A documentary which chronicles the history of the creation of Te Papa Tongarewa - the Museum of New Zealand. "I had the rare privilege of observing hours of fascinating meetings as the process of creating our new national museum unfolded. There were tears, tantrums and moments of joy as our new museum took shape. Subsequently... Continue Reading →

More than just another historical documentary about Gallipoli, Anna Cottrell's film Children of Gallipoli not only gives us a Turkish take on the battle, but views the events through intergenerational eyes. The four young people who feature in the film are all direct descendants of soldiers who fought at Gallipoli. Two are Turks, Serkan Kacmaz... Continue Reading →

Graeme Dingle completed the 1st circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle in June 1993 "A documentary which follows one of New Zealand's foremost explorers, Graeme Dingle, during his quest to be the first to circumnavigate the Arctic circle. Focuses on the relationships between team members during the expedition." from NZOA Programme Catalogue. "Graeme Dingle is a... Continue Reading →

Like so many countries, New Zealand is a nation of immigrants. Many of these people were driven from their homes by war, famine or oppression. Others came as sojourners always intending to go home. All of them came in search of a new life. Told through a series of emotional and personal stories each documentary... Continue Reading →

Sarah is 18, leaving home and has cystic fibrosis. Dad is in the Army so the family moves around. Mum cares – as mothers do.  First a daughter, then a son. This should be a perfect family, but a genetic inheritance of life threatening cystic fibrosis changes all that. Following the life of Sarah Hitchings,... Continue Reading →

Voices of Children is a 16 minute film in which Christchurch children tell earthquake stories. When Christchurch suffered a succession of devastating earthquakes, AC Productions director and producer Anna Cottrell, a former Cantabrian, experienced the horror and sadness from afar. “I saw my hometown with its broken heart and felt helpless. But when I heard or... Continue Reading →

The true story of Helga Tiscenko – she was 16 when her father, a Nazi General, was executed for war crimes.  Caught up in the confusion of the final days of the Third Reich and fleeing the Allied advance, she barely escapes with her life.  Helga starts a new life in post-war New Zealand with... Continue Reading →

In this documentary children of well known Kiwis discuss what it's like to live in the shadow of their famous and infamous parents.  Featuring Natasha and Shaan Turner (Mother, Sukhi, was mayor of Dunedin and Father, Glenn, was a well-known New Zealand cricketer).  Hinemoa Awatere reveals the bond she has with her mother, former politician and activist Donna Awatere-Huata and... Continue Reading →

Douglas Alfred Dibley In this moving documentary, director Anna Cottrell interviews Doug Dibley and Les Leach, the longest surviving Gallipoli veterans. They are both almost 100 and anti war campaigners. Both falsified their ages and went off as teenagers. Doug Dibley was a stretcher bearer. Both men describe the appalling conditions they endured until the... Continue Reading →