Kopere Ake - 2025
In 2025, the Kōpere Ake one round with two grants will be available for writers or teams of writers to apply for.
Judges Panel
Victor John Rodger ONZM is a New Zealand journalist, actor, and award-winning playwright of Samoan and Pākehā heritage. His work often deals with race and identity. In 2001, he won the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award. his plays include Ranterstantrum (2002) and My Name is Gary Cooper (2007), as well as the acclaimed Black Faggot. His television work includes Shortland Street and Teine Sa: The Ancient Ones.
Victor John Rodger ONZM is a New Zealand journalist, actor, and award-winning playwright of Samoan and Pākehā heritage. His work often deals with race and identity. In 2001, he won the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award. his plays include Ranterstantrum (2002) and My Name is Gary Cooper (2007), as well as the acclaimed Black Faggot. His television work includes Shortland Street and Teine Sa: The Ancient Ones.
Chair of the Writers' Guild of Ireland since 2020, Jennifer writes for Ireland’s national soap opera, Fair City, having been a core member of the writing team since 2012. A fierce advocate for Irish writers, through her work with the Writers Guild, she has originated and run a wide number of training and development initiatives for new writers. In 2022 she set up her own writer-led production company, HeartFelt Drama.
Chair of the Writers' Guild of Ireland since 2020, Jennifer writes for Ireland’s national soap opera, Fair City, having been a core member of the writing team since 2012. A fierce advocate for Irish writers, through her work with the Writers Guild, she has originated and run a wide number of training and development initiatives for new writers. In 2022 she set up her own writer-led production company, HeartFelt Drama.
Sam Meikle is a highly experienced writer and creator with hundreds of hours of produced credits across a broad range of television dramas, comedies, animation, and web series. He’s worked extensively in development for many of Australia’s leading production houses, and written and interviewed for documentary works. His short films have screened at festivals around the world, and he’s been engaged to develop multiple feature film projects. Sam holds a Masters in screenwriting from the AFTRS (2000), he’s a graduate of the NIDA Playwrights’ Studio (2000), and he's been nominated for 3 AACTA Awards and 12 Australian Writers’ Guild Awards, winning 4.
Sam Meikle is a highly experienced writer and creator with hundreds of hours of produced credits across a broad range of television dramas, comedies, animation, and web series. He’s worked extensively in development for many of Australia’s leading production houses, and written and interviewed for documentary works. His short films have screened at festivals around the world, and he’s been engaged to develop multiple feature film projects. Sam holds a Masters in screenwriting from the AFTRS (2000), he’s a graduate of the NIDA Playwrights’ Studio (2000), and he's been nominated for 3 AACTA Awards and 12 Australian Writers’ Guild Awards, winning 4.
Nicole Yorkin and her partner Dawn Prestwich, were most recently the Creators/Showrunners for the Netflix series, ‘Hit & Run’. Other projects include ‘Z’, for Amazon and four seasons as writers/executive producers on AMC/Netflix’s ‘The Killing’. Prior to that, Prestwich and Yorkin were writers and executive producers/showrunners of FX’s ‘The Riches’. Other credits include stints as writers/co-executive producers on Showtime’s “Brotherhood,” (2006 Peabody Award) HBO’s “Carnivale” and CBS’ “Judging Amy.” In 2003, Yorkin and Prestwich won a Writers Guild Award for their drama pilot, “The Education of Max Bickford.” The two have worked on various television shows over 30 plus years, including “Picket Fences,” “The Practice,” “Ally McBeal,” and shared an Emmy® nomination along with several producers of “Chicago Hope” for Outstanding Drama Series. Yorkin recently her fourth term as a WGAW Board Member.
Nicole Yorkin and her partner Dawn Prestwich, were most recently the Creators/Showrunners for the Netflix series, ‘Hit & Run’. Other projects include ‘Z’, for Amazon and four seasons as writers/executive producers on AMC/Netflix’s ‘The Killing’. Prior to that, Prestwich and Yorkin were writers and executive producers/showrunners of FX’s ‘The Riches’. Other credits include stints as writers/co-executive producers on Showtime’s “Brotherhood,” (2006 Peabody Award) HBO’s “Carnivale” and CBS’ “Judging Amy.” In 2003, Yorkin and Prestwich won a Writers Guild Award for their drama pilot, “The Education of Max Bickford.” The two have worked on various television shows over 30 plus years, including “Picket Fences,” “The Practice,” “Ally McBeal,” and shared an Emmy® nomination along with several producers of “Chicago Hope” for Outstanding Drama Series. Yorkin recently her fourth term as a WGAW Board Member.
Michelle Ehlen is a non-binary queer filmmaker who has produced, written, directed, and acted in five award-winning features, including the first lesbian comedy trilogy (Butch Jamie, Heterosexual Jill, S&M Sally) and her newly released dramedy Maybe Someday. Her films have screened in over 100 festivals worldwide, won 22 awards, and have been distributed on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and Apple TV. Michelle is currently working on an upcoming documentary called Queering the Binary, a large-scale research project and docuseries exploring non-binary identities and experiences.
Michelle Ehlen is a non-binary queer filmmaker who has produced, written, directed, and acted in five award-winning features, including the first lesbian comedy trilogy (Butch Jamie, Heterosexual Jill, S&M Sally) and her newly released dramedy Maybe Someday. Her films have screened in over 100 festivals worldwide, won 22 awards, and have been distributed on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and Apple TV. Michelle is currently working on an upcoming documentary called Queering the Binary, a large-scale research project and docuseries exploring non-binary identities and experiences.
Kōpere Ake Results Announcement Date:
November 21, 2025
Grant Recipients
In 1900's Aotearoa, the brilliant and enigmatic Amy Bock reinvents herself again and again - schoolteacher, heiress, and finally a charming man, conning an entire town and marrying another woman. But when her most outrageous lie catches up with her, Amy must decide whether to disappear again or face the consequences of the greatest role she’s ever played, herself.
In 1900's Aotearoa, the brilliant and enigmatic Amy Bock reinvents herself again and again - schoolteacher, heiress, and finally a charming man, conning an entire town and marrying another woman. But when her most outrageous lie catches up with her, Amy must decide whether to disappear again or face the consequences of the greatest role she’s ever played, herself.
In 1900's Aotearoa, the brilliant and enigmatic Amy Bock reinvents herself again and again - schoolteacher, heiress, and finally a charming man, conning an entire town and marrying another woman. But when her most outrageous lie catches up with her, Amy must decide whether to disappear again or face the consequences of the greatest role she’s ever played, herself.
In 1900's Aotearoa, the brilliant and enigmatic Amy Bock reinvents herself again and again - schoolteacher, heiress, and finally a charming man, conning an entire town and marrying another woman. But when her most outrageous lie catches up with her, Amy must decide whether to disappear again or face the consequences of the greatest role she’s ever played, herself.
When two immature Gen Xers start a passionate new love affair, the relationship rips open old inner child wounds, triggering the appearance of their seven year old selves, who both help and hinder their second-time-around romance.
When two immature Gen Xers start a passionate new love affair, the relationship rips open old inner child wounds, triggering the appearance of their seven year old selves, who both help and hinder their second-time-around romance.
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