The Nephilim

WHAT IF THE QUEERS REALLY WERE DEMONIC?

Manu, an Evangelical Christian boy, is urged by his father to go undercover and infiltrate a queer dance collective called House of Revel in an attempt to rid this world’s soil of darkness. As Manu is brought into the fold by the collective’s leader, Mother Revel, he soon realises he may possess a demonic darkness of his own. 

With your help, we can use our queer voices to bring to life this sensual and electric horror film about the importance of community.

Writer/Director: 

Awa Puna, Ngāti Kahungunu, ki Wairoa and Tūhoe, is a Whakawahine (Trans Woman) filmmaker. 

She utilises her voice to stand up against the dangerous and divisive views that are pervading society about the trans community, by giving them a voice through the art of film. Awa is a multi-disciplined filmmaker, gaining early recognition with her short film TŪĪ, which won her the Creative New Zealand’s Best Emerging Talent Award at NZIFF in 2021. In The Nephilim, Awa weaves together her interests in Maori Mythology, her background in the world of dance, and an obsession with fantasy/horror films, creating something new and rich. 
 

Producers:

Awa Puna - River Rangi Films

Greg Smith - Actor and Producer

Director Of Photography

Isaac Newcombe is known for his passionate and collaborative approach and is a prolific cinematographer with over a decade of experience crafting compelling visuals across narrative, commercial and documentary productions.

Art Director: 

Damien Leith’s exceptional visual eye will be instrumental in bringing the world of our queer, demonic short film to life. With standout projects like Uproar and Rūrangi - the latter of which he worked on alongside Awa - Damien’s experience and creative vision will ensure the film not only looks stunning but feels deeply immersive. His expertise will elevate the overall aesthetic and atmosphere of The Nephilim, making it a truly unforgettable visual experience.

Choreographer: 

Honey Givenchy, the legendary founding mother of the House of Givenchy, is a celebrated movement director and choreographer within Auckland’s vibrant Ballroom community. Known for their fierceness, Honey will infuse the world of The Nephilim with a fiery, captivating energy through their choreography, bringing the film's dance sequences to life in a way that is both powerful and unforgettable.

Composer:

Lucia Munroe has spent the last decade as a Music Producer in the Tāmakis music scene under a plethora of aliases such as DJ SWEAT, DJ Twice, Ages Powerflip, with releases and live appearances across a variety of labels and club nights, performing alongside Eartheater, James K, DJ Assault, MikeQ and Kevin Aviance 

She returns her attention to the world of film scores for The Nephilim. No stranger to cinematic soundscapes in her solo output, she has also contributed score pieces to Bianca Rocca’s ‘Maybe She’s Born With It’ and to Joshua Prendeville’s debut feature-length film ‘In Passing.’

Editor: 

Nadia Darby is an editor with a great appreciation for the power of storytelling. Through her editorial work in short film, documentary and music video, she has learnt to edit with narrative skill and creative instinct. She has recently worked alongside Awa in two recent short films The Girl, The Lamb and The Man, as well as Mondae. She is excited to bring her love for filmmaking to this project and to work with Awa, in bringing a compelling story to life!

We are hoping to raise enough funds to be able to pay all the key creatives for their mahi. The remuneration for everyone will be done on a percentage basis with the hope that we can offer everybody something. We have had some very talented crew express an interest in joining us for this project, so we hope to be able to pay them for their time.

Our budget will ensure that all the key areas are funded.

• On Set Crew - Camera, Lighting & Sound
• Cast
• Featured Extras & Extras
• Location Hire 
• Film Equipment Hire
• Rehearsals
• Catering
• Costume Resourcing and Management
• Makeup and Prosthetics, and Management
• Post Production Costs

This is a chance for us to speak to our own experiences of being demonized. The Nephilim is a film of moral discomfort, and it aims to kick up the dust. We believe the best art holds up a mirror, and that’s what we aim to do, only we are turning that mirror on its head. If you call us demonic, that’s what we’ll become, only, we’ll make it C.U.N.T.Y. and wonderful. We love Aotearoa films that break the mould by using genre conventions while continuing to stay true to our Kiwi voice in a way that feels new, fresh and exciting. 

This story is a hard-hitting but playful reclamation of what it means to be takatāpui in a postcolonial Aotearoa. This is reflected in our main character, Manu, who has to decolonise his christian perception of the queer community. With the rise of Christian ideologies against queer people, we believe this is a timely story that viewers are ready to see, and we aim to tell it with power and compassion.

We are paying homage to those who have fought for our rights, who have fostered self-acceptance, sisterhood and community. Awa knows all too well the importance of representation and story sovereignty, which is why our team reflects the kaupapa of this unapologetically queer, trans and brown story.