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Friday 11 October 2019
Frankiln Leonard & Benjamin Law
The Power of Inclusion Summit
The Power of Inclusion Summit was held in Auckland's Aotea Centre 3-4 October. Over 700 people, including 160 who received scholarships, attended the event, hosted by the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) and Women in Film and Television International (WIFTI), with support from The Walt Disney Studios. The two day programme of case studies, panels, conversations and keynotes included 66 speakers. over 30 of whom are international, presenting views from diverse global communities and positing future action to create a more inclusive industry and world.
Speaker Franklin Leonard, founder of the Black List, said, “I’ve been at a lot of these conferences and I’m struck by how this one feels different. It feels different in part because I don’t think I’ve ever been to one where it is more than 50% women. And I don’t think I’ve been to one that has had this level of diversity of all sorts and it feels different. And it feels good. And I want to thank all of you for that.”
Yara Shahidi
Heperi Mita
Available to watch now is video of two keynote addresses from activist Yara Shahidi (black-ish, grown-ish) and director, Heperi Mita (Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen).
More video from The Power of Inclusion Summit will be added to our YouTube channel over the coming weeks.
Busan World Premiere for Savage
Savage
New Zealand feature film Savage, the feature debut from Wellington filmmaker Sam Kelly had its world premiere at the Busan Film Festival in Korea this week. The film will then have its European premiere at the prestigious BFI London Film Festival on 11 October.
Hollywood Reporter have praised the film, saying "Kelly and director of photography James L. Brown capture the casual violence and still uneasy white-Māori coexistence with a raw, unfiltered, dark tone that lends the pic a veracity it might not enjoy with cleaner images. Not surprisingly, Danny looks most out of his element in the bright light of day.
But Kelly wisely makes Danny and Moses’ friendship and their growth (or not) the real story, and Ryan and Tui’s completely believable, naturalistic dynamic serves as the movie’s emotional anchor. Savage’s strongest moments involve the two just having a beer and talking about their shared pasts and possible futures, revealing a great deal more about both men than any gang fight does.” You can read the full review here.
Ani
Show Me Shorts 2019 Winners Announced
The winners for New Zealand’s premier, international short film festival, Show Me Shorts, have been unveiled. The announcements took place at the festival’s gala Opening Night and Awards Ceremony in Auckland on Saturday 5 October.
Kiwi filmmakers Sarah Cook and Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu took home the Oscar-accredited Department of Post Best NZ Film award for their moving short drama Ani, about a girl and her dad left behind. Their cinematographer Maria Inés Manchego was also awarded the Panavision Best Cinematographer prize. More...
Production Funding Decisions
The Board approved two applications for production financing at the September meeting and conditional offers have been made to:
Nude Tuesday
An absurdist comedy about a suburban couple who spends a week at a new-age retreat in a bid to save their marriage. Produced by Emma Slade, Virginia Whitwell and Nick Batzias, written by Jackie Van Beek and directed by Armagan Ballantyne.
Juniper
On returning home from boarding school, a self-destructive teenager discovers his gin-soaked grandmother has moved in. A battle of wills ensues which enables him to embrace life again, and her to face her own mortality. Produced by Desray Armstrong and Angela Littlejohn, written and directed by Matthew Saville.
Four Projects Selected for Scripted Series Drama Development
New Zealand funding agencies, the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) and NZ On Air have announced further development funding of $80,000 each to four scripted series projects.The projects selected for further development funding are:
All Of Me - Shoshana McCallum, Natalie Medlock, Dan Musgrove, Peter Salmon
Ashes and Prophets - Kath Akuhata-Brown, Greg McGee, Philippa Rennie, Robin Scholes, Lee Tamahori
Rockburn - Hannah Marshall, Gareth Williams, David de Lautour, Kelly Martin
Drunk Poetry - Briar Grace-Smith, Desray Armstrong, Victor Rodger More...
