Short editorial: Kiwi Filmmaker Gains Traction with Debut Feature SMOKY
Kiwi director James Fink-Jensen reached out to ask if I could write a short promotional piece for his debut feature film. I of course jumped at the chance. After a short Q & A via email, I wrote a 200 word ‘spotlight’ article on James and his work. It was live on FirstApplause.co.nz within the week, along with collaborative social media posts that gained 2,500 views within 24 hours. Read the short editorial below.
One day Smoky was there, and the next he was gone... What happens when a man disappears and the people closest to him seem strangely unwilling to search for him?
New Zealand mystery-thriller SMOKY deserves attention as one of the most intriguing debut feature films currently emerging from Aotearoa’s independent film scene. Writer-director James Fink-Jensen began developing the project in 2025, and is already gaining international recognition having been shortlisted for the Young Director Award in Cannes for Best First Feature Film.
The film is a tense, atmospheric mystery about Smoky, a famous clown who disappears on the eve of life-saving surgery, and Dawn, the law student determined to uncover the truth. “Clowns are fascinating archetypes, particularly within a mystery or thriller, because there is already something inherently unsettling about the contrast between the performance and the person underneath it,” Fink-Jensen said.
Built around a small cast and carefully controlled locations, SMOKY focuses its energy on performance, suspense and a striking visual identity. The filmmaking team is now seeking a strong festival run in New Zealand and overseas, including as a finalist at Misty Flicks Film Festival in November, ahead of a planned late April 2027 release.
Follow @smoky.film and support emerging New Zealand cinema. Its unsettling premise makes it a project worth watching closely this year.
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