Dark Doris, Augusto’s entertainment arm, is celebrating a major international milestone after Prime Minister was nominated for two Emmy Awards.
The feature documentary about former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is up for Best Documentary and Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary at the 47th News and Documentary annual awards.
Prime Minister offers an intimate portrait of Ardern’s political and private life, capturing five turbulent years in power and the period beyond.
More than a film success story
The film first made waves at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award for World Cinema Documentary, before securing high-profile distribution through platforms HBO, HBO Max, CNN and more recently, Netflix.
Augusto says it is more than a film success story. It is a sign that authentic, locally grounded storytelling from New Zealand can travel and make a true difference internationally.
Place complexity and humanity at the centre
Executive producer Cass Avery says: “The global response to Prime Minister reinforces something we’ve long known; that Aotearoa New Zealand has the creative capability to produce work that stands shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world.
“These nominations are not just recognition of one story, but of a growing confidence in our industry to back ourselves, invest in what’s universal and specific about Aotearoa, and take those stories to an international audience.”
Michelle Walshe, co-director of Prime Minister, says: “From the beginning, we wanted to create something that felt intimate and real, a film that didn’t try to simplify or sensationalise, but instead allowed complexity and humanity to sit at the centre.
“I think what’s exciting right now is that there’s growing recognition that stories from Aotearoa don’t need to be adapted to fit a global lens. When they’re told truthfully, they naturally find their place on the world stage.”
