Matasila Freshwater

Matasila Freshwater is a Wellington director with a background in animation, anthropology and design. She cut her creative teeth on a run of 48 Hour filmmaking competitions (including 2017 Best Animation winner The Real Rare Arctic Firefly). Her award-winning short Shmeat – the tale of a mad scientist who devises a new food source – was chosen for the 'New Zealand’s Best' section of the 2016 NZ International Film Festival. In 2019 Freshwater was one of eight directors on Vai, a Pacific Island follow-up to feature Waru. That same year, she won New Filmmaker of the Year at the 2019 SPADA Screen Industry Awards. 

Excellent production values encompassing a timely global story. Very Tim Burton-esque, but thoroughly entertaining and humorous. Judge Lee Tamahori, explaining the selection of short film Shmeat for the 'New Zealand’s Best' section of the 2016 NZ International Film Festival