Matt Hicks

Departments & Roles

ART DEPT

CASTING DEPT

LOCATION DEPT

PRODUCTION DEPT

PROPS DEPT

SCRIPT DEPT

TRANSPORT DEPT

About

I’m a Cambridge based film all rounderwith family in both Tauranga and Rotorua. I have written and produced my own feature film ‘The Tavern’ and helped co-produce another feature ‘Home Kills’ (which debuted at the 2023 New Zealand International Film Festival).

I work as the talent development co-ordinator for Waikato Screen keeping my organising teeth sharp between film jobs putting on networking events and workshops to up skill our local talent base.
My greatest strength is being a people person. I have a large network of contacts and am constantly making more. My networking prowess (combined with the satisfaction I get ticking things off my ‘to do’ list) I feel make me a valuable team member (especially when it comes to finding/ managing locations and sourcing/managing extras). Pre production is everything!

I’m a true believer that making an indie feature is the best form of film school one can have. Being involved intimately in every aspect from first draft to marketing the film gives me a deep appreciation of everyones else’s jobs. Having been through the perils of self financing a project I’m always conscious of not wasting others time/money.

I’m passionate about marketing projects well and seeing our stories in cinemas (whats the point in making films if people don’t watch them). I successfully organised and secured press (online/radio/ print) for the 2024 ‘Home Kills Cinema Tour’ which saw the film play in 11 cinemas across the Waikato/BOP/Coromandel/Hawkes Bay to bumper crowds.

I took that same self-distribution model and scaled it right up with The Tavern — another Cambridge-based feature that I got into 45 cinemas nationwide, selling out screenings across the country and finishing as the highest-grossing independent New Zealand film of 2025. The film went on to gain cult status, staying in cinemas for 52 weeks before landing on TVNZ+, New Zealand’s largest free-to-air broadcaster.

Get in touch if you need a ‘fixer’ for your project.

Industry Experience

Writer/Producer/Actor – The Tavern (Feature Film)
Producer/Script Supervisor/2nd AD/ Extras Coordinator- Home Kills (Feature film)
Drone/Art Department- From Shadow (Short Film)
Actor – Buzz Cut (Feature Film)
Actor – Au3 (Feature Film)
Actor – Darkest Light (Feature Film)
Actor – Punch (Feature Film)
Actor – The Red Admiral: Or Terry’s Really Long Walk Home (Feature Film)
Actor – Bogged (Feature Film)
Actor – Starter (feature Film)
Featured Extra – Ahikāroa (TV series)
Extra – Vegas (TV series)
Extra – Panthers (TV series)
Extra – The Wilds (TV series)
Extra – The Gone (TV series)
1st AD- Producer- Lucas & Layla (Short Film)

Panels and workshops:
Panelist- Misty Flicks (Te Awamutu) 2025
Workshop host- Top of the South Film Festival 2025 (Nelson- Marlborough)
Panelist- Third Culture Film Festival (Tauranga) 2026
Workshop host- Creative Raglan (Raglan)
Panelist-BIG SCREEN SYMPOSIUM (Auckland) 2026