RACHEL GARDNER

Rachel Gardner produces for Great Southern. Rachel runs a significant drama development slate as well as producing and executive producing both film, television drama and scripted comedy. Recently Rachel produced Sima Urale's award winning debut feature film Apron Strings, which opened the NZ Film Festival and was selected for the Toronto International Film Festival - as well as developing and producing TVNZ's critically acclaimed comedy series The Pretender. She also co-produced Anthony McCarten's feature film Show of Hands and executive produced the pan-Asian sketch comedy show 1000 Apologies, which screened on TV3. Rachel is currently producing The Cult, a 13-hour prime time drama series for TV2. In 2008, Rachel and her business partner Philip Smith were awarded the Independent Producer of the Year Award by New Zealand's Screen Production Association (SPADA). In 2007 she was voted Woman to Watch by WIFT New Zealand.