Penny Black

Billed as a "mix of realism and absurdity", Penny Black follows a self-centred model (Astra McLaren) who is looking after her superhero-obsessed sister. Setting out from Auckland for Wellington so Penny can try to repair her waning career, the duo meet an anarchist (Anton Tennet) who offers new angles on what matters. Partly crowdfunded, partly improvised on location across the North Island, the chalk and cheese tale marked the feature debut of director Joe Hitchcock, who was inspired partly by memories of teen road trips. Alongside the excerpt, a short video captures the film's composers at work.  

You cannot wear a mask in here!

– A supermarket worker gets annoyed at Andi (Toni Garson), in the age before Covid

Key Cast & Crew

Toni Garson

As: Alex

Astra McLaren

As: Penny Black

Fiona Jackson

Writer, Producer, Art Director

Ben Woollen

Cinematographer

Anton Tennet

As: Guy Dubord

Joe Hitchcock

Director, Writer, Editor