In New Zealand Cinemas
Box Office Report (All Films)
- Joker
$1,266,152 - Abominable
$1,106,997 - Dora and the Lost City of Gold
$897,056 - The Angry Birds Movie 2
$1,085,609 - Downton Abbey
$2,689,702
As at 6 October 2019
2019 Box Office (NZ Fillms)
- Daffodils
$1,162,815 - Vai
$130,777 - Herbs: Songs of Freedom
$96,766 - The Chills: The Triumph and Tragedy of Martin Phillipps
$73,157 - For My Father's Kingdom
$62,661
As at 6 October 2019
Amazon Studios' Series Based on The Lord of the Rings Offers Significant Opportunities for New Zealand
The New Zealand Film Commission and partners from the sector, including Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) have worked together to bring the Amazon Studios series based on The Lord of the Rings to New Zealand.
New Zealand being chosen as the production location, offers significant opportunities for the local screen sector and indirect
benefits into other industries, including new jobs and direct spend. More...
International Attractions
Following successful location recces and personnel introductions hosted by NZFC last year, the International Attractions team were thrilled to confirm three more major projects committing to production in New Zealand this year.
ABC TV’s The Wilds recently commenced filming their series in Auckland with director Susanna Fogel and writer Sarah Streicher. The first original Netflix series to make New Zealand home is sci-fi action adventure Cowboy Bebop. Based in Auckland the show is being made in collaboration with Tomorrow Studios with Alex Garcia Lopez set to direct. Amazon announced location shooting in several New Zealand regions with a key production base in Auckland for the filming of The Lord of the Rings series for global streaming.
Filmmaker Opportunities
Merata Mita Fellowship
The Sundance Institute Merata Mita Fellowship for Indigenous Artists pays tribute to the immense artistic contributions and memory of Merata Mita (Ngāti Pikiao/Ngāi Te Rangi). Merata served as an advisor and artistic director to Sundance Institute’s Native Filmmakers Lab from 2000 to 2009, where she mentored and developed some of the top Indigenous talent in today’s film industry. In her time as a screenwriter and director herself, she is the first—and only—Māori woman to write and direct a dramatic feature film.
This fellowship serves to continue Merata Mita’s legacy and to cultivate a stage for other Indigenous women around the world to tell their stories. Fellows will be awarded cash grants and a yearlong continuum of support with activities, including a trip to the Sundance Film Festival, access to strategic and creative services offered by Sundance Institute artist programs, and mentorship opportunities. More...
Call for Applications - Animation Special
In close collaboration with Screen Skills Ireland and Animation Dingle and support from other key Irish partners – Screen Ireland, Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) , Animation Skillnet, IDA and Animation Ireland – the 4-day workshop will be held from the 18th to the 22nd March 2020.
16 spots are available for experienced producers who want to diversify their activities to include, and/or deepen their knowledge of, developing and producing long form/feature film animation production for an international audience (cinema, broadcast or streaming) More...
Upcoming International Activity
NZFC staff are preparing for offshore festival and market activity during the remainder of 2019 and early 2020. If you’re planning to attend Busan, AFM, IDFA, Macau, Content London, GZDOC, Sundance, Rotterdam, Berlin or any other international festival, market or conference from now until early 2020, we’d love to hear from you.
Drop us a line via international@nzfilm.co.nz with details of your planned attendance, so we can ensure you’re looped into all relevant communications and event planning.
Upcoming Festival Deadlines
Upcoming festival deadlines
Rotterdam Film Festival (Features) – Deadline Oct 15
SXSW Film Festival (Features & Shorts) – Late Deadline Oct 17
Tribeca Film Festival (Features & Shorts) – Official Deadline Oct 30
Berlin International Film Festival (Features) – Deadline Nov 8
Berlin International Film Festival (Shorts) – Deadline Nov 15
HOT DOCS Canadian International Documentary Film Festival – Early Deadline Nov 15
CPH DOX Film Festival – Deadline Dec 1
Call for Applications - ScriptLab 2020
The call for entries for TorinoFilmLab’s ScriptLab 2020 is now open. The deadline to apply is November 1st, 2019.
ScriptLab is a screenwriting programme, addressed to professional writer - directors, or teams of writer and director, from all over the world, presenting an original or adapted fiction feature film screenplays in early stage development.
It also trains film professionals interested in gaining an insight into the script development process, through the branch ScriptLab – story editing. More...
