Known for

Directing

Place of birth

Cook Islands

Curtis Vowell

Curtis Vowell is a Cook Island Maori director who has worked in the New Zealand film industry for the last 20 years. His debut feature film Fantail (2013) was nominated for 8 New Zealand Film Awards and was invited to have its international premiere at Rotterdam International Film Festival. The film was also selected for the Melbourne International Film Festival, winning a People’s Choice award. His second feature film Baby Done (2020) with Taika Waititi and Carthew Neal’s Piki Films stars Rose Matafeo and Matthew Lewis. Since 2020 Curtis has been directing NZ hospital drama Shortland Street.

Titles

Legend of the Seeker

Series • 2008

The Outlaws

Series • 2021

Krampus

Movie • 2015

The Almighty Johnsons

Series • 2011

Fantail

Movie • 2013

The Jaquie Brown Diaries

Series • 2008

Baby Done

Movie • 2020

Seize Them!

Movie • 2024

Human Traces

Movie • 2017

Spies and Lies

Movie • 2010

Workmates

Movie • 2025