NEWSLETTER

Collaborating to Reach a Wider Audience

Applications are now open for Doc Connect, a new documentary funding initiative between the NZFC and NZ On Air.

We’re looking to contribute finance towards high-quality documentary projects that understand their audience and have a plan of how to reach that audience. The goal is to create diversity of documentary on screen and motivate local filmmakers to research their intended audience. We're seeking projects that will have both theatrical and television releases. However, if the total budget is less than $200k we may accept an online outcome along with an innovative strategy for reaching that audience.
We expect to support between three and six projects, with $200k – $400k available per project.

Applications close Friday 8 August 2014.

For further details, selection criteria and key dates, please see our website here

New-look NZ Film on Demand

Phase two of our NZ Film On Demand platform was launched earlier this month. Films can now be viewed in high definition (HD), purchased as well as rented, and stored in your online film library. There have also been some design improvements, security updates and bug fixes.

NZ Film On Demand is our online service which brings great New Zealand films to you whenever you want, wherever you want – without having to pay a monthly subscription. Films range from recent cinema releases to newly digitised classics. The site regularly features curated showcases and retrospectives, to coincide with events and film festivals around the world.

We'll shortly be launching the NZ Films app, which will bring NZ Film On Demand to your iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. The app will sync your NZ Film On Demand library with your iOS devices so you can watch your purchased films offline. You will also be able to browse the NZ Film On Demand catalogue and watch preview clips and trailers.

Sign up to NZ Film On Demand here.

Everything We Loved – Premiere At Your Place

From next Monday (21 July) you will be able pre-purchase your tickets to Premiere At Your Place, the ground-breaking simultaneous premiere of Everything We Loved, which is releasing in cinemas as part of the New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF), on airlines and on NZ Film On Demand on Monday 28 July.

Written and directed by Max Currie, Everything We Loved follows a stage magician’s struggle to mend his wife’s broken heart with his greatest and most dangerous illusion – a little boy. The Hollywood Reporter lauded the film as “high-end drama that convinces on an emotional level.” The film stars Sia Trokenheim (Step Dave), Brett Stewart, and five-year-old newcomer Ben Clarkson. 

As soon as the curtain goes up for the cinematic premiere in Auckland and Wellington at 8:15pm on 28 July, the film will also be available to watch online at NZ Film On Demand. To make the Premiere At Your Place experience complete, the NZ Herald will be live-streaming the red-carpet action and the first 500 people who buy Premiere at Your Place tickets will receive goodie bags, containing popcorn, ice-cream vouchers and chocolate.

To watch the trailer and pre-register for tickets, go to the film's website here.

Melbourne International Film Festival

What We Do in the Shadows, Fantail and Housebound have all been selected to screen at this year's Melbourne International Film Festival (31 July to 17 August), alongside New Zealand shorts Ross & Beth, Eleven and The Tidekeeper.

Melbourne is an important festival on the international calendar and a great place for New Zealand filmmakers to connect with their international counterparts without huge travel costs.

This year we have supported seven New Zealanders to attend the attached market 37°South, and a further three short filmmakers to attend Accelerator, the festival’s director development programme. Escalator films Orphans and Kingdoms and I Survived a Zombie Holocaust, and local features The Last Saint and The Pa Boys are all participating in the festival’s Breakthru Screenings showcase.

Chris Payne (Head of Talent Development & Relationships) and Lisa Chatfield (Head of Development & Production) will be attending 37°South, and Whetu Fala (Short Film Manager) will be attending Accelarator on behalf of the NZFC.

Shanghai Film Delegation in Wellington

Earlier this month we hosted representatives from Shanghai Film Group and Shanghai University in Wellington. The delegation included Shanghai Film Group Vice President, Wang Xiaojun and Director of Production, Zhu Jue along with senior faculty from Shanghai University.  

Whilst here, the delegation met with Wellington-based production and education sector representatives to discuss film co-production and talent development.

