Brownlie has been described as a "visionary" she has created unique films, theater and dance experiences. Film is the medium in which her imagination can really fly, moving and intriguing audiences.
FILM MAKER, PERFORMER, CHOREOGRAPHER

“Morag Magnolia shares an extraordinary vision both celebratory and profound”
NZ HERALD
“Brownlie must be our bravest, brightest and zaniest wunderkind " NZ HERALD

Morag has shared her imaginative spirit, concepts and striking visuals for film, fashion, dance theater and live special events. Morag has been on both side of the camera and has performed in short films and many dance-theatre productions.

She began her love of film helping friends make art school films at University. She then studied full-time dance at a Maori performing arts school "Puawai" after she gained a Diploma in contemporary dance at " The Performing arts school of Auckland. She then studied African dance at "The Bagamoyo college of Art" in Tanzania.
Morag returned to make two full length Multimedia shows collaborating with many film makers dancers and animators. Morag made Super-8 stop-frame animations and many experimental little films. She was back to the medium and hooked.

Morag has Produced, Directed and Distributed (and more recently Edited) x 3 Art Council funded short films.
Her current short film "Perfect Storm" was made about, and in and out of Lock-downs in New Zealand. It has had numerous nominations , finalists, selections and a couple of awards. It premiered at the stunning A-list film festival Warsaw in Poland, sharing its premier at the amazing Thessaloniki Short film festival where it won a Cinematic achievement award.
Morag won best female editor at the Toronto Woman's film festival with this film .
Perfect Storm has had over 23 selections and the film has been nominated /finalist many times most often in best live action, cinematography, experimental, and dance and poetic categories. It toured new Zealand in the Nga Whanaunga programme of the NZIFF.

Morag was nominated in the Nokia N.Z film awards for best contribution to short film as Director for her first short film "Mes Mer ... ". This film was accepted to many international film festivals including HOF in Germany and was then distributed throughout Europe by Inter-film. Morag presented the film at the Hawaii International film festival HIFF.

Her 2nd poetic and experimental film "Rover" screened throughout N.Z in the International film festival and also in Germany.
Other roles of interest...
Morag worked as principal choreographer, artistic director, and visuals director for the renowned spectacle that is "World of Wearable art", this took alot of her creative juices for most of 15 years, winning tourism awards and screening on Nationwide Television.
She was invited to be Artistic Director for both Team New Zealand's Americas Cup balls.
Morag has a feature, 2 shorts and some series concepts brewing .
  • Producer (3 Credits)
    ROVER
    Short
    Perfect Storm2021
    Short
    Mes Mer ...1998
    Short
  • Writer (3 Credits)
    ROVER
    Short
    Perfect Storm2021
    Short
    Mes Mer ...1998
    Short
  • Director (3 Credits)
    ROVER
    Short
    Perfect Storm2021
    Short
    Mes Mer ...1998
    Short
Official Selection
ROVER
Golden Giraffe
Nice
2023
Official Selection
Perfect Storm
Lebanese Independant film festival
Beirut
2023
Official Selection
Perfect Storm
Golden Giraffe
Nice
2023
Honorable Mention - Best Covid 19 film
Perfect Storm
Your Way film festival
Vallteta
2023
Semi finalist - Narrative Shorts
Perfect Storm
Venezia Shorts
Venice Italy
2023
Finalist - Best experimental short
Perfect Storm
Sydney Short film festival
Sydney
2023
2x Nominee- Best Experimental , Best Poetic
Perfect Storm
Sensei Film fest
Tokyo
2023
3x Nominee- Best Experiemental, Best Poetic/ Dance, Best Cinematography
Perfect Storm
MAGMA film festival
Online
2023
Best Director
Perfect Storm
Close Film festival
Tabriz
2023
Best inspirational short film
Perfect Storm
Inspirational Film festival
Zurich
2023
Official Selection
Perfect Storm
New Zealand International film festival
Auckland , Wellington , Christchurch, Dunedin,Nelson, Hamilton
2022
Official Selection
Perfect Storm
Milan Gold awards
Milan
2022
Official Selection and Finalist
Perfect Storm
Bucharest Shortcut cinefest
Bucharest
2022
Official Selection and Finalist
Perfect Storm
Rome Prisma film awards
Rome
2022
Official Selection
Perfect Storm
Wairoa Maori Film festival
Wairoa
2022
Official Selection
Perfect Storm
London Directors award
London
2022
Honorable Mention
Perfect Storm
European Short awards
Brno
2022
Honorable Mention - Drama shorts
Perfect Storm
French Riveria Film festival
Cannes
2022
Semi Finalist Narrative shorts
Perfect Storm
Dumbo Film festival
New York
2022
Semi finalist - Female Director and Cinematography
Perfect Storm
Tokyo Shorts
Tokyo
2022
Finalist - Best Experimental
Perfect Storm
Venice shorts
Venice California
2022
Nominee - Best Indigenous film
Perfect Storm
ORION film festival
Dalveen
2022
3x Nominee - Best Experimental , Best Poetic or Dance film, Best Cinematography,
Perfect Storm
CLIMAX film awards
Madrid
2022
Best Arthouse short film
Perfect Storm
Depth of Field film festival
Delaware
2022
Official Selection
Perfect Storm
Lighthouse International film festival
Long beach Island New Jersey
2022
2x Nominee - Best short , Best cinematography
Perfect Storm
The Fantasy film festival
Paris
2022
Cinematic Achievment award
Perfect Storm
Thessaloniki short film festival
Thessaloniki
2021
Official selection Academy award Qualifying
Perfect Storm
Warsaw Film festival
Warsaw
2021
Official Selection
ROVER
Your Way film festival
Valletta
Best contribution to short film DIRECTOR
Mes Mer ...
Nokia New Zealand film awards nomination
Official selection - Premier conflict
Perfect Storm
Maui Film festival
Maui
Official Selection
Perfect Storm
Arthouse Asia
Kolkata
Nominee- Pandemic film
Perfect Storm
Lonely Wolf international Film festival
London
Best Female Editor
Perfect Storm
Toronto Women film festival
Toronto
In competition
Perfect Storm
Blue Danube Film festival
Budapest
in competition
Perfect Storm
Byron Bay International Film festival
Byron Bay
Cinematic Achievment award
Perfect Storm
Cinematic Achievment award
Thessaloniki
Birth Date
March 19
Birth City
Christchurch
Current City
Auckland
Gender
Female
Ethnicity
NZ European
Eye Color
Blue
Zodiac Sign
Pisces
Children
yes
Morag has the same numerology as Charlie Chaplin . Once for a special event she had to play him, that was unforgettable and so liberating.
“Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.”
Rumi
Brownlie has been described as a "visionary" she has created unique films, theater and dance experiences. Film is the medium in which her imagination can really fly, moving and intriguing audiences.
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