NEWSLETTER

Caterina De Nave - In Memoriam

It is with much sadness that we acknowledge the death of Caterina De Nave on Sunday 17 August in Sydney. Caterina was a driving force in the New Zealand film and television industry and worked as a writer, director, producer, commissioner and script editor during her extensive career. She was a champion of New Zealand stories and will be remembered as a mentor and friend by many in the local screen industry.

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New Development Executives Join NZFC

We are pleased to welcome two new team members to the Development and Production departments. Writer/director Christina Andreef will be working as a development executive and Marc Ashton will be working in the new role of Production Executive.

Both Marc and Christina will be known to many of you. They have a broad base of experience and relationships to bring to the NZFC to support the goal of identifying strong ideas and supporting them to become great films.

You can read their full profiles on our website here

We would also like to welcome Diana Byrne who has recently joined us as the Talent Development & Relationships Co-ordinator. Diana has had wide-ranging experience in her various roles over the past decade including working as executive assistant to Andrew Adamson and Robin Scholes.

You can read her profile in full on our website here

Toronto Round Up

New Zealand producers Matthew Metcalfe and Tom Hern will attend the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) with the support of the NZFC. Matthew and Tom will travel to Toronto to attend screenings of their films The Dead Lands and The Dark Horse and Tom will also be participating in the Producers Lab Toronto. The Dead Lands will have its world premiere at TIFF as part of the Special Presentations section of the festival, whilst The Dark Horse will have its international premiere. What We Do In The Shadows will also have its Canadian premiere in Toronto. 

John Barnett has also been supported via PITA to participate in the Producers Lab Toronto and the International Financing Forum in September.

Dave Gibson (CEO) and Jasmin McSweeney (Marketing Manager) will attend the Toronto International Film Festival on behalf of the NZFC to provide support to all New Zealand films. Dave will also be participating in a co-production panel discussion with Screen Australia’s Graeme Mason as part of the Producers Lab Toronto.

For more information on New Zealand films at Toronto visit our website here

At a Cinema Near You

The Dark Horse is now in its fourth week of release and has taken over $1M at the New Zealand box office. Next month it will have its international premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival, joining previously announced Māori action epic The Dead Lands which releases in New Zealand cinemas on 30 October. What We Do In The Shadows is in its ninth week in cinemas and has taken $2.5M.

The Last Saint (wr/dir Rene Naufahu) tells the story of Minka, a teenage polynesian boy living in the heart of Auckland. This contemporary crime thriller opens in selected cinemas around the country next week.

The Z Nail Gang (wr/dir Anton Steel) is being released in Auckland this month at the Berkeley Cinema in Birkenhead, The Monterey Cinema in Howick and the Waiheke Cinema on Waiheke. 

Coming Soon To Cinemas

Housebound - wr/dir. Gerard Johnstone, prod. Luke Sharpe

(4 September 2014, Rialto Distribution)

Wayward teen Kylie Bucknell (Morgana O'Reilly) encounters something even more terrifying than her superstitious blabbermouth mother (Rima Te Wiata) in this hilarious horror/comedy.

Hip Hop-eration - wr/dir. Bryn Evans, prod. Paula Jones

(25 September, Rialto Distribution)
These senior citizens defy the odds as they journey to Las Vegas and the World Hip Hop Dance Championships in this inspiring, life-affirming documentary.

The Dead Lands - wr. Glenn Standring, dir. Toa Fraser, prod. Matthew Metcalfe
(30 October, Transmission Films)

The fourth feature by acclaimed New Zealand director Toa Fraser (Dean Spanley, No. 2, Giselle), this Māori action epic tells the story of Hongi (James Rolleston), a Māori chieftain's teenage son who must avenge his father's murder in order to bring peace and honour to the souls of his loved ones.

New to NZ Films On Demand

NZIFF 2013 Festival Selects

The New Zealand International Film Festival may have concluded its run in Auckland and Wellington, but we've handpicked a selection of great films from last year’s festival on NZ Films On Demand.

This special curation features a selection of shorts from the New Zealand's Best competition including

Friday Tigers - Wr/Dir. Aidee Walker, Prod. Julia Parnell   

Tom's Dairy - Wr/Dir. Oscar Kightley, Prod. Elizabeth Mitchell

I'm Going To Mum's - Wr/Dir. Lauren Jackson, Prod. Andrew Cochrane, Jeremy Macey

Interim - Wr/Dir. Dan Kircher, Prod. Roimata McGregor

Wide Eyed - Wr/Dir. Catherine Bisley, Prod. Catherine Fitzgerald

and feature films from the festival's Aotearoa section including

Romeo & Juliet A Love Song - Wri. William Shakespeare, Dir. Tim van Dammen, Prod. Michael O'Neill, Peter van der Fluit, Alastair Carruthers, Tim van Dammen

He Toki Huna: New Zealand In Afghanistan - Wri. Kay Ellmers, Annie Goldson, Dir. Annie Goldson 

The Deadly Ponies Gang - Dir/Prod. Zoe McIntosh 

Go to NZ Films On Demand to continue the festival at your place, wherever you are in New Zealand.

Recently Added

The Hopes & Dreams of Gazza Snell - Wri. Brendan Donovan, David Brechin-Smith, Dir. Brendan Donovan, Prod. Robin Scholes

Coming soon to NZ Film On Demand

We will soon be announcing our curated lineup of NZ films to coincide with the Venice and Toronto film festivals, and don't forget the new release film Everything We Loved is still available to view on demand. Make sure you’re signed up for an account at NZ Films On Demand for all the updates.