At a Cinema Near You

What We Do in the Shadows is still going strong in our cinemas, and as of 17 July, the box office is sitting at just over $2M.

The New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF) opened in Auckland’s Civic Theatre last night, with the sold-out premiere of The Dark Horse, directed by James Napier Robertson and produced by Tom Hern. The film will also open the festival's Wellington section on 25 July, before its nationwide release on 31 July.

In total, 11 New Zealand features and documentaries will screen in the NZIFF, nine of which were made with NZFC funding.

Six New Zealand shorts are also screening in the festival – four of which were made with NZFC funding. Audience members can help give these short films the recognition they deserve by voting for their favourite short films in the New Zealand’s Best competition. The winner of the Audience Choice Award will receive 25 percent of the box office from the NZIFF screenings.

The NZFC is a proud sponsor of the NZIFF and we encourage you to go along and experience New Zealand films on the big screen.

For more information and to buy tickets go to the NZIFF website here.

Staff News

We are pleased to introduce three new staff members, who have recently joined the NZFC team. They are Selina Joe, Conal Thompson and Mia-Marama Henry-Tierney.

Selina is our Stategy and Insights Advisor and will be working on audience insights and research in conjunction with NZ On Air, Conal is our new Business Affairs and Incentives Assistant and will be working with the Business Affairs and Incentives team. Mia, our Fresh Shorts Assistant, is working with Whetu Fala on the Fresh Shorts programme.

Staff profiles can be read in full on our website here.
 

Statement of Intent Now Online

Our Statement of Intent for 2014/15 – 2017/18 and our Statement for Performance Expectations for the year ending 30 June 2015 have been published and can be found on our website here.

Toronto Producers Lab

New Zealand and Australia are guest countries for this year’s Producers Lab Toronto, held during the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. New Zealand producers with one or more feature projects in development suitable for co-production with Europe, Canada or Australia are invited to apply to the NZFC for a place on the lab and travel funds to attend.

Up to two New Zealand producers will be selected by the NZFC to meet with potential partners to discuss and pitch their projects, and participate in a number of seminars and events.

The Producers Lab Toronto is an initiative of European Film Promotion in partnership with the Ontario Media Development Corporation and the Toronto International Film Festival.

The application deadline is 21 July 2014.

Full details including eligibility, application and selection process can be found on our website here.

Applications Open for Berlinale Talents

Berlinale Talents (formerly Berlinale Talent Campus) is a six-day creative summit and networking platform for emerging film creatives, which occurs annually alongside the Berlin International Film Festival. The summit consists of lectures, discussions, workshops, and excursions for directors, screenwriters, actors, cinematographers, producers, editors, sound designers, composers, and production designers.

We offer a travel grant for up to three successful New Zealand applicants (who must be New Zealand citizens and residents).

Applicants must apply directly to Berlinale Talents and should apply to the NZFC for a travel grant once an acceptance letter has been received.

The application deadline is 1 September 2014.

To apply visit the Berlinale Talents website here.

Cannes Résidence

Applications are now open for the next Cannes Cinéfondation Résidence du Festival, which will take place from 2 March to 15 July 2015.

The Cannes Résidence annually welcomes 12 young filmmakers from all over the world who are working on their first or second feature film.

A jury selects six filmmakers for each of the two four-and-a-half-month sessions per year. Successful applicants for this prestigious programme are able to fully focus on their writing, and are given the opportunity to connect with other young directors and industry professionals.

Applicants must apply directly to the Cannes Résidence, and may approach the NZFC for financial assistance only once an acceptance letter has been received.

The deadline for applications to the Résidence is 8 September 2014.

To apply visit the Cannes website here.

Funding Decisions

Information on outstanding conditional financing offers and recent development funding decisions can be found here.

Upcoming Funding Deadlines

Early Development Fund: 28 July 2014
Doc Connect: 8 August 2014
Production Funding: 2 September 2014 (for 14 October Board meeting)