Stef, a Pakeha/Te Arawa novelist and writer/director, embarked on his writing career in 1999 with the publication of his first novel. That same year, he penned the script for the New Zealand Film Commission's crime short film, A Quiet Night.
As his career progressed, Stef wrote and directed The Waimate Conspiracy, a feature-length Maori drama adapted from his novel. With the guidance and encouragement of renowned Maori film director Barry Barclay, the film garnered numerous accolades, including the Wairoa Maori Film Festival's Best Feature Film award, the Dreamspeakers Aboriginal Film Festival's Best Feature Film award, the Australian Screen Producers Award's Best Digital Feature Film award, and the Air New Zealand Screen Awards' Best Digital Feature Film award.
In 2009, Stef was awarded the prestigious Air New Zealand Scholarship in film, which provided him with a year-long mentorship under the guidance of acclaimed director Martin Campbell, known for his work on films such as Goldeneye, Zorro, and Casino Royale. During this mentorship, Stef had the opportunity to work on the set and in post-production of the Mel Gibson thriller Edge of Darkness in Boston and Los Angeles.
Stef used this experience to develop a crime thriller feature film, Blue Moon, which went on to win numerous awards, including Best Feature Film at the iPhone Film Festival in the Netherlands, the Sydney Smartphone Flick Fest, the Ravenheart Film Festival in Oslo, the Cinephone Film Festival in Barcelona, and was officially selected for the Cannes Cinephiles Antipodes.
Stef's recent crime novel, Double Jeopardy, debuted on the New Zealand bestseller list, further solidifying his position as a prominent figure in the world of Maori literature and film.