Upcoming Finance & Co-Production Markets
Berlinale Co-Production Market 2020
9th October 2019 – Feature Film Projects
23rd October 2019 – Co-Production Drama Series
Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) 2020
31st October 2019 – HAF Projects
Producer International Travel Fund (PIFT)
A reminder that from July 2019 all PITF grants will be to a maximum of $5,000 with the exception of grants to travel to the 37°South Market which will be capped at $2,500.
In exceptional circumstances travel support to key international series drama markets may be considered on a case-by-case, discretionary and non-precedential basis.
You can find out more about this fund, including how to apply, here.
Guns Akimbo
Festival News
Savage had its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival in Korea on 8 October where it was well received with reviews like this one in The Hollywood Reporter. It will follow this screening with screenings in the Thrill section of the 63rd BFI London Film Festival. Written and directed by Sam Kelly, and produced by Vicky Pope, Savage is inspired by the true stories of New Zealand's Street gangs across 30 years, following Danny at three critical moments in his life as he grows from a boy into the violent enforcer of a gang.
Daffodils also screened at the Busan International Film Festival in early October. Written by Rochelle Bright, directed by David Stubbs and produced by Richard Fletcher and Stubbs, Daffodils is a heart-aching drama of a quintessential New Zealand marriage, told with iconic New Zealand music.
Short film That Which is To Come is Just a Promise, a New Zealand-Italy-Netherlands co-production from New Zealand co-producer Catherine Fitzgerald will screen at the BFI London Film Festival in October.
Guns Akimbo had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in early September. The film, written and directed by Jason Lei Howden and produced by Joe Neurater, Felipe Marino and Tom Hern follows Miles Harris as his mundane existence of scrolling through the same three apps is turned upside-down when he's enrolled in a dark social media movement that forces strangers to fight in a citywide game of death.
Short film Ani, which had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival in February, also screened at TiFF. Written and directed by Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu and produced by Sarah Cook, the film is about 9-year-old Ani who drifts into a land of play and make believe after her mother runs out on the family - leaving Ani and her father to fend for themselves.
Come to Daddy continues its international festival run with upcoming screenings at the Toronto After Dark Film Film festival, the UK's Mayhem Film Festival and the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia. Written by Toby Harvard, produced by Mette-Marie Kongsved, Laura Tunstall, Daniel Bekerman, Katie Holly and New Zealand’s Emma Slade and directed by Timpson, Come to Daddy is a four-way co-production between New Zealand, Canada, Ireland and the USA. After receiving a cryptic letter from his estranged father, Norval travels to his dad’s oceanfront home for what he hopes will be a positive experience. If only he’d known the dark truth about his old man beforehand.
Feature documentary The Heart Dances has been selected to screen in two international film festivals next month, the Choreoscope International Dance Film Festival of Barcelona, Spain; and Naples International Film Festival, Florida, USA.
Four feature films and eighteen shorts will screen at Toronto's ImagineNATIVe Film and Media Arts Festival. Feature films selected are For My Father's Kingdom from directors Jeremiah Tauamiti and Vea Mafile'o, Maui's Hook from director Paora Joseph, Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen from director Heperi Mita and Vai from directors Becs Arahanga, Amberley Jo Aumua, Matasila Freshwater, Dianna Fuemana, Miria George, Ofa Ki Levuka Guttenbeil Likiliki, Marina Alofagia McCartney, Nicole Whippy, Sharon Whippy.
The short films selected are: Ani (d. Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu), Awa (d. Morningstar Derosier/Tyson Mowarin/Jason Taylor, Bub (d. Oriwa Hakaraia/Te Mahara Tamahana), He Hekenga Tūhura (d. Allan George), Hinekura (d. Becs Arahanga), Home (d. Joshua Robinson), Kauri (d. Raymond Edwards/Alexandra Lazarowich/Lada Suomenrinne), Koro (d. Nicholas Riini), Krystal (d. Briar Grace-Smith), Liliu (d. Jeremiah Tauamiti ), Mana Wahine (d. Corinna Hunziker), Mareikura (d. Tihini Grant/Tristin Greyeyes/Alika Maikau), Ngā Koekoeā (d. Joshua Teariki Baker/Chapin Hall/Jaimee Poipoi), Rū (d. Awanui Simich-Pene), Toa'ipuapuaga Strength in Suffering (d. Vea Mafile'o), Ways to See (d. Jessica Sanderson) and Yellow Roses (d. Paula Jones)
Congratulations go to...
