Mr. Tim Riley, Partner, Dominion Law
Tim is a partner at Dominion Law, and one of New Zealand’s leading film and TV lawyers. He represents a number of NZ’s most successful producers, as well as advising writers, directors, actors, and other industry participants and organisations. Tim has significant experience in setting up financial structures for NZ film and television productions, including extensive knowledge of the NZ Screen Production Grant, and other funding schemes available to NZ producers. He has also advised a number of studios and foreign production entities on financing and NZ specific legal requirements. As well as practicing as a lawyer in the industry, Tim has a number of producer credits to his name, including physical producer credits on two feature films.