Fiona Copland

Fiona Copland was born in Patea, Taranaki, but grew up in Christchurch and Hastings.

After graduating with a history major from Canterbury University, Copland departed NZ for an OE that included a period working at an oil terminal in the Shetland Islands.

Back in New Zealand she got a job in television as a researcher for the arts programme Kaleidoscope, which she describes as "the best part of my education". It led to a decade of directing and producing information programmes and documentaries for Television New Zealand. 

Copland says she was lucky to be one of the last director/producers trained in NZ television under the old public service model, with mentors and colleagues who really understood the craft. Significant influences in those days were directors Keith Hunter, Bruce Morrison, and network executive Hal Weston.

Copland left and developed an association with budding filmmaker, Harry Sinclair. In 1997 the pair established John Swimmer Ltd to produce acclaimed feature film Topless Women Talk About Their Lives.

Copland made two more films with Sinclair: semi-improvised rural romance The Price of Milk in 2000, and philandering comedy Toy Love in 2002, which she executive produced with Juliette Veber.

Around that time she started another production company, Filmwork Ltd, which went on to produce TVNZ art history series, The Big Picture, presented by Hamish Keith. The Big Picture won the 2008 Qantas Film and Television Award for Best Factual Series. 

2009 saw the Kiwi debut of Copland-produced feature The Strength of Water, set in an isolated coastal community. The film won praise at festivals in Berlin and Rotterdam. Written by playwright Briar Grace-Smith, The Strength of Water was directed by first-timer Armagan Ballantyne.

Copland is now in post-production on Michael Bennett feature Matariki, which consists of five interwoven tales that occur in the days before Matariki.