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Monday 14 June 2021
New Auckland Office
On Tuesday 18 May NZFC staff, stakeholders and Board members gathered to celebrate the opening of the NZFC's new offices, and to bid farewell to outgoing CEO Annabelle Sheehan.
NZFC Board Chair, Kerry Prendergast paid tribute to Annabelle’s achievements during her time with the organisation, including successfully steering the NZFC through the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. In addition, Annabelle developed production funding initiative the 125 Fund, to celebrate 125 years of women’s suffrage. Other achievements include the launch of Te Rautaki Māori and the associated He Pounamu Te Reo Māori Feature Film Initiative and 2019's ground-breaking Power of Inclusion Summit.
Annabelle leaves the NZFC well prepared for future challenges.
The NZFC's Auckland office has relocated within the Kauri Timber Building to the Ground Floor. The office can be accessed via 29 Graham Street or 104 Fanshawe Street.
The address is:
Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga | New Zealand Film Commission
Ground Floor, Kauri Timber Building, 29 Graham Street or 104 Fanshawe Street, Auckland 1010
Production Funding Decisions
At the May Board meeting the NZFC Board approved additional equity production funding for A Mistake (produced by Matthew Metcalfe, Tom Blackwell & Christine Jeffs; directed and written by Christine Jeffs) on top of the conditional offer granted at the March Board meeting.
The Board also approved another six-month extension to the COVID-19 Policy as it relates to the Terms of Trade and Production Funding Guidelines. The variations put in place in April 2020 as a response to the pandemic, will continue to apply to applications until 30 December 2021. The Policy will be reviewed again at that point.
You can view the NZFC's COVID-19 Policy here.
Aotearoa’s Stories Destined for Global Screens
Five screen projects have been selected in the first round of the $50 million Te Puna Kairangi Premium Productions for International Audiences Fund.
Te Puna Kairangi Premium Fund supports the Aotearoa New Zealand production sector recovery from COVID-19 by supporting high-quality productions that tell New Zealand stories for global audiences. Applications were assessed against the five Key Objectives of the fund as developed with Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage and Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment which are: to boost economic growth, increase employment, create cultural benefit, respond to COVID-19 with speed to market, and develop skills and capability.
Across the five selected projects there is an anticipated collective spend of almost $56 million in a range of locations around the country, with an estimated spend on local jobs during production of over $32 million. International investment in these projects is over $19 million.
Premium funding of $21 million across the five applications was approved by the funding panel. The Panel has members from Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga (New Zealand Film Commission), Irirangi Te Motu (NZ On Air) and Te Māngai Pāho lead by Independent Chair, Christina Milligan.
Conditional offers have been made to:
Better the Blood (Drama Series, 6 x 60 min)
Mystic Series 2 & 3 (Drama Series 2 x 8 x 30 min)
The Guinea Pig Club (Feature Film)
Our Big Blue Backyard Series 3 (Documentary Series, 6 x 60min)
The Convert (Feature Film)
More...
New Wave of New Zealand Filmmakers Receive International Recognition
Six New Zealand screenwriters have had their scripts selected as part of the Black List New Zealand Project (BLNZP), a partnership between internationally acclaimed the Black List and Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga New Zealand Film Commission.
The six writers will take part in a professional development workshop and mentorship series hosted by the Black List with leading global screen industry executives heading up the panels and mentoring the filmmakers. They will also receive up to NZ$25,000 in NZFC development financing to complete the next draft of their script.
The selected projects are:
Bara
Hong Kong Story
I.O.U
Long Gone
Mārama
Navratri AKA Nine Nights
More...
Catalyst He Kauahi Funding Decisions
Catalyst He Kauahi supports New Zealand filmmakers to make exceptional, high end narrative short films that will ignite the flame and be the catalyst for change in their career.
Two filmmaking teams have been offered funding in the latest round and will receive a $90,000 grant towards their short film and $10,000 towards development of their feature concept.
Show Home, produced by Sarah Cook, directed by Jane Shearer and written by Jane Shearer and Steve Ayson.
Desperate and alone, Blessing is busy killing herself, when her life is saved by her drunk boss Terry, with self-help quotes and a reminder of what a loser she is.
Pack Rat, produced by Orlando Stewart and Johnny Lyon, written and directed by Lucy Seuss.
At a rural New Zealand paddock party, a fifteen-year-old girl fights to keep her place among the pack of boys she has grown up with.
