Karenza Ebejer is a socially engaged filmmaker and educator whose practice spans across video, installation, performance and music collaborations. With a background as an award-winning short documentary director, she has two decades of experience working in partnership with a range of communities and individuals.
She has a passion for finding unique human-centred stories and bringing them to screen for both online and face-to-face audiences. Her work stems from a practice of spirituality, care for the planet and community engagement. Themes in her films include creativity, nature-based projects and diverse human experience. She is a sensitive and pragmatic filmmaker who has a talent for making people feel safe and comfortable to share story. She feels that stories of community and individual resilience are critical at this time for the future of the planet.
Working primarily in factual content creation for the past 20 years, Karenza has been commissioned by community, educational and government organisations across regional and urban environments on a range of social and humanitarian topics. More recently, her work with First Nations organisations and artists has led to some innovative collaborations. In 2023 she directed two documentaries in partnership with First Nations creative producers and crew. These were launched as site specific works alongside a cultural program.
With some of her short documentary work funded through Create NSW, Lismore Regional Gallery and ABC iView, she has proven to be an emerging regional talent. Following the success of two short award winning documentaries for the Createability series in 2017 and 2018, she was chosen to take part in a Director’s Pathway Program supported by Screenworks and the Australian Director’s Guild.
In 2023 she was selected as a socially engaged artist for a year long residency as part of the CASE Incubator led by The Cad Factory in Sydney. This has allowed her to deepen knowledge around collaborations and cultural partnerships.
Aside from production, Karenza is a film mentor and educator for community, youth and disability groups and brings years of facilitation experience to the role. She also works as a casual teacher in the Screen and Media department at TAFE NSW.
RESUME
PROFILE
Karenza is a socially engaged filmmaker, event producer and media educator based on Widjabul-Wia-bul land in Bundjalang Country. She is also a qualified yoga instructor and runs workshops on women’s health and yoga.
EMPLOYMENT
Teacher, Screen and Media, TAFE NSW, Lismore & Byron — 2020 - present Teaching a range of video production skills to students including camera techniques, interviewing, audio, lighting and editing.
Screenworks, Production Co-ordinator- Ballina, 2019-2020 Coordinator and EP for “Go Viral” a short film initiative co funded by Screen NSW. Developing and writing a training manual and delivering training to members of the Auslan/ deaf community in Northern Rivers.
Video Editor, Psychwire - Byron Bay — 2017 Editing a series of training videos for a psychology firm.
EDUCATION
University of Melbourne — Bachelor of Arts, 1993
Queensland University of Technology - Post Graduate Diploma Film & TV, 2002
FILMS
2023 CO-PRODUCER/ DIRECTOR “Coming Home - Stories of Banjalang Elders”, commissioned by The Jarjum Centre, YWCA and SNAIIC
2022/23 DIRECTOR/ CAMERA/ EDITOR “Our Place, Our Species” - a documentary commissioned by Inspiring Australia and Lismore Quad to showcase First Nations knowledge of local plants.
2020 PRODUCER/ DIRECTOR/ CAMERA/ EDITOR "Steps in the Portal" - a film on mindful walking made on residency with Lismore Regional Gallery during Covid lockdowns.
2018 PRODUCER/ DIRECTOR/ CAMERA/ EDITOR "Remembering Cabbage Tree" - a portrait of Bundjalung artist Digby Moran for his final exhibition, installed in the Lismore Regional Gallery
2017 PRODUCER/ DIRECTOR “Making Waves” short doc - Createability series, ABC iView
2016 PRODUCER/ DIRECTOR/ CAMERA/ EDITOR “Ajde Da Igrame” [“Let’s Dance”] - Music Documentary on a Romanigypsy music tour to Australia,
2016 PRODUCER/ DIRECTOR/ EDITOR “Tilly’s Symphony” Createability Series for ABC iView
AWARDS
2002 - “On Cue” - Runner-Up - Short film event, Brisbane International Film Festival
2002 - “On Cue” - “Best Script” PFTC New Filmmakers Award
2017 - “Tilly’s Symphony” - Judges Choice - “Best Documentary” Focus on Ability Film Festival
2018 - “Making Waves” - Judges Choice - Best Documentary - Byron All Shorts Film Festival
RESIDENCIES
2020 - “TOGETHER ALONE” LISMORE REGIONAL GALLERY, LISMORE QUADRANGLE, Lismore
2023 - “CASE INCUBATOR” for Socially Engaged Artists, THE CAD FACTORY, Sydney