Matt Campbell Downes

Matt’s first short film ‘The Dregs’ - was featured in NZIFF Best shorts 2017, FIFO Tahiti 2018 and also won best ‘Indie Drama’ in the Los Angeles Film Awards. His second short “The Dinner Agreement’ won LAFA ‘Best Indie Drama’ and ‘Best Director 2023’, was shortlisted for ‘NZIFF Best Shorts 2023’ and ‘Rhode Island IFF’ (currently still ‘in Festival’). Whilst in house Creative Director / Content Director at Serato 2017 – 2023, Matt created a multitude of short documentary items, music videos, tutorials, ads and social marketing assets principally for the US market. Matt left Serato in 2023 to pursue his film making fulltime. In 2024 Matt’s 48HRs Film Festival team made the Auckland Finals and had so much fun they resolved to make a feature together - which is how ‘The Onehunga Leaf Blower Massacre’ has come about.

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Last Update:: 06/06/2025, 04:04 pm
Website:: https://spanko66.com

Matt Campbell Downes

Matt's Live Project

The Onehunga Leaf Blower Massacre

Romily, undergoing therapy because of a workplace ‘anger management incident’ doesn’t believe she has ‘anger issues’ but is furious about having her career on hold! Her attempts to write her ‘dream’ novel are relentlessly disrupted by neighbourhood Leaf Blowing, and despite her struggle to suppress them, her murderous thoughts mysteriously manifest as multiple ‘accidents’ – death for anyone that dares leaf-blow in her proximity. Each time however, in the peace and quiet that follows, Romily is invigorated and makes great progress on her novel. The Police, initially dismissing the deaths as accidents, soon start to dig deeper. Eva, Romily’s daughter, pieces it together and confronts her mum - but luckily her baby’s birth momentarily distracts! Romily’s lover Danny endeavours to help her overcome her demons but will he succeed before her rage consumes him, Police forensics close the case, or Eva reveals the truth?

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