Lauren Porteous is a writer and director. Her passion for storytelling began during her studies in acting at the Neighbourhood Playhouse in New York City (alumni include Diane Keaton, Robert Duval, Jeff Goldblum, etc.), where she developed her skills and set her sights on a career in film.
Porteous’ debut short film ‘Motel,’ premiered at the prestigious Show Me Shorts International Film Festival in 2017 and was an instant hit with audiences and critics alike. The film’s remarkable cinematography and exceptional screenplay earned nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Film, with Porteous ultimately winning Best Screenplay.
Continuing her success, she made history by becoming the first woman to win both Best Director and Best Film at the Grand National 48 Hour Film Festival (previous recipients include Taika Waititi & Gerard Johnstone) for her outstanding work on ‘Under The Bridge.’ The film’s premiere at New Zealand International Film Festival 2018 further highlighted her exceptional talent and set the stage for her continued success in the industry.
She was selected as part of the Female Filmmaker Incubator in 2018 and with several festival screenings and nominations for acting and writing and won Best Narrative Director for her online series ‘Loner’ at the NZ Webfest 2020 (previous recipients include Roseanne Liang). In 2022, she successfully completed a Director’s attachment on the horror feature ‘The Tank’ under the auspices of the New Zealand Film Commission. That same year she participated in the Director training programme offered by South Pacific Pictures for their prime time drama series ‘Shortland Street'. Building upon this experience, she went on to direct her own episodes for this highly acclaimed multi-camera ensemble show.
Porteous has just wrapped her Director’s attachment on the crime comedy/drama series ‘My Life Is Murder’ starring Lucy Lawless and is actively engaged in the development of several long-form screenplays and series.
