EXCLUSIVE: Roger Donaldson’s documentary is the second film in the official venture between XYZ-GFC backed by the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC).

Bruce McLaren

Matthew Metcalfe and Fraser Brown produce McLaren, about the life and career of New Zealand racing car designer and McLaren Motor Racing Team founder Bruce McLaren (pictured).

The subject died in 1970, four years before his F1 team won its first Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship. 

Transmission Films will distribute in New Zealand and Australia while XYZ Films represents US rights.

The film marks the return to New Zealand of Donaldson, whose credits include The World’s Fastest Indian and Burt Munro: Offerings To The God Of Speed, both about world land speed champion and New Zealander Burt Munro.

“My enthusiasm for making a film about Bruce McLaren comes from my long held passion for motorsports – a passion that was passed down to me from my father and grandfather,” said the director.

The first production under the XYZ-GFC venture backed by the NZFC was Toa Fraser’s embassy siege thriller 6 Days. XYZ and GFC first collaborated outside of the official partnership on Fraser’s The Dead Lands.

McLaren is made with investment from the New Zealand Film Commission, Images and Sound and Giltrap Group Holdings and with the assistance of the New Zealand government’s Screen Production Grant with finance by the ANZ Bank.