Name: Cinema Worldbuilding: Wicker With Wētā Workshop
Duration: 60 min

VENUE PARTNER

Take a deeper dive into the making of Wicker with a conversation between the film’s directors and key creatives from Wētā Workshop.

Take this rare chance to discover how the full world – from initial vision and concept design to practical effects – of MIFF’s Bright Horizons selection and Opening Night Gala film Wicker came together. Hear from US-based directors Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson, as well as senior art director and prosthetic designer Joe Dunckley and make-up & hair designer Sarah Rubano from New Zealand’s iconic Wētā Workshop. Established in 1987, Wētā Workshop brings imaginary worlds to life by delivering concept design, physical effects, collectibles, immersive visitor experiences and games to the world’s entertainment and creative industries.

Joe Dunckley works as a senior art director and prosthetic designer at Wētā Workshop in Wellington, New Zealand. His career began in 2000, working at Wētā Workshop on Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. Since then, he has contributed to make-up and practical effects on a variety of films, heading up Wētā Workshop teams on many projects including District 9, Alien: Romulus, Ghost in the Shell, the Hobbit trilogy, Elysium, Chappie and Avatar: The Way of Water.

Alex Huston Fischer writes and directs, often in collaboration with his wife, Eleanor Wilson. Their latest film, Wicker, starring Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård, had its premiere at Sundance 2026. Their debut feature Save Yourselves! premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2020. Alex’s previous 40-minute dance comedy Snowy Bing Bongs, directed with Rachel Wolther, premiered at BAM CinemaFest 2017. He is an alum of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab, and appeared in Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film”.

Make-up & hair designer Sarah Rubano has been working in the film and television industry for 30+ years. Her artistic endeavours have taken her into the diverse worlds of costume, fabrication, prosthetics, make-up and hair. Her stand-out credits include The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, District 9, Elysium, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Ghost in the Shell, Avatar 2 & 3, X, Pearl, The Holdovers and The Legend of Zelda. Sarah’s creative collaboration with Wētā Workshop has spanned 20+ years, and her artistic inspiration and growth are attributed to many years of self-study, classes, on-the-job training, and the support and guidance of many accomplished mentors. Sarah’s film work has allowed her the privilege to travel all over the world and work with some of the industry’s finest.

Eleanor Wilson is a writer/director from South Australia who often collaborates with her partner, Alex Fischer. Their most recent film, Wicker – starring Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgård, Peter Dinklage and Elizabeth Debicki – had its premiere at Sundance 2026. Their debut feature Save Yourselves! premiered at Sundance 2020. Her solo work includes the award-winning short films Low Road, Everything All at Once and Possum, which have screened at St Kilda Film Festival, MoMA, Nitehawk Shorts Fest and SundanceTV, among many others.

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