Jennifer Ward-Lealand makes directorial debut with Disrupt

Short film "Disrupt" looks into the devastating effects of methamphetamine on a whanau when a grandmother is the only person who refuses to give up on her drug-addicted grandson. Written by Aroha Awarau and filmed in 2021, "Disrupt" is the film directing debut for Jennifer Ward-Lealand, "Disrupt" debuted at the Hawaii and New Zealand International Film Festivals late last year. Last week it screened at the Beverly Hills International Film Festival in Los Angeles and the Wairoa Film Festival, where it won the audience voted Tinirau Prize. Nathan Rarere asked Jennifer Ward-Lealand what it was like making the transition to being a screen director.