Congratulations

37 Degrees South Market Award

This year Emma Slade (pictured) received top prize at MIFF's 37 Degrees South market giving her an opportunity to attend the prestigious London Production Finance Market (PFM) in October.  Three places in the PFM are awarded each year to producers attending MIFF and are voted on by a panel of international financiers/buyers.

NZIFF Winners

Writer/director Hamish Bennett and producer Orlando Stewart of Ross & Beth received three awards at NZIFF – the 2014 Audience Award (25% NZIFF box office takings from screenings), the Madman Entertainment Jury Prize ($5,000), and DOP Grant McKinnon won the inaugural Allen Guilford Cinematography Award ($2,000).

Ones To Watch

Tara Riddell has been selected by Screen Producers Australia (SPA) to participate in this year’s Ones To Watch program. The successful participants receive unparalleled career opportunities including one-on-one guidance by a leading screen industry mentor and the exclusive chance to apply for STUDIO Kickstart, a TV pitching competition.

Professional Development Financial Support

Professional Development Awards

Craig O’Reilly has been awarded $5,000 to attend the Location Sound Recording Workshop through the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in the UK.

Jordan Mauger was awarded $5,000 to participate in a production internship in LA from relationships Jordan established from his work on Z for Zachariah.

Tammy Davis was awarded $5,000 to work with international directing coach, Mark Travis, to prepare for his feature film directing debut.

Himiona Grace has been awarded $3,000 to travel to the imagineNATIVE Film Festival (Toronto) and the Hawaii International Film Festival with The Pā Boys and participate in the Hawaiian Media Makers Conference in October.

Daniel Joseph Borgman has been awarded $3,200 to travel to Copenhagen to participate in the Dox: Lab program in November.  He was selected  as one of the 20 international filmmakers to attend and is the first New Zealander to participate in this event.

Producer International Travel Assistance (PITA)

Catherine Fitzgerald was supported via PITA to participate in an ExportNZ NZTE Joint Trade Mission to Taiwan in July. Catherine received $5,675 towards the costs of the trip.

Matthew Metcalfe and Tom Hern were supported via PITA to attend Producers Lab Toronto. Both received $6,500 towards the cost of their trip.

MIFF Accelerator

The following New Zealand short films were selected to screen in competition at the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) and the directors were also selected for the Accelerator director development programme:

Eleven dir. Abigail Greenwood

Ross & Beth dir. Hamish Bennett

The Tide Keeper dir/prod Alyx Duncan

All three directors were awarded $1,200 each as professional development grants to attend the Accelerator programme.

Director Internship

Curtis Vowell (pictured) recently travelled to Israel to work alongside celebrated Israeli director, Dror Shaul on NZ/Israel/German co-production, Atomic Falafel. With the support of the film's New Zealand producer Matthew Metcalfe, Curtis is also spending several weeks on the post-production process in New Zealand alongside Dror and New Zealand editor Tom Eagles.

Industry Scholarships

Big Screen Symposium

The NZFC will support three emerging filmmakers to attend The Big Screen Symposium in Auckland on 27-28 September.  Scholarships will include a ticket to the Symposium and a small travel grant if you are attending from outside the Auckland region.

Interested parties should send a letter of application that explains why attendance would be beneficial to you, your projects and as part of your overall career plan. Applicants must also include a brief screen industry-specific CV.

The deadline for the scholarship application is 5pm, Monday 8 September. Please email applications to Bonnie Slater bonnie@nzfilm.co.nz

Roughcuts

We will also provide financial support to three aspiring filmmakers to attend Roughcuts in Auckland on 4 September. Scholarships will include a ticket to Roughcuts and a small travel grant if you are attending from outside the Auckland region.

Interested parties should send a letter of application that explains why attendance would be beneficial to you, your career and as part of your overall career plan. Applicants must also include a brief screen industry-specific CV if appropriate.

The deadline for the scholarship application is 5pm, Thursday 28 August. Please email applications to Bonnie Slater bonnie@nzfilm.co.nz

Digitisation Update

The NZFC Digitisation Project has so far taken delivery of ten feature films and 13 shorts. The most recent title completed being Geoff Murphy's 1985 cult sci-fi feature The Quiet Earth. The Quiet Earth will soon be available to view on our NZ Films On Demand site.

Competition

The Australian International Movie Convention (AIMC) is giving away one full registration to attend this year's convention from 12 - 16 October, valued at over $1,000.
To be in the draw to win, you need to follow us on Facebook and be subscribed to our newsletter.

Then register with AIMC and tell them in 25 words or less how attending the convention will benefit you and your career here.

The competition closes on Friday 30 August.

Indigenous Inter-Agency Collaboration

Short Film Manager Whetu Fala recently visited Australia as part of the ongoing work for the recently developed  He Ara – Māori & Pasifika Development Fund.

Read her full report on this new collaboration our website here.

Denmark International Co-Production Treaty

The international co-production treaty signed between New Zealand and Denmark earlier this year in Cannes has now been ratified and enacted. 

To read the treaty in full and for more information on how to apply visit our website here.

October Board Meeting

A reminder that the next NZFC board meeting will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday 7 and 8 October.

The submission deadline for the October board meeting is Tuesday 26 August.

The dates for our 2015 board meetings have now been confirmed. To view all these dates please visit our website here.