ANNA CANTON
Creative Producer | Screen Leadership & Advocacy
Based in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Anna is a Creative Producer, Line Producer & Production Manager with a passion for genre film and storytelling that highlights diverse and underrepresented voices on screen. She has 20 years' experience in the screen industry and a decade in marketing, brand & organisational management.
She produced the NZFC Fresh Shorts short film 'HOMECOMING' with transgender Writer/Director Grae Meek, which has playing in several international film festivals and won seven awards. Her short films 'GRAVEL 3000' and award-winning 'MODEL 15' have also played at local and international festivals. She was the Line Producer on the short films ‘THE MEEK’ and 'SISTER JOSEPHINE', both funded by NZFC. She is currently in development on various film projects and is Lead Producer on the Episode One Redux web series 'DEAD STRANGERS' for PASC & RNZ.
Anna is the Co-Chair of the regional screen advocacy group Te Puna Matarau (Canterbury Screen Industry Association) doing fierce advocacy work for the regional screen sector; a board member of WIFT NZ and a Regional Ambassador for the Pan-Asian Screen Collective. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film; is a qualified Project Manager and speaker of Te Reo Māori. In her spare time she is a flamenco dancer and crocheter.
Anna is building a slate of projects for Annakey Productions, particularly looking for diverse perspectives from women, Te Ao Māori, Pan-Asian, & LGBTQIA+ scripts working in the genre space (thriller, horror, action, sci-fi, dark comedy).
She produced the NZFC Fresh Shorts short film 'HOMECOMING' with transgender Writer/Director Grae Meek, which has playing in several international film festivals and won seven awards. Her short films 'GRAVEL 3000' and award-winning 'MODEL 15' have also played at local and international festivals. She was the Line Producer on the short films ‘THE MEEK’ and 'SISTER JOSEPHINE', both funded by NZFC. She is currently in development on various film projects and is Lead Producer on the Episode One Redux web series 'DEAD STRANGERS' for PASC & RNZ.
Anna is the Co-Chair of the regional screen advocacy group Te Puna Matarau (Canterbury Screen Industry Association) doing fierce advocacy work for the regional screen sector; a board member of WIFT NZ and a Regional Ambassador for the Pan-Asian Screen Collective. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film; is a qualified Project Manager and speaker of Te Reo Māori. In her spare time she is a flamenco dancer and crocheter.
Anna is building a slate of projects for Annakey Productions, particularly looking for diverse perspectives from women, Te Ao Māori, Pan-Asian, & LGBTQIA+ scripts working in the genre space (thriller, horror, action, sci-fi, dark comedy).
Selected Producer Highlights
Selected Professional Development & Leadership Highlights
Selected Facilitator, Panelist & Presentation Highlights:
- 'DEAD STRANGERS' (web series), Lead Producer, Annakey Productions (2026)
- 'HOMECOMING' (short film), Producer, Annakey Productions (2025)
- 'SISTER JOSEPHINE' (short film), Line Producer, AJ Films (2024)
- 'THE MEEK' (short film), Line Producer, Blueskin Films (2020)
- 'ADVANTAGE YOU' (TVC Campaign), Co-Producer, Ara Institute of Canterbury (2019)
- 'MODEL 15' (short film), Annakey Productions (2013)
- 'HOMEFRONT' (short film), Associate Producer Picture the Difference (2009)
- 'GRAVEL 3000' (short film), Producer, Annakey Productions (2007)
Selected Professional Development & Leadership Highlights
- WIFT NZ Board Member, Co-Vice Chair (2025 - present), NZ Awards Judging Panel (2022, 2026)
- Pan-Asian Screen Collective Regional Ambassador (2025 - present)
- Te Puna Matarau | Canterbury Screen Industry Association Co-Chair (2024-present)
- Screen CanterburyNZ Industry Support (2025)
- 48 Hours Competition Christchurch Regional Judge (2022 & 2025)
- Big Screen Symposium & SPADA Conference Delegate (2022-25)
- Ara Institute of Canterbury Kaupapa Maori: Significant Contribution to Māori Achievement award (2019)
- The New Zealand Film Commission Emerging Producers Intensive (2019)
Selected Facilitator, Panelist & Presentation Highlights:
- WIFT: Thriving in the South Island Panel (2021), Story Sovereignty & Cultural Safety Panel (2022), Value Your Worth Panel (2025)
- Te Puna Matarau: Story Sovereignty, Diversity & Inclusion Panel (2023), Christchurch City Council Budget Submission presentations (2024, 2025), Kōawa Screen Strategy Round Table (2025)
- NZIFF & DocEdge: Director Q&A sessions, various films (2024, 2025)
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