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RogerDonaldson

  • Director
  • Writer
Roger-Donaldson-Key-Profile-NZFC.jpg

Roger Donaldson is notable for spearheading the New Zealand film renaissance with Sleeping Dogs (1977). He has been busy directing in Hollywood for most of the period since. Donaldson's first Kiwi story since acclaimed drama Smash Palace (1981) was Burt Munro biopic The World’s Fastest Indian (2005) — the most successful New Zealand film on its home soil, until the arrival of Boy in 2010.

Screenography

Good One
2024 Executive Producer Film
Heritage Rescue - 3, Series Three
2020 Subject (episode 1) Television
McLaren
2017 Director Film
The November Man
2014 Director Film

Biography

Roger Donaldson's directing credits include landmark TV series Winners & Losers, two classics of the New Zealand film renaissance, and a run of movies made in the United States.  

Awards

2018 Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM)
For services to film 

2006 Air New Zealand Screen Awards
Best Picture: The World's Fastest Indian
Best Director: for The World's Fastest Indian
Best Screenplay: for The World's Fastest Indian

“Any lucky chances I got came from working 80 hours a week.”

— Roger Donaldson

Related images

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Director Roger Donaldson with actor Anna Jemison (now Anna Maria Monticelli) in Auckland, at the 1982 Auckland premiere of Smash Palace.
Kindly provided by The Dominion Post.
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Roger Donaldson in 1983.
Photographer: Martin Hunter. Kindly provided by The Dominion Post
Roger-Donladson_-Bruce-Morrison-and-larry-parr-gallery.jpg
Roger Donaldson (left) chats with three key players from 1983 movie Constance: star Donogh Rees, producer Larry Parr and the film's director Bruce Morrison.
Kindly provided by Onfilm
Worlds-fastest-indian-gallery.jpg
Director Roger Donaldson checks out the shot, during the filming of The World's Fastest Indian.
Kindly provided by The Post
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Director Roger Donaldson and actor Sam Neill discuss their movie Sleeping Dogs, before the start of production.
Photo supplied by Roger Donaldson
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Roger Donaldson clowns around (date unknown).
Stills Collection, Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision. Courtesy of Roger Donaldson Collection
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Roger Donaldson during the filming of 1976 series Winners and Losers.
Stills Collection, Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision. Courtesy of Roger Donaldson Collection
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A behind the scenes shot taken during the filming of Winners & Losers episode Shining with the Shiner. From left to right, director Roger Donaldson, director/actor Ian Mune, sound recordist Craig McLeod, and cinematographer David Gribble.
Stills Collection, Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision. Unknown donor
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A photo taken during the making of Winners & Losers episode Shining with the Shiner. Cinematographer David Gribble (left) and co-director Roger Donaldson.
Stills Collection, Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision. Unknown donor
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A behind the scenes photo taken in Auckland during the filming of Big Brother, Little Sister (part of 1976 series Winners & Losers). Cinematographer Roger Donaldson is in white trousers at the far left of frame.
Stills Collection, Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision. Unknown donor