Jeff Szusterman

Bio

Director

Jeff has directed for both stage and screen since 2006. He started directing at Silo Theatre then quickly moved to train and work with South Pacific Pictures as a director-in-rotation on serial drama Shortland Street (2007-08). He then directed factual television New Zealand’s Next Top Model, Cycles 2&3, and Neighbourhood S1. He was nominated for a Best Director award in the 2016 LA Webfest for the NZoA-funded web series Jiwi’s Machines. Interspersed with this, he has directed a series of infomercials and corporate videos for the likes of NZ Beef+Lamb, Coca-Cola Amatil and Elections NZ.

But it is theatre where Jeff has directed the most. With well over 25 credits across diverse genres and audiences, but specialising in theatre for young people and education. He has worked with Duffy Books in Homes (2013-) developing and directing their touring shows which play to audiences of around 100,000 students each year. He had worked with the Life Education Trust (2020-2022) developing and directing shows on financial literacy and vaping. 

Writing
Jeff has morphed his work with Duffy Books in Homes to create a comic book series. The first title (Duffy and the Bullies) is currently being drawn by Ant Sang and will be published by Oratia Media in early 2024. The plan is to bring out a new title (or two) each year and then develop these stories further from there. This is a writing initiative that Jeff has spearheaded and sourced both public and private funding for. 

Jeff is currently developing two personal projects for screen.