Sally McLean wins Best Directing: International Narrative Series Award

The NZ Web Fest International Awards Ceremony took place earlier today, streaming live from Auckland, New Zealand via Zoom and broadcast live on YouTube, with many of the international creators, filmmakers and podcasters in attendance on the call. It was a joyous celebration of all things digital, short form and online and I was so delighted to be able to be part of it from here in Melbourne, Australia.

Kudos to Keith and Jacq who hosted the Awards and also pull this festival together every year along with the rest of the NZ Web Fest team – I know that all us international creators are so grateful to be able to participate in one of the top webfests in this way. Your dedication to inclusion is awesome and so very much appreciated!

The level of talent in the online and short form space is quite extraordinary and is increasing every year. So it was a total surprise when it was announced that the Best Directing: International Narrative Series Award had joint winners this year – myself for Walking Shadows Vol. 3 and Samantha Wan for Lady Ada’s Secret Society! It was with shock, delight and a racing heart that I stepped up in person on the video call to accept the award and thank everyone who made Walking Shadows possible right there in that moment. This was the second year running that I have been honoured with this accolade from NZ Web Fest – which is why I never expected to win this year! – and I am thrilled, grateful and more thrilled again.

A huge thank you to the NZ Web Fest team and jury. This is such an honour. Congrats to my co-winner, Samantha Wan for this recognition of her work and to Lady Ada’s Secret Society creator, Shannon Fewster on yet another well-deserved accolade for her wonderful series and team. It is an honour to be named alongside you. More thanks to the all the Walking Shadows cast & crew and to my incredible Incognita Enterprises team – Billy Smedley, Christopher Kirby, Phoebe Anne Taylor and Sass Pinci (who also did the Sound Design for the season) – you lovely humans all rock and I couldn’t do this work without your wonderful support.

So proud and so thankful. And still pinching myself!