12/08/2026
Meet the Waiheke wahine behind the award-winning documentary “RANGINUI: Call of the Ice”
Kia ora W3
Julia Sartorio is an award-winning director and producer with over 25 years’ experience creating documentary and factual content for international broadcasters including BBC, PBS, ABC, SBS, and TVNZ. She’s also lived on Waiheke for 17 years with her whānau.
Her most recent project, “RANGINUI: Call of the Ice” marks her first independent documentary as a director (awarded Best Cinematography at Doc Edge Festival) and a film she has undertaken with a strong sense of responsibility; to tell this story with care and ensure it is captured for future generations.
Antarctica in winter is one of the most extreme and least seen places on Earth; locked in darkness, -50°C cold, and total isolation. "RANGINUI: Call of the Ice" is a cinematic documentary revealing a side of Antarctica few ever experience. Māori astronomer Rangi Matamua and language expert Mataia Keepa enter this frozen world, where science and indigenous knowledge meet in real time. When unexpected snowstorms roll in, they are forced to stay longer than planned, cut off inside a continent that continues to shift and close in around them. Through auroras, storms, first sunrise and shifting ice, they learn to read a living landscape most will never witness. This documentary is a different way of seeing Antarctica; where what is revealed depends on how closely you are willing to look.
Julia say: “From the outset, "RANGINUI: Call of the Ice" has been a deeply personal journey, and one carried with immense care, responsibility, and aroha. This is more than a film; it is a story of identity, belonging, resilience, and the enduring strength of whakapapa. It is an invitation for all of us to reflect on where we come from, what connects us, and the legacies we carry forward.
“To be entrusted with telling the story of Sir Rangi Matamua has been an extraordinary privilege. Throughout this journey, we have remained committed to honouring not only his experiences, but also the wider communities, histories, and voices that surround them. Every step of the process has been guided by collaboration, respect, and a shared desire to create something honest and meaningful. I am excited to share this special documentary with W3 and look forward to discussing it and answering your questions afterwards.”
More information on Julia can be found at the bottom of this email including the link to the film trailer.
Details of the evening Venue: Waiheke Cinema
Date: Tuesday 8 September 2026
6.45pm - doors open for a welcome drink supported by Woodside Hill Vineyard and Timmy Smith Sparkling Tea for our non-alcoholic option, mix and mingle - cinema food & drink will also be available to purchase
7.15pm - Make your way through to the theatre, Julia to set the scene for the film
7.30pm - Film starts
8.30pm Q&A
9pm approx. finish
Price: $25 per person
RSVP: You RVSP by purchasing your ticket here by 5pm Monday 7th September
We hope you will be able to attend this evening, a chance to celebrate and support one of our very talented and wonderful Waiheke wahine. PLEASE purchase tickets as soon as possible, it helps us immensely.
And don't miss the opportunity to support Sue Watson's second book launch -Connected Leadership: Wisdom For Women Who Lead, see links to book and to buy below.
Niki and Josie xx
More information about Julia Sartorio
Originally from the UK and based in Aotearoa for the past 17 years, she has built a career telling complex, globally relevant stories; from conflict zones and political systems to environmental and social change. Recent credits include ‘The Rise and Fall of Terrorgram’ (Ast. Director & Producer, PBS) and ‘Qui a coulé le Rainbow Warrior?’ (Executive Producer, France Télévision).
Working across Asia, the Americas, and Europe, Julia is drawn to stories that challenge perspective and reveal the human experience within larger global narratives.
Julia lives on Waiheke with her husband and three tamariki.
Purchase your tickets here:
https://events.humanitix.com/ranginui-call-of-the-ice?ct=t(EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_5_26_2018_9_42_COPY_01)
