Rachel Ross: The Inspiring Journey of a Talented New Zealand Filmmaker and Storyteller

Discover the Creative Career, Award-Winning Short Films, Personal Storytelling, and Remarkable Achievements of Rachel Ross, a Writer and Director Making Her Mark in the Film Industry

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Introduction

Rachel Ross is a New Zealand-born filmmaker, screenwriter, and director recognized for her distinctive approach to storytelling. Her creative work focuses on authentic human experiences, emotional vulnerability, and the complicated relationships that shape people’s lives. Rather than relying on predictable narratives, she brings humor, honesty, and emotional depth into her projects. Her short films have received recognition at film festivals, helping establish her reputation as a promising creative voice in the independent film industry.

Originally from New Zealand and currently based in New York, Rachel Ross has developed an international perspective through her filmmaking journey. Her career includes directing short films, receiving filmmaking grants, participating in professional development programs, and developing feature-length projects. One of her most notable works, Green, won the People’s Choice Award at the 2021 Show Me Shorts Film Festival. Her professional journey reflects the importance of creativity, persistence, and personal experiences in shaping meaningful cinema.

Table of Contents

Quick Bio of Rachel Ross

Biography Detail	Information
Full Name	Rachel Ross
Profession	Filmmaker, Screenwriter, Director
National Origin	New Zealand
Current Base	New York, United States
Known For	Green, Number Two, Have You Tried, Maybe, Not Worrying?
Major Award	SAE People’s Choice Award, Show Me Shorts 2021
Career Field	Independent Filmmaking
Feature Screenplay	Exhale
Current Project	Good Girl Greta
Professional Focus	Authentic and emotionally grounded storytelling

Who Is Rachel Ross?

Rachel Ross is a creative professional whose filmmaking centers on stories that reflect genuine human emotions. She has expressed a passion for narratives that feel raw, relatable, and honest. Her approach combines emotional storytelling with humor, allowing her work to address serious subjects without losing its human warmth. This creative philosophy has become a recognizable aspect of her professional identity.

Her background in New Zealand’s independent film community has played an important role in her development. She has participated in filmmaking initiatives, received support from industry organizations, and presented her work through established film festivals. These achievements demonstrate her commitment to developing original stories and building a sustainable career in screenwriting and directing.

Rachel Ross’s Early Life and Background

Her New Zealand Roots

Rachel Ross originally comes from New Zealand, a country with a well-established film industry and a strong tradition of independent filmmaking. Her early professional activities were connected to the New Zealand film community, where she developed and presented several short-film projects. Her work has been associated with film festivals in New Zealand and Australia.

Although publicly available professional biographies provide information about her filmmaking career, detailed information about her childhood, date of birth, parents, siblings, and school education has not been reliably established. These details should not be added to her biography without credible confirmation. Her professional accomplishments provide a more reliable foundation for understanding her journey.

Creative Interests and Storytelling Philosophy

Ross’s official professional biography describes her interest in stories that explore human complexity through heart and humor. Her work often reflects the emotional experiences people encounter in relationships, personal struggles, and everyday situations. This approach allows her films to connect with audiences through recognizable circumstances.

Her storytelling style is particularly associated with vulnerability, honesty, and the imperfect nature of human relationships. She does not appear to rely exclusively on conventional dramatic structures. Instead, her projects demonstrate an interest in the uncomfortable, funny, and emotionally revealing moments that make people relatable.

Rachel Ross’s Education and Professional Development

Rachel Ross received support from the New Zealand Film Commission in 2017 through a Talent Development Grant. The funding supported an intensive eight-week program at the New York Film Academy, where she worked on developing her feature screenplay Exhale. This opportunity helped her advance her screenwriting skills and pursue longer-form storytelling.

Professional development has continued to play a significant role in her career. In 2017, she was selected for the Accelerator Lab in Melbourne, associated with her short film Have You Tried, Maybe, Not Worrying?. In 2020, she was selected for the Directors and Editors Guild of New Zealand Emerging Women Filmmakers Incubator. These programs provided opportunities for professional learning, industry connections, and creative development.

Rachel Ross’s Career Overview

Beginning Her Filmmaking Journey

Rachel Ross’s early directing and writing credits include the short film Taylor, released in 2011. The project received top mention in its category at the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival, according to her FilmFreeway biography. This recognition represented an early milestone in her creative career.

She continued working on short-form projects, using the format to experiment with storytelling and explore different themes. Short films provided an opportunity to develop her voice as a filmmaker while building experience in writing, directing, and working with production teams.

Have You Tried, Maybe, Not Worrying?

One of her notable early projects was Have You Tried, Maybe, Not Worrying?, a short film associated with the 2016 production year. The film received recognition through festival selections, including the New Zealand International Film Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival.

The project also contributed to her selection for the 2017 Accelerator Lab in Melbourne. These opportunities helped increase her professional visibility and supported her continuing development as a writer and director.

Number Two: A Comedy Short Film

In 2019, Rachel Ross directed and wrote Number Two, a comedy short film that explores an awkward workplace restroom situation. The film follows Grace, who desperately needs to use the bathroom before a workplace meeting. An unexpected encounter with another person creates a humorous and uncomfortable competition.

The film premiered at Show Me Shorts in Auckland in October 2019 and later received an international premiere at the Aesthetica Short Film Festival in the United Kingdom. Ross was also recognized as a Best Screenplay nominee at the 2019 Show Me Shorts Film Festival. The project highlights her ability to use everyday situations as the foundation for comedy.