Taika Waititi on receiving the inaugural Ebert Director Award at this year's Toronto International Film Festival. The award recognizes and honors a filmmaker for their outstanding contribution to cinema. And for his film, Jojo Rabbit, which had its world premiere at the festival, on receiving the People's Choice Award.
Film Otago Southland on receiving the award for ‘Outstanding Film Commission’ at the 6th annual Locations Managers Guild International (LMGI) Awards in Santa Monica. Based in Queenstown, the award, highlights that Otago and Southland are on the radar in Hollywood as a filming destination thanks to films like Mission Impossible 6: Fallout and A Wrinkle in Time choosing to work in the region.
Sima Urale who was named the recipient of the Burr/Tatham Trust Award from the Arts Foundation at the New Zealand Arts Ball.
Mike Newport on winning the APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film award at the recent APRA Silver Scroll Awards for the film Mega Time Squad.
Martin Hill and the Weta Digital team who worked on Game of Thrones on winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Visual Effects.
Heperi Mita on his film, Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen winning the Unesco Recognition Award for a documentary film at the Amalty Film Festival in Kazakhstan in September.
The winners of the eighth annual New Zealand’s Best 2019 short film competition at the New Zealand International Film Festival in July. The Madman Entertainment Jury Prize for the Best New Zealand Short Film at NZIFF 2019 was awarded to Egg Cup Requiem with directors Prisca Bouchet and Nick Mayow receiving a cash prize of $5,000. The Creative New Zealand Emerging Talent Award was awarded to Nancy From Now On with director Keely Meechan receiving a cash prize of $4,000. The Auckland Live Spirit of the Civic Award was awarded to Hinekura with director Becs Arahanga receiving a cash prize of $4,000. Hinekura also received the 2019 Audience Award and takes 25% of the box office takings from screenings in Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin and Christchurch.
NZFC News
The NZFC has released updated statistics on the gender of directors, writers and producers attached to short and feature films receiving funding over the last five years.
In 2017 the NZFC set the target of funding 50% women directors of feature films by 2020. Statistics released today show the organisation is making positive moves in this direction with 57% of feature films offered production financing in the 2018-19 financial year having at least one woman director attached. The statistics for writers and producers also show positive growth against the five year average.
The upward trend applies to short films too, with the five year average for NZFC funded shorts with at least one woman director attached being 49%. The figures are the same for short film writers, and for producers, jumps to a five-year average of 65%.
You can see the reports here.
Waiver of interest for historical loans
At the September board meeting the NZFC Board approved the waiving of all interest and/or premiums attached to historical outstanding loans made by the NZFC. We note that the outstanding loan amount is still repayable in accordance with the terms of the original loan agreement. If you require any further information, please contact us.
Staff news
In August we welcomed Virginia Ng as the NZFC's new HR Manager. Virginia looks after the human resources function at NZFC supporting the CEO and Leadership team as well as the staff. She has over 15 years' experience in HR, workforce development, recruitment and resourcing in both the private and public sectors.
We have recently farewelled two staff members, Conal Thompson in August and Jemma Taylor in September. Conal worked in the Business Affairs team for five years while Jemmas has been the International team's PR and Promotions Specialist for close to three years. We wish them both all the best in their new roles.
In October we will be saying goodbye to Lucy Campagnolo who has been the Development and Production Assistant for the last two years. She is leaving to travel overseas and we wish her a safe and happy journey.
Development Executive Rouzie Hassanova will be going on maternity leave in November. We wish her a safe delivery and a baby who likes to sleep long hours at night.
Thanks for keeping up with what's going on in New Zealand film. Got a suggestion for us? Email us at feedback@nzfilm.co.nz.
Ngā mihi,
The NZFC Team