Wednesday 13 July 2022

Production Funding Decisions

At the June Board Meeting, the NZFC Board approved two new feature films for production financing totalling over $3.7M:

Babylon
A Māori warrior priest comes to the lawless whaling settlement of Babylon to recover his father’s stolen head. A son’s love soon becomes a threat to the town's villainous mayoress, Sarah Graham.

Producers: Jill Macnab, Tainui Stephens and James Brown
Writer/director: Glenn Standring.

One Winter
When the 1981 Springbok tour descends on Dunedin, teenager Josh Waaka is forced to clamber off the fence he has actively sat on all his life to stand up for himself, his whānau and his future.

Producers: Emma Slade, Sandra Kailahi and Angela Cudd
Writers: Hamish Bennett and Sonia Whiteman.
Directors: Paul Middleditch and Hamish Bennett

Extended Screen Production Recovery Fund

Applications can be submitted to the Extended Screen Production Recovery Fund – Alert Level Strand up until 31 July 2022. This is open to eligible productions affected by COVID-19 alert level changes that occurred between 1 July 2021 and 2 December 2021.

The Extended Screen Production Recovery Fund – Protection Framework Strand remains open for eligible productions until 31 January 2023.

Please ensure you register your intention to apply via email, screenrecovery@nzfilm.co.nz, before making your application.

A webinar hosted by Jude McLaren and Vicki Jackways was held on 30 June 2022 for Short Film makers wanting to access the Extended Screen Production Recovery Fund Alert Level and Protection Framework Strands. Discussed was the application process specific to short films, including the $10k cap for the Alert Level Strand and $15k cap for the Protection Framework Strand, and discussion around eligible costs. A link to the webinar will be made available to view on the NZFC website in due course.

Since the last newsletter update, one application to the Extended Screen Production Recovery Fund has been approved through the Alert Level Strand.

SERIES

The Brokenwood Mysteries S8
Producer: Tim Balme
Writers: James Griffin, Roy Ward, Sarah Kate Lynch and Nic Sampson.
Directors: Katie Wolfe, Jacque Nairn, David de Lautour, Caroline Bell-Booth and Mike Smith

Feature Film Finishing Fund

In March 2022, the Feature Film Finishing Grant reopened to applications seeking finishing funds before the end of the 2021/2022 financial year. Since reopening, two feature films were approved Finishing Fund Grants.

Disco Bloodbath
A family of outsiders creates an outrageous, limitless, club-night that explodes in popularity. But, the fate of this iconic event hangs in the balance when our self-declared misfits reach their limits of performance and expression. In a spectacular ending, the group has an honour bestowed upon them that they never dreamt of.

Produced, written and directed by Marcus Palmer.

Geoff Dixon – Portraits of Us
Rockets, endangered birds, environmental issues and pop-culture collide in vibrant textural colours and forms in this intimate portrait of the life, loves and friendships of New Zealand artist Geoff Dixon.

Produced, written and directed by Glenis Giles and Clare O’Leary

International Co- Development Fund

Two applications were recently approved International Co-Development Funding totalling $85k. ICF aims to support New Zealand producers who are working with an overseas partner on developing feature films and series drama.

SERIES DRAMA MATCHED FUNDING

How Nauru Foretold the End of The World
NZ Producer: Carthew Neal
NZ Writers: Victor Rodger and Matasila Freshwater

FEATURE FILM CO-PRODUCTION

Come Together
NZ Producer: Catherine Fitzgerald
NZ Writer: Arezour Zalipour

Seed / Seed Advanced

Seed and Seed Advanced Round 1 of 2022 closed on 25 March 2022. The round received 94 Seed and 27 Seed Advanced eligible applications. Decisions were announced on 6 June 2022. Six applicants received Seed Grants of $10k each, and two applicants received Seed Advanced Grants of $12.5K each.

Seed
Ankita Singh – Bindu Patel and the Lost Spirit
Jordan Windsor, Angella Dravid & Tim Fletcher – Yaya Says Nah
Nacoya Anderson – Moonripe
Erica Kent – I am Dali
Ghazaleh Golbakhsh & Mia Maramara – The Ordeal
Will Agnew – The Casket & The Cross

Seed Advanced
Sophie Henderson & Curtis Vowell – The Resort
Himiona Grace & Patricia Grace – Tū, God of War

Unreal Engine Real-Time Short Film Challenge

From a short list of six projects, two have been selected for funding from the Unreal Engine Real-Time Short Film Challenge:

The Taxidermist, written by Esteban Jaramillo-Ulloa, directed and executive produced by Jade Jackson, produced by Angelique Thorne with creative director Phyo Thu, creative and technical director Nico Speziali, animation director and VFX supervisor Raqi Syed and executive producer Shahir Daud.

Cheng Beng, written and directed by Hweiling Ow and Peter Haynes, and produced by Morgan Leigh Stewart.

Along with Epic Games, VicScreen, Screen NSW, Screen Canberra, Screen Tasmania, South Australian Film Corporation, Screenwest, Screen Queensland, this Australia – New Zealand initiative provides funding towards the production of animated short films that utilise Unreal Engine 5 software.

A total of nine film and television projects have been offered funding in the final round of Te Puna Kairangi – Premium Productions for International Audiences Fund, which is administered by Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga| The New Zealand Film Commission.

The $25M investment is the final instalment from the $50m Fund, set up to support the production sector’s recovery from COVID-19.

After the Party (Drama Series)
Penny’s world implodes when she accuses her husband of a sex crime, and nobody believes her. Five years later, she must decide what’s more important – the truth, or rebuilding her relationship with her daughter.

Production Co: Luminous Beast and Lingo Pictures
Producers: Helen Bowden and Peter Salmon
Writer: Dianne Taylor
Director: Peter Salmon

Babylon (Feature Film)
A Māori warrior priest comes to the lawless whaling settlement of Babylon to recover his father’s stolen head. A son’s love soon becomes a threat to the town’s villainous mayoress.

Production Co: Vendetta Productions
Producers: Jill Macnab, James Brown and Tainui Stephens
Writer/Director: Glenn Standring

Badjelly (Animation series)
When siblings Tim and Rose enter the nearby woods in search of their beloved cow Lucy, they must team up with the weird and wonderful forest-folk to confront a malevolent force terrorising the valley, known as Badjelly.

Production Co: Mukpuddy Ltd
Producers: Simon Ward, Roger Shakes and Carthew Neal
Writer/Directors: Ryan Cooper, Alex Leighton and Tim Evans

Creamerie (season 2) (Drama Series)
Team Creamerie flees Hiro Valley and sets off on an epic road trip to save male survivors, bring Lane to justice and uncover the truth about the pandemic. But to save mankind, they’ve first got to save their friendship.

Production Co: Creamerie Ltd (Kevin and Co & Flat3), Tony Ayres Productions
Producers: Bronwynn Bakker, Roseanne Liang, JJ Fong, Ally Xue and Perlina Lau
Writers: Roseanne Liang and Dan Musgrove
Director: Roseanne Liang

Dark City – The Cleaner (Drama Series)
Joe Middleton is the cleaner at Christchurch’s Central Police Station. Everyone thinks Joe is not very smart. The Police are looking for a serial killer who has seven victims. Joe knows he has killed six. He is going to find out who did the seventh and frame them for all the murders.

Production Co: Endeavour Ventures Ltd
Producers: John Barnett and Chloe Smith
Writers: Paul Cleave, Rachel Lang and Simone Nathan
Director: Rick Jacobson

Escaping Utopia (Documentary Series)
What if your entire life was based on lies?

Production Co: Warner Bros. International Television Production NZ
Producers: Natalie Malcon and Philippa Rennie
Directors: Justin Pemberton, Natalie Malcon and Michelle Savill

I,Object (Feature film)
I,Object follows Tom, a grief-stricken 10-year-old boy who has drifted into a world of imagination after the death of his father. Misunderstood by everyone, Tom starts forming unusual friendships with the faces he sees in everyday objects. Soon everything from his alarm clock, pop cans, and even the kitchen sink begin helping him accept his loss and reconnect with the humans around him.

Production Co: Southern Light Films & Good Question Media
Producers: Timothy White, Daniel Bekerman, Chris Yurkovich and Alex Ordanis
Writer/Director: Andrew Niccol

Madame Mom (Drama Series)
An all-American Mom finds herself divorced, unemployed and pregnant in small-town New Zealand and starts an ethical brothel to survive.

Production Co: Tavake Ltd
Producers: Tom Hern, Halaifonua Finau and Crystal Vaega
Writers: Shoshana McCallum and Harry McNaughton

The Panthers (season 2) (Drama Series)
The Polynesian Panthers are in a new chapter of their lives; now juggling young families and jobs in the capitalist world, working for ‘The Man’. But the revolution waits for no one. This season our young radicals are called to stand up and support their Māori brothers and sisters, as they quest to reclaim their language, culture and the land that was taken from beneath them.

Production Co: Tavake Ltd
Producers: Nicole Horan and Crystal Vaega
Writers: Halaifonua Finau, Tom Hern and Becs Arahanga

Catalyst He Kauahi

Three teams have been offered funding in the latest Catalyst He Kauahi round. All teams have been funded for a total of $100,000 ($90,000 towards their short film and $10,000 towards development of the feature film concept).

Sunny Side Up
Two strangers collect their loved ones' ashes at a crematorium and end up spending the day together. They soon find that their time together becomes much more than a distraction.
Writer: Jake Mynatt
Director: Calvin Sang
Producer: Briar Collard

Picking Crew
When a queer Tongan man starts working as an apple picker, he learns that he is not the only outsider in this hyper-masculine environment.
Writer/Director: Tanu Gago
Producers: Morgan Waru and Nacoya Anderson

Let's Settle This
Two kung fu masters meet in a Chinese diner via a dating app. They must settle the bill – and an ancient vendetta – to consummate their fateful encounter.
Writer/Director: Jack Woon
Producers: Abba-Rose Dinah Vaiaoga-Ioasa and Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa

Upcoming Funding Deadlines

All applications must be received by 1pm on the deadline day. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Early Development/Documentary Development/Hāpaitia I te Kaupapa Kiriata: Māori Feature Film Support and Tuhinga Reo Māori: Te Reo Māori Development Fund: Deadline 1 August
Extended Screen Production Recovery Fund - Alert Level Strand: Deadline 31 July
Strategic Training Fund: Deadline 1 August
Feature Film Production Funding: Deadline: 8 August

International News

Kiwi Crews and Locations Praised in new US release Don’t Make Me Go

New Zealand is well known for its diverse locations and highly skilled crew, but something “Don’t Make Me Go” Executive Producer Eddie Rubin was not prepared for was the incredible sense of camaraderie and commitment he received from the Kiwis working on the film. “The New Zealanders are the hardest working crew I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. Everyone was always so accommodating, and it was all hands on deck. It was really, truly a phenomenal experience.” “Don’t Make Me Go” releases on Amazon Prime 15 July and employed 20 New Zealand cast, 365 crew and 800 extras. It was shot in Christchurch, MacKenzie District, Auckland, Pakiri and Hauraki. To find out how a movie about an American summer road trip was filmed in New Zealand in the depths of winter, read the production showcase here.

In Cinemas

Nude Tuesday
In New Zealand cinemas now. View the trailer here.

In Cinemas

Whina
In New Zealand cinemas now. View the trