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Jessica Sanderson
Joined on
April 2025
Location
Wellington
Ethnicity
Māori, New Zealand European
Iwi
Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Te Atiawa (Taranaki), Te Ati Haunui-a-Pāpārangi
Languages
English and conversational reo Māori
Years of Experience
11 - 20 years
About me
Jessica is a television and film director who explores themes of identity, memory, and healing in her work. She is also the co-founder of FOURPLAIT, a boutique production company based in South Wairarapa. FOURPLAIT currently has two NZ On Air-funded productions due for release in 2025; 'Ahi Wānanga' is on TVNZ+ and Re: News YouTube, 'Journey of Scent' is coming to RNZ soon.
Proficiencies & skills
Qualifications
Bachelor of Performance Design • First Class Honours
Massey University & Toi Whakaari NZ Drama School
2009
NZ Certificate in Māori Business & Management Level 3
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
2020
Featured work
WAYS TO SEE
In 2019, Jessica wrote and directed her first NZFC-funded short film, 'WAYS TO SEE' (produced by Sandy Lane Productions) – a drama-thriller that explored a young girl making sense of grief. The short film opened doors to development opportunities, including participation in DEGNZ's 'Emerging Women Filmmakers Incubator' (2019) and a mentorship with Script to Screen's 'Film Up' (2021). ‘Ways To See’ also won Gold for cinematographer Tammy Williams at the NZCS Awards (2019). The film was produced by Desray Armstrong (Sandy Lane Productions) and Tweedie Waititi.
MOKO
Jessica was the series director for 'MOKO’ (2022), an 8-part documentary series exploring the revival of tā moko. Her dedication to the project, which took 4 years, was motivated by her tīpuna and the whakapapa links to the art form. Lara Northcroft produced the series.
Ahi Wānanga
Ahi Wānanga is an online docu-series for TVNZ+ and Re News: that brings young Māori and Muslim voices together. Produced by Fourplait and co-directed by Jessica Sanderson and Rouzie Hassanova.
