Issue date: 
Monday, 10 October 2022


The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) would like to pay tribute to film industry trailblazer Judith McCann who passed away on the 4th of October in Canada. 
 
New Zealand born McCann was raised and educated in Canada.  She spent eight years with Telefilm Canada before accepting the position of Executive Director at the NZFC, the third in the role after Jim Booth.  After five dynamic years in the role from 1989-1994, during which time the NZFC funded Once were Warriors and Heavenly Creatures amongst others. McCann then headed across the ditch to take the CEO role at the South Australian Film Corporation. 
 
McCann returned to Canada in 1999 co-founding international screen consulting firm MPICS.  In 2004 she headed back to New Zealand to take an appointment as the CEO of Film New Zealand overseeing the screen attraction organization through its formative years. 
 
McCann’s extensive work in New Zealand was integral to the growth and progress of the screen sector both nationally and internationally.  She was instrumental in the establishment of WIFT in New Zealand and a strong advocate and supporter of female creatives and indigenous voices in the film industry.
 
Acting CEO of The New Zealand Film Commission, Mladen Ivancic says  “As the third Executive Director of the NZFC Judith was integral in shaping the scope and strategy of the organisation.  She was passionate about New Zealand storytelling, a highly capable and at times formidable leader and her legacy in the film sector is admired and respected enormously.  We are very sad to hear about her passing and send our condolences to her friends and family”. 
 

Last updated: 
Tuesday, 11 October 2022