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Karen Sidney
Producer, Director, Scriptwriter
The Script Lounge

Karen Sidney (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongwhakaata, Rongomaiwahine,) is an award-winning scriptwriter with broad experience also as a producer, director and researcher since the mid-1980s.

With early mentors and colleagues Barry Barclay, Merata Mita and Don C Selwyn; she worked on founding Film Industry representative body Te Manu Aute which have become Nga Aho Whakaari today – representing Māori screen storytellers.  

Her awards include 2023 WIFT NZ Mana Wahine award, the inaugural Alanis Ombomsawin Award (Dreamspeakers Festival Canada) and Best of the Festival (ImagineNative Festival, Canada); as Writer of the ‘Mataora’ episode, and co-Producer of the Aroha Maori Drama series, which also screened at Message Sticks Festival, Sydney.

Now based in the Kaipara, she has returned to the screen Industry from working as General Manager of Whangarei’s regional TV Station Channel North, Creative Manager at Creative Northland ; and teaching Filmmaking at NorthTec. 

The Script Lounge

Karen’s company The Script Lounge Ltd contracts services to a number Independent Productions for such services as Research, Producing, Directing and Consultancy.

The Script Lounge currently has two Features and two Drama series in early development; some of which will be international co-productions.

Karen is attending AIDC 2026 as Co-Producer and Co-Director with Annie Goldson and her company Occasional Productions.