Green: A Personal and Award-Winning Film

Green is one of the most important projects in Rachel Ross’s filmmaking career. The short drama tells the story of Blake, a woman who travels from the city to rural New Zealand to visit her estranged father following a health scare. Both characters are dealing with life-changing diagnoses, creating an emotionally complicated situation.

The film was inspired by Ross’s own experiences and her relationship with her father. According to the Directors and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand, her father was dealing with prostate cancer while Ross had been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. Their personal experience of reconnecting inspired the story. The film uses an intimate family encounter to explore pain, reconciliation, and emotional connection.

Green received the SAE People’s Choice Award at the 2021 Show Me Shorts Film Festival. The New Zealand Film Commission lists Ross as both its director and screenplay writer. This recognition marked a significant achievement in her career and demonstrated the impact of her emotionally grounded storytelling.

Rachel Ross Career Timeline

Year	Career Milestone
2011	Directed and wrote the short film Taylor, which received festival recognition.
2016	Worked on Have You Tried, Maybe, Not Worrying?
2017	Received a New Zealand Film Commission Talent Development Grant.
2017	Participated in the Melbourne Accelerator Lab.
2019	Directed and wrote Number Two.
2019	Received Catalyst He Kauahi funding for Green and development of Exhale.
2020	Selected for the DEGNZ Emerging Women Filmmakers Incubator.
2020	Nominated for Outstanding Newcomer at the New Zealand Women in Film and Television Awards.
2021	Won the SAE People’s Choice Award at Show Me Shorts for Green.
2024	Selected for a TV Writer’s Attachment with Roadshow Productions, funded by Screen NSW.
2026	Became a quarter-finalist for Antigravity Academy Screenwriter’s Camp with Good Girl Greta.

Awards, Achievements, and Recognition

Rachel Ross has received several forms of recognition throughout her career. Her achievements include festival selections, screenplay nominations, filmmaking grants, and professional development opportunities. These milestones reflect her ongoing contribution to independent filmmaking.

Her most notable award is the SAE People’s Choice Award at the 2021 Show Me Shorts Film Festival for Green. She was also nominated for Outstanding Newcomer at the 2020 New Zealand Women in Film and Television Awards. Her 2019 screenplay nomination for Number Two further demonstrated her strength in writing original stories.

Major Career Achievements

Winner of the 2021 Show Me Shorts SAE People’s Choice Award for Green.
Best Screenplay nominee at the 2019 Show Me Shorts Film Festival for Number Two.
Outstanding Newcomer nominee at the 2020 New Zealand Women in Film and Television Awards.
Recipient of the 2017 New Zealand Film Commission Talent Development Grant.
Recipient of Catalyst He Kauahi funding in 2019.
Selected for the 2020 Emerging Women Filmmakers Incubator.
Selected for a Roadshow Productions TV Writer’s Attachment in 2024.
2026 quarter-finalist for Antigravity Academy Screenwriter’s Camp with Good Girl Greta.

Rachel Ross’s Upcoming and Developing Projects

Exhale

Exhale is a feature screenplay that has been part of Ross’s professional development since 2017. She received support from the New Zealand Film Commission to develop the screenplay, and additional funding was provided in 2019 through Catalyst He Kauahi.

The project demonstrates her interest in expanding beyond short films into feature-length storytelling. Although detailed production information should not be assumed, the screenplay remains listed among her professional projects.

Good Girl Greta

Good Girl Greta is another feature project associated with Ross. Her official biography identifies it as a current project and notes that the screenplay reached the quarter-finalist stage of the 2026 Antigravity Academy Screenwriter’s Camp.

The project is also associated with a proof-of-concept short film. This development suggests that Ross continues to work on original stories while building on her experience in short-form filmmaking.

Rachel Ross’s Personal Life and Family Background

Rachel Ross’s public professional profile offers limited information about her personal life. Her relationship with her father is discussed in connection with the film Green, which was inspired by their real-life experience of reconnecting during serious health challenges.

Beyond this publicly documented connection, reliable information about her marital status, spouse, children, siblings, and broader family background has not been established in the professional sources reviewed. It would be inappropriate to present unverified details as facts.

Her public biography is primarily focused on her work as a filmmaker and screenwriter. Maintaining this distinction helps ensure that her profile remains accurate, respectful, and based on information that can be verified.

Rachel Ross’s Filmmaking Style and Creative Impact

Rachel Ross’s work is distinguished by its interest in emotional authenticity. Her films often focus on ordinary people facing situations that reveal deeper truths about their relationships. Humor and vulnerability frequently work together in her storytelling, creating a balance between entertainment and emotional meaning.

Her projects also demonstrate the value of independent filmmaking as a space for personal narratives. Through films such as Green and Number Two, she has explored subjects ranging from family reconciliation to everyday awkwardness. These contrasting themes show her versatility as a writer and director.

Conclusion

Rachel Ross has established herself as a creative New Zealand filmmaker whose career continues to develop through original writing, directing, and professional recognition. From her early short film Taylor to the award-winning Green, her journey reflects a consistent interest in authentic stories and relatable human experiences. Her participation in filmmaking programs and receipt of industry funding have helped support her growth as a screenwriter and director.

Her achievements demonstrate that meaningful filmmaking does not always require large productions or elaborate narratives. Sometimes, a deeply personal story can make the strongest impression. With projects such as Exhale and Good Girl Greta in development, Rachel Ross remains an interesting figure in independent cinema. Her work offers a compelling example of how personal experiences, creativity, and dedication can contribute to a distinctive filmmaking career.