Zoe McIntosh

No challenge is too great for this dynamo of a woman

Anyone who works with Zoë will tell you she has a ceaseless gift for scouting out-of-whack characters from the edges of society that often best reflect the human condition we all experience. Her true magic lies in her ability to go beyond their oddness and find the path to great storytelling. Zoë heroes the emotional layers that feed the eccentricities or troubled aspects of her characters, and excavates to reveal the beauty and pathos within. Perspectives that help the rest of us to see others with new eyes, and to love them even if at first glance we feel afraid or repelled.

If that all sounds a bit serious, think again. In person, Zoë lights up a room like a solar flare. Once described as a glitter ball of energy, laughter and cheekiness, she literally radiates light. A happy citizen of her beloved Muriwai coastal community, she donates time and energy as a volunteer firefighter. Or you might even find her at the beach surfing, kiteboarding or spearfishing. Ready to jump outside her comfort zone at the drop of a hat, Zoe is a deeply inquisitive seeker of connection who is able to find it where others simply can’t.

Zöe's most recent work is a feature documentary about the infamous UFC middle-weight champion, Israel Adesanya. Stylebender had its global premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2023, where it was nominated for Best Documentary and Zoë was nominated for Best New Director.