He Ara Funding Announced
E rau rangatira mā o te Ao Kiriata, tēnā koutou katoa.
He Ara (Pathway) funding supports Māori and/or Pacific Island filmmakers to create a diverse range of quality New Zealand content using their own way of working.
Congratulations to the team selected to receive funding from Te Rautaki Māori’s He Ara Development fund in 2021.
Sweetshop & Green: $50,000
Led by Sharlene George (New Zealand born Cook Islander), Sweetshop & Green is a New Zealand and Australian production company focused on producing local film and TV projects for global audiences. The company is a new partnership between global commercial production company Sweetshop, and one of Israel’s leading independent film production companies Green Productions. More...
Screen Production Recovery Fund
The Screen Production Recovery Fund closed to new applications on 30 April 2021.
To date approximately $6 million has been awarded to 48 successful applications.
Since the last newsletter update, a further 13 productions have had applications approved.
SERIES
Reunited, produced by Alex Breingan and Matthew Metcalfe, directed by Glen Broomhall and written by Alex Breingan and Matthew Metcalfe.
Under the Vines, produced by Richard Fletcher and Carmen Leonard, directed by Danny Mulheron and Erin White and written by Tim Balme, Nick Ward, Erin White and Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu.
Mystic Series 2 & 3, produced by David Stubbs and Richard Fletcher, directed by Aidee Walker, Caroline Bell-Booth and Laurence Walker, written by Beth Chalmers, Amy Shildler, Sam Shore, Briar Grace-Smith and Hamish Bennett.
FEATURE FILMS
The Salamander Lives Twice, produced by Emma Slade and Kate Holly, directed by Ant Timpson and written by Toby Harvard.
The Final Throw, produced by Leanne Pooley, written and directed by Briar March.
The Justice of Bunny King, produced by Emma Slade, directed by Gaysorn Thavat and written by Sophie Henderson.
The Guinea Pig Club, produced by Tim Sanders, directed by Roger Donaldson and written by Mike Riddell.
SHORT FILMS
Breathe, produced by Mhairead Connor, written and directed by Stephen Kang.
No Laughing in the Faculty, produced by Todd Karehana and Camilla Karehana, written and directed by Jessica Coco Hansell.
Perianayaki, produced and written by Shreya Gejji and directed by Bala Murali Shingade.
Hey, Brainy Man! produced by Jaimee Poipoi and Olivia Shanks, directed by Loren Taylor and Jo Randerson, and written by Jo Randerson.
Firsts, produced by Elanor McKenzie, written and directed by Jesse Ung.
Lea Tupu'anga/Mother Tongue, produced by Eldon Booth and Alex Lovell, directed by Vea Mafile'o and written by Luciane Buchanan.
Made in New Zealand
Based on Jeff Lemire’s comic books, Team Downey’s series for Warner Bros Sweet Tooth debuted globally on Netflix on 4 June. The show, from creators Jim Mickle and Beth Schwartz, filmed in Auckland, Waikato and Otago with reviews noting the high production value and stunning settings. Congratulations to all involved including New Zealand directors Toa Fraser (eps 4 & 7) and Robyn Grace (ep 5). It was produced in New Zealand by Mel Turner and supported by the New Zealand Screen Production Grant– International. You can view the trailer here.
Coming Soon
The Justice of Bunny King
In New Zealand cinemas 29 July. You can view the trailer here.
Filmmaker Opportunities
Upcoming Finance & Co-Production Markets
Ontario Creates International Financing Forum 2021
Online
12 & 13 September 2021
Application Deadline: 10 June 2021
Apply here
Cinekid Junior Co-production Market
Online
19-22 October 2021
Application Deadline: 1 July 2021
Apply here
Tokyo Gap-Financing Market
Tokyo, Japan
1-3 November 2021
Application Deadline: 20 July 2021
Apply here
MPA APSA Academy Film Fund - Now Open
The MPA and APSA Academy are celebrating 11 years of collaboration supporting feature films at the script development stage. Originated by APSA Academy members and their colleagues across the region, 44 projects from 25 countries and areas of the Asia Pacific have been supported through the initiative to date. The MPA APSA Academy Film Fund has seen significant success since 2010 with some of the region’s leading filmmakers’ recipients of this fund.
Heading the Jury in 2021 is Australian film distributor, historian and documentary filmmaker Andrew Pike OAM, now in his 12th year steering the selection process.
He is joined by 2019 MPA APSA Academy Film Fund recipient, producer Catherine Fitzgerald (New Zealand) and executive and Maramanindji woman Penny Smallacombe (Australia).
The 2021 MPA APSA Academy Film Fund is now open for submissions. The rules and regulations for the fund are found here.
Email to check your eligibility and to receive the entry form.
Applications close on 22 October 2021.
Upcoming Festival Deadlines
NZIFF – International deadline 11 June / NZ, Australia & Pacific Islands deadline 9 July
Pacific Meridian International Film Festival of Asian Pacific Countries, Vladivostok - Deadline 10 June
Venice Film Festival – Deadline 11June
Raindance Film Festival – Final deadline 14 June
San Sebastián International Film Festival - Deadline 15 June
BFI London Film Festival – International short film deadline 17 June
Venice Days - Giornate degli Autori – Deadline 18 June
Venice International Film Critics’ Week – Deadline 1 July
Telluride Film Festival – Deadline 1 July
PÖFF Shorts - Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival – Early deadline 1 July / Regular deadline 1 August
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival – Regular deadline 1 July
IDFA International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam – IR, Immersive & New Media deadline 1 July / Feature film deadline 15 July
Clermont Ferrand International Short Film Festival - Short films completed in 2020 (after 1 October ) deadline 4 July / Short films completed in 2021 deadline 4 October
Slamdance Film Festival – Early deadline 5 July / Regular deadline 16 August
Hawaii International Film Festival – Late deadline 16 July
Busan International Film Festival – Feature deadline 21 July
Sundance Film Festival - Shorts, Episodic & New Frontier: Early deadline 6 August / Official deadline 23 August / Late deadline 13 September / Features: Early deadline 13 August / Official deadline 6 September / Late deadline 27 September
Festival and Market News
Gaysorn Thavat’s debut feature, The Justice of Bunny King, will have its World Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in the Viewpoints section where it will compete for the Nora Ephron Award for Best Female Filmmaker, and for the Best New Narrative Director Award for first time filmmakers.
Starring Essie Davis and Thomasin McKenzie, The Justice of Bunny King tells the story of Bunny King, a mother of two, a rough-cut diamond with a sketchy past. While battling the system to reunite with her children, a confrontation leads her to take her niece Tonyah under her wing. With the world against her and Tonyah, Bunny’s battle has just begun.
Written by Sophie Henderson, directed by Gaysorn Thavat and produced by Emma Slade, The Justice of Bunny King is one of three films funded through Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga New Zealand Film Commission’s (NZFC) 125 Fund which offered $1.25 million to films led by women. More...
Coming Home in the Dark screened in competition for the Black Tulip Award for Best Fantastic Feature Film at Imagine Film Festival Amsterdam and screened in the International Narrative Competition Award at Cleveland International Film Festival. The film has since screened at Calgary Underground Film Festival and Milwaukee Film Festival, with more festival selections yet to be announced. Coming Home in the Dark opens in New Zealand cinemas on 12 August. You can view the trailer here.
Cousins screened in the Hawaii International Film Festival 2021 Showcase Series Indigenous Lens, in association with Pacific Islanders in Communications. Expanding on HIFF’s mission to be the festival of record of Indigenous, Aboriginal and First Peoples from the Pacific and the Americas, Indigenous Lens features the latest works from Kanaka Maoli, as well as media artists from Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and greater Polynesia and Oceania. Cousins opens in Australian cinemas on 10 June.
The Legend of Baron To’a screened online, geo-blocked to US-based audiences as part of Salt Lake Film Society’s Māsima Pacific Island Film Tour.
This Town premiered in North America at Seattle International Film Festival, screening in the New Directors Competition programme.
Bellbird recently screened online as part of the Legacy Film Festival on Aging programme, geo-blocked to the US.
Mauri will screen in the imagineNATIVE National Indigenous Peoples Month online film programme, for audiences based in Canada. Every Friday throughout June, imagineNATIVE will release a seminal work from early Indigenous Cinema as part of their Feature Fridays series. Co-presented by the NZFC, Mauri will be available to view from 11-17 June.
Short Films
Fresh Shorts funded Pain premiered in North America at the Academy accredited Aspen ShortsFest, followed by Stockholm International Film Festival Junior and also screened in the International Competition section of the Busan International Short Film Festival.
Fresh Shorts funded Liliu will screen in Tribeca’s Without Borders programme of compelling short film dramas from the US and abroad. Independent New Zealand shorts Tā Moko – Behind the Tattooed Face and Peninsula have also been selected to screen.
Aho Short Rū screened in the short film programme of Artemis Women in Action Film Festival, USA.
Catalyst short film Zealandia is currently sitting at 42 official festival selections and 34 awards/nominations. The film has recently screened at Miami Sci-Fi Film Festival (Winner - Best Costume Design Award), Sci-Fi Gainesville Short Film Festival (Winner - Best of Festival, Best Traditional Sci-Fi, Best Actress) and Fantasporto International Film Festival.
Fresh Shorts funded Daddy’s Girl (Kōtiro) was selected to screen in Seattle IFF’s Leveling Up programme, a selection of international shorts showing that navigating the passage into adulthood is tricky at any age.
Local Screenings
Ngāti recently screened at Dunedin Public Art Gallery, as part of their free public events programme. The gallery will also screen Mauri on 4 July.
Wairarapa Film Festival opened last month with the first of three programmes, taking place first in Masterton (26-30 May), followed by Carterton (9-18 July) and Martinborough (27-31 October). The programme features exhibitions, talks, workshops and films, including recent screenings of Vigil and What We Do in the Shadows and upcoming screenings of The Navigator and short film The Singing Trophy in Martinborough.
Flying Fox in a Freedom Tree screened at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery New Plymouth, presented as part of the gallery’s ongoing Māori and Pasifika Film Series.
Square Eyes Film Foundation screened The Magical World of Margaret Mahy short film series at City Gallery Wellington.
Congratulations go to...
David White, Kelly Martin, Aaron Watson, Henry Feltham and the entire This Town team for having North American rights to This Town acquired by Topic, the streaming service from First Look Media. The film was released to streaming on 20 May with a day and date option to order the film via Vimeo On Demand. This is the first time Topic has released a film concurrently through an On Demand portal.
Ant Timpson, Toby Harvard, Emma Slade, Daniel Bekerman and Katie Holly and the whole Come to Daddy team for winning 'Best First Feature' at the FANGORIA Chainsaw Award which recognises the best horror and thriller films.
NZFC News
Staff News
Johanna Smith (Ngāti Porou, Ngā Puhi) has joined the Development and Production team as Development Executive on a fixed term contract for 12 months.
She has worked in the screen and theatre industries in Aotearoa for over 20 years in a number of key positions including: writer, story producer, script editor, and script and development consultant.
Jo is passionate about promoting diverse voices in the creative sector. Most recently she has been balancing her industry work with lecturing in screenwriting at Unitec’s Screen Arts degree. Writing credits currently on screen include: Shortland Street, Baby Mama’s Club (2018 NZTV Awards: Best Web Series), Baby Mama’s Club 2 and SIS (Comedy Central, Neon).
Rachel Emery has joined the Development and Production team as the Project Coordinator for the Te Puna Kairangi Premium Productions for International Audiences Fund on a fixed term contract for 12 months.
She comes from a television and commercial background and has a range of experience from previous positions across production company, television network, client and agency sides. She has spent most of her career in Auckland including working at TVNZ and as a commercial producer. She has also been a development executive in London.
Sarah McNaught has joined the NZFC as Executive Assistant to the CEO.
Sarah spent seven years working at NZX as the EA to the CEO and CFO. Prior to that Sarah lived and worked in London for many years, and had EA roles at Goldman Sachs International and The Blackstone Group respectively.
Mel Read has been promoted within the Incentives team to Incentives Executive. Mel has been with the NZFC since August 2017 and is a key member of the Incentives team. Congratulations Mel.
After six years at the NZFC Chris Tyson is departing. Chris joined the Incentives team in April 2015. We’ll miss Chris’s, calm and professional approach along with her great sense of humour. Chris’s last day will be Wednesday 9 June.
Upcoming Funding Deadlines
All applications must be received by 1pm on the deadline day. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
NZ Film On Demand
NZ Film On Demand, the NZFC's transactional VOD platform now has over 21,000 subscribers. The platform offers over 250 feature and short films ranging from recent cinema releases to digitised back catalogue classics.
New releases to the platform include Come to Daddy, No.2, Three Wise Cousins, The Legend of Baron To'a, Helen Kelly: Together, Encounters, Savage, Dawn Raid and Hibiscus and Ruthless.
In addition, a large number of short films have also been added, with more yet to come.
See the full NZ Film On Demand collection and sign up for an account here.
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