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Profile image for Hugh Macdonald

Hugh Macdonald

Director, Producer

Hugh Macdonald began his long, award-studded career at the National Film Unit, where at age 25 he directed ambitious three-screen spectacular This is New Zealand (1970). It was seen by 400,000 New Zealanders. In the 1980s he produced Oscar-nominated short The Frog, the Dog, and the Devil and set up his own company, continuing a busy diet of train documentaries, commercial films and animation. 

That was one of the great things about working at the National Film Unit in the 60s — we could do what we wanted, as long as it wasn't offensive to whichever adminstration was in power at the time. We were frequently allowed to play with ideas we had. That was an incredible creative freedom. Hugh Macdonald

Thumbnail image for Hugh Macdonald: Expos, epics and animated amphibians...
Interview

Hugh Macdonald: Expos, epics and animated amphibians...

Interview, 2015

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No Ordinary Sheila

2017, Director, Producer, Camera - Film

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The Orchard

1995, Producer - Short Film

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Toogood Tales

1994, Co-Director, Producer - Television

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Rimutaka Incline

1991, Producer - Film

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The Enduring Land - Home Away From Home

1990, Additional Direction - Television

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The Enduring Land - Green Velvet

1990, Additional Direction - Television

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The Enduring Land - The Designers

1990, Additional Direction - Television

Thumbnail image for The Enduring Land - Winners and Losers

The Enduring Land - Winners and Losers

1990, Additional Direction - Television

Thumbnail image for The Frog, the Dog, and the Devil

The Frog, the Dog, and the Devil

1986, Producer - Short Film

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Right Next Door

1985, Director - Short Film

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Logger Rhythms

1984, Director - Short Film

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War Years

1983, Producer - Film

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Kids and Other People

1982, Director - Short Film

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Primeval Survivors

1981, Producer - Short Film

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The Domino

1981, Producer - Short Film

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Studio Tour

1981, Subject - Short Film

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Artists Prepare

1980, Producer - Short Film

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Artists Prepare: Chris Cree Brown

1980, Producer - Short Film

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Artists Prepare: Sam Hunt and Gary McCormick

1980, Producer - Short Film

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The Governor

1977, Director - Television

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The Governor 2 - No Way to Treat A Lady (Episode Two)

1977, Director - Television

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The Governor 3 - The Mutinous Lieutenant (Episode Three)

1977, Director - Television

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The Making of The Governor

1977, Subject - Television

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Somebody Else's Horizon

1976, Director, Writer, Editor - Short Film

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Freshwater Dive

1975, Writer, Director, Editor - Short Film

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There is a Place

1975, Director, Writer, Editor - Short Film

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Environment 1990

1972, Director, Editor - Short Film

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A Great Day to Go

1971, Director, Writer - Short Film

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This is Expo

1971, Director, Writer, Editor - Short Film

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The Line

1970, Writer - Short Film

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The Dairy Industry

1970, Narration writer - Short Film

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This is New Zealand

1970, Director, Writer, Editor - Short Film

Thumbnail image for Pictorial Parade No. 195 - After Ninety Years

Pictorial Parade No. 195 - After Ninety Years

1967, Director, Writer, Editor - Short Film

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This Auckland

1967, Director, Writer - Short Film

Thumbnail image for Pictorial Parade No. 164 - A Home for Rare Birds/NZ Cricket Team in India/Miss World in NZ

Pictorial Parade No. 164 - A Home for Rare Birds/NZ Cricket Team in India/Miss World in NZ

1965, Writer, Editor - Short Film

Thumbnail image for Pictorial Parade No. 161 - Exercise Powderhorn

Pictorial Parade No. 161 - Exercise Powderhorn

1965, Narration Script, Editor - Short Film