Wanda Lepionka

Wanda Lepionka is a Wellington-based independent filmmaker, writer, director and producer with a body of work grounded in cultural heritage, history and community. The daughter of Polish child refugees who survived Siberian labour camps and refugee camps in WW2 and found sanctuary in New Zealand, Wanda makes films that are local in origin and universal in reach.

Her work includes the documentary Polish Children of Pahiatua (2015), which she wrote and directed; Maunga (Mountain) (2019), co-written and co-directed with David Strong; the short films Pacific Dreams (2011) and The Last Night (2014), which she produced; and directed and produced the South Coast Arts Trail documentary series (2025). Her films have screened at Cannes, Rhode Island, Austin, LA and film festivals internationally.

From 2016 to 2026 she founded and directed the very first New Zealand Polish Film Festival, developing cultural and film cooperation between Poland and New Zealand. In 2018 she received the Gold Cross of Merit of the Republic of Poland, a state decoration conferred by the President of Poland, for that work. She is the founder of WHL PR + Co., a Wellington communications practice, and is a co-founder of CraftInc. Films.

Wanda has a Master of Philosophy in Visual and Material Culture, an Honours and Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies.