Production begins this November on A Dog’s Show, a heartwarming family comedy-drama inspired by the beloved New Zealand television series that once turned sheepdog trialling into a national obsession.
Set in 1970s rural Aotearoa, the film follows Jack, a disillusioned former sheepdog triallist who is coaxed out of retirement by his spirited granddaughter and their loyal dogs. Together, they must win one final trial to save the family farm.
Internationally acclaimed actor Graham McTavish (Outlander, The Hobbit, House of the Dragon, The Witcher) is set to star as Jack, a proud but weary farmer facing his last shot at redemption.
“New Zealand has been my home since 2011, and I’ve been waiting for the right script to work on here,” says McTavish. “A Dog’s Show is engaging, funny, heartfelt and full of charm—it really spoke to me.”
Written and directed by Alex Galvin (Turn of the Screw, Eternity, When Night Falls), the film is produced by Mark Westerby, Celia Jaspers and Galvin. Celebrated filmmaker Timothy White (Chasing Great, Out of the Blue, The Dark Horse, and the upcoming Pike River) joins as Executive Producer, with casting by Miranda Rivers.
📷 Trialling dogs auditioning for A Dog’s Show. Image: Jade Cvetkov
Filming will take place throughout the greater Wellington region, with authentic sheepdog trial sequences choreographed by some of New Zealand’s top experts. Local farms, sheep, and professionally trained dogs will bring the story to life.
“One of my favourite childhood memories was watching A Dog’s Show every Sunday with my family,” says Galvin. “This film is my way of honouring that simplicity and nostalgia while telling a story full of humour, heart and hope. Whether audiences remember the original series or not, I think they’ll fall in love with this film.”
Producer Mark Westerby describes it as “a homegrown story with a global heart—rich in nostalgia, humour and optimism. Think Country Calendar meets Babe—wholesome, deeply Kiwi, and genuinely entertaining.”
“We’re celebrating a much-loved part of New Zealand’s cultural fabric,” adds producer Celia Jaspers, “while offering a fresh, cinematic experience for modern family audiences.”
A Dog’s Show is a universal tale of redemption, legacy, intergenerational connection, and the resilience of rural communities—told with warmth, wit and emotional depth.
The film will be distributed by Transmission Films in New Zealand and Australia.
