Sally wins Best Director: International Narrative Series at NZ Web Fest

This extraordinary thing happened over the weekend, that I’m still processing – I was honoured and so surprised to be awarded “Best Director: International Narrative Series” for my work on “Dark Arcadia” at the 2024 NZ Web Fest in New Zealand!

The series also received nominations in the Best Ensemble, Best Score (Sass Pinci), Best Writing (Sally McLean) and Best Show categories!

I will confess that I was in my pjs when I accepted the award live online (shh, don’t tell anyone), as I REALLY did not expect to need to get on camera to accept anything – the standard of talent is currently that high on the circuit at the moment.

Here’s my acceptance speech at the awards for those interested:

I’m still processing this amazing thing, but I am so grateful to Keith and his team and the jury he assembled for this wonderful honour – and also for making it possible for those of us not able to be in NZ for the fest still take part in real time via the web – from being on a Creators’ panel online on the Saturday to the Awards on Sunday. My heart was racing giving my thank you speech and it means so much to me to be acknowledged for the work in this way.

While I thanked my team in general for making me look good in my speech, I do need to thank the core Incognita team by name – Billy Smedley, Christopher Kirby, Phoebe Taylor and Sass Pinci – for having my back and enabling me to do this work through their support, generosity and collective creative energy that carries me through. I honestly couldn’t do this work without you and love you all.

Thank you also to my amazing cast and fab crew who brought this gothic fantasy of a world to life. The subject matter has turned out to be so relevant to the issues currently playing out in the world (sadly) and your work on it was invaluable and so appreciated.

And thank you to everyone who supported this series in our crowdfunding rounds, sharing the work, sending messages of support and everything else that you do to keep me, the team and the project afloat – so grateful and thankful for your support.

Giddy with the adrenaline of this win still – so grateful to you all.

Delighted. Grateful. So, so happy.