Leanne Saunders
Her involvement with the film industry has spanned over ten years, both in New Zealand and the UK where she worked for Working Title on films including Vincent Ward's Map Of The Human Heart and Hanif Kureishi's London Kills Me. UK Freelance work included Manifesto Film Sales where she was involved in European release campaigns for Almodovar's Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down and Lynch's Wild At Heart.
severe features Limited was set up by Saunders in 2000 to develop and work with exceptional and fresh talent in the development and production of feature films. The first severe feature, Christmas (2003) screened in official selection at Toronto, Edinburgh, Locarno and Melbourne International Film Festivals 2003, Seoul SefNef and Cardiff 2004. Christmas was winner of all major categories for Digital Feature at the Academy of Film and Television New Zealand Film Awards 2003 including Best Digital Feature, Best Script, Best Performance and Best Technical Contribution (Art Direction).
Saunders is credited as co-Executive Producer on six short films in release in conjunction with the New Zealand Film Commission, selected highlights include: Water (2003) 35mm, in competition Sundance 2004; No Ordinary Sun (2004) official selection Edinburgh 2004; Beautiful (2002) 35mm, in competition Sundance 2002, official selection New York 2002, Melbourne 2002, Toronto 2002; The French Doors (2001) 35mm, official selection Clermont Ferrand 2002, Melbourne 2002, Aspen 2002; and Junk (2001) 35mm, runner-up Nescafé Australasian Short Film Awards 2001, Best Short Film, Nokia Film Awards, NZ 2001.
She has worked as a commercials producer for companies including Sydney and Auckland Film Company, FAT Film Ltd and Black Stump Film Company producing award-winning commercials for a range of international clients, including Black 5 minute cinema TVC (Saatchi & Saatchi) Silver Axis, New Zealand Advertising Awards 2001; Nike NZ (Whybin TBWA), runner-up Best Campaign, Australian ATV Awards 2002.