Wellington writer Esteban Jaramillo has been announced as the 2025 Wellington Write Room Resident with his project Vicio. Producer Jessica George will join the programme’s mentor team as this year’s Producer Intern.
Based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Esteban Jaramillo is a graduate of Victoria University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Film. His previous writing credits include Raids directed by Jade Jackson that screened at NZIFF 2022, and Losa that is in development with NZ Film Commission support. Esteban will draw on his family story as Colombian immigrants to NZ escaping the drug cartels, to bring his own unique perspective to his screenplay Vicio, based on the police bust of a Colombian syndicate.
Producer intern Jessica George is a kiwi-Indian film producer and member of the Pan Asian Screen Collective who has recently established her production company Studio Rohi. She has just completed filming Puli and the Tiger – a Tamil language short film about the relationship children of the diaspora have with their immigrant grandparents; inspired by Indian tiger mythology and folklore traditions. She also recently produced short film The Lascar (NZIFF 2024), and produced The Dining Table with rrfilm and Christopher Hines.
Mentor and selector Vicky Pope said “It’s always incredible to see so many wonderful screenwriters and emerging producers making submissions -a reminder of our vibrant writing and filmmaking community here in Wellington and the talent on offer. We were blown away by the high-calibre of submissions this year and the strength of the writing and ideas. Esteban’s screenplay was immediately gripping and distinctive-the collision of two worlds and the unique scenario had us hooked. We can’t wait to see where Esteban takes his screenplay this year”.
“Jessica worked with Rob and I to select this year’s screenwriter and she is hugely impressive; bringing so much wisdom and insight to our discussions. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to work with her.”
Write Room Wellington is a screenwriter residency programme offered in partnership with Pop Films, Toi Pōneke Arts Centre, and Wellington City Council Aho Tini 2030 Arts, Culture and Creativity Strategy. Each year a Wellington screenwriter is selected to undertake a 12-week residency to develop a draft of their feature film screenplay with the support of experienced industry mentors. This year’s mentors are Robert Sarkies (Scarfies, Out of the Blue, Consent: The Louise Nicolas Story) and Vicky Pope (Went Up The Hill, Savage, Gardening with Soul) with producer intern Jessica George. The programme is now in it’s seventh year, with many Write Room screenwriters progressing to receive further development support for their films towards production.
Write Room Wellington recognises the challenges for New Zealand screenwriters to create space in their lives to write and find a place to do their work. The aim of the programme is to support screenwriters to develop their screenplay to a level where it can be pitched to a producer and secure further development funding and a pathway towards production.
For more information on other Toi Pōneke Residencies click here
