North

A young couple check into a motel room - but they’re not really together, in any way. Stella and Henry spend the night navigating their complex relationship and figuring out why they’re both there.

North is a story of love, longing, and loss. We meet Stella and Henry in a moment of time where they are physically together but their lives are apart. The film’s intuitive emotional landscape guides audiences through the pair’s relationship in this 12 minute drama film.

Our crew is small and intimate to foster the trust, focus and passion within the cast and crew and ultimately reflect the tone of North. It is made up of seven women who are all third year Massey Screen Arts students.

Our Writer and Director, Finn Bilsborough, has a passion for performance, crafting emotionally resonant and authentic storytelling. Finn has thrown herself into this project, she adopts an observational tone and values minimalism in both dialogue and structure to enhance the realism and emotional depth of her work.

Our Director of Photography, Emma Faherty, has a distinct visual style guided by her background in photography that leads her to create images with intent and impact. Her images are carefully composed, with a focus on tone, texture, and natural light. 

Our Producer, Hazel Wright, brings organisational rigor to the production. With a commitment to nurturing authentic storytelling, Hazel drives the creative process and brings a strong sense of foundation to the crew.

Finn, Emma, and Hazel all share a passion for intimate, character-driven narratives. They have spent many afternoons together making countless mood boards and conceptualising every moment in North. Their creative drive shines through their work and they are so excited to bring their vision to life. 

The North crew is completed by very talented Massey students - Sofia Misa (1st AC), Ruby Spencer (2nd AC), Ruby Boyd (Gaffer), Poppy Sam (Sound Recordist), Ruby Allpress (Production Designer), and Jake Stokes (Composer). 

The whole crew has been working very hard the past few months to get North into motion, we are all very excited to begin filming in August, and we will have completed the final edit by November!

Your contributions will go towards paying our talented actors who are both third year Toi Whakaari students. Funding will also feed our cast and crew on shoot days, and cover location costs, transport costs, and post production costs like film festival submission fees. 
 

Every dollar raised helps our cast and crew to bring this creative vision to life. Donors will be updated with behind the scenes material, invited to attend a preview screening in Wellington, and thanked in the credits of the finished film. We are deeply grateful for every donation and are honoured to have your support in the making of North. 

North at its core is about Stella and Henry’s relationship. Their indelible connection is angsty and painfully real, as two people who find exactly what they need - and perhaps a lot that they don't - in each other. We are presented with the truth and complexities of young love in the minute observations and subtleties within the narrative.

North is a story told in the spaces between the lines — a film that doesn’t just show emotion, but invites you to feel it. Every unspoken glance, every loaded silence, becomes its own dialogue. Audiences aren’t passive observers; they actively peel back layers, interpreting what’s left unsaid and sensing the weight of everything beneath the surface. 

Beyond the exploration of the central relationship, North addresses issues of agency, fertility, and honesty and aims to powerfully resonate as a compelling modern exploration of loving and being loved. North speaks to the intimacy and depth of human relationships in a way that is honest and authentic. The story resonates because it doesn't shy away from everyday life. Instead it reflects the reality of many audiences - complex relationships with challenges of communication, unspoken understanding, and lasting love. 

Supporting us in the making of North means supporting young female filmmakers to create a work that they are deeply passionate about and gives us the opportunity to put our voices out into the world. 

How can you support North?

• Donate to our Boosted Campaign
• Follow us - we will be sharing funding milestones, behind the scenes content, and film updates on our official instagram page @northshortfilm
• Share - Share our film and campaign with your community. 

And… as Boosted is a registered charity in New Zealand, NZ residents can get 33% of their donation back in their annual tax refund through the IRD.