Andrew Szusterman.
Andrew Szusterman will be the managing director of the Auckland-based South Pacific Pictures from February 2020.
Szusterman joins the company from Mediaworks, where has worked for the last 17 years, most recently as chief content officer, responsible for programming across the company’s TV, radio and digital platforms.
He will work with South Pacific Pictures’ CEO Kelly Martin and head of production Sally Campbell, bringing his knowledge of local and international audiences to the company.
“South Pacific Pictures are thrilled to have Andrew coming on board in 2020,” says Martin.
“He brings a wealth of experience and expertise, and we know he will be a huge asset to the company.”
Szusterman is looking forward to the new opportunity. “It’s great to be joining one of New Zealand’s most iconic film and television studios at such a vibrant time for the production community,” he says.
“Working with Kelly and the team on the next phase of South Pacific Pictures’ journey is an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up.”
The Kiwi production company is currently shooting The Sounds, a NZ-Canadian co-production with Shaftesbury for Acorn Media Enterprises (AME), All3 Media, CBC and Sky NZ. The eigh-part thriller, set in NZ’s South Island, is created and written by New Zealand author Sarah-Kate Lynch and will be directed by Peter Stebbings (Frankie Drake Mysteries, Killjoys, Wynonna Earp). The series is currently filming on location in New Zealand and is slated for a 2020 release.
It stars Canadian actress Rachelle Lefevre and New Zealand actor Matt Whelan and co-stars Matt Nable, Emily Piggford, Peter Elliott, Anna-Maree Thomas, Vanessa Rare, Tandi Wright, Morgana O’Reilly, Tainui Tukiwaho, Josh McKenzie, Scotty Cotter and Sara Wiseman.