In 2021, I had the incredible opportunity to interview screenwriter Riwia McKenzie Brown for Women Beside the Screen—a studio led by Catherine O’Brady and Elizabeth Burke, in collaboration with the Melbourne Women in Film Festival (MWFF).
What made this project especially unique was that it was produced entirely during the COVID pandemic. Like so many creatives at the time, we were navigating lockdowns, remote collaboration, and all the uncertainty that came with it. But despite those challenges, I’m genuinely proud of what we created. It’s a different kind of work—one that likely wouldn’t have existed without the tough circumstances—and it taught me so much about adaptability, storytelling, and creating meaning through the unknown.
The final interview was screened at the Capitol Theatre and officially selected for the 2022 MWFF—a moment I’ll always hold close.
I’m especially grateful to Riwia McKenzie Brown for her time, her knowledge, and the deep generosity with which she shared her story. Her voice as an Indigenous screenwriter is powerful—and for a young Māori woman like me, it was profoundly inspiring to sit across from someone who’s paved the way for so many of us. Representation like Riwia’s isn’t just important—it’s essential, and it continues to light the path forward for the next generation of storytellers.
A huge thank you as well to MWFF and the studio leads for championing women’s voices, and for creating the space for stories like this to be told