About FAANZ

Fabulous Arts Aotearoa New Zealand (FAANZ) is a new arts initiative centered on works that reflect, engage and inspire the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, takataapui, fa'afafine, and queer communities of New Zealand. Founder Ronald Trifero Nelson, now in his second year of a Masters degree in directing at Victoria University of Wellington and Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, has already given the queer community 2007’s Corner 4 AM & Cuba, about the 1999 murder of 14 year old Jeff Whittington and recently 2009's Bud, a  study of a 66-year-old man waking up to “all his unnamed and unclaimed desires” via a long-banned film by Jean Genet.

Mates and Lover’s - a 2009 Montana New Zealand Book Awards nominee, will be adapted and directed by Ronald by special arrangement with author Chris Brickell and publishers Random House New Zealand.

The FAANZ launch party held recently saw support from Labour MPs Chris Carter, Maryan Street and Grant Robertson, Green MP Kevin Hague and the members of the Wellington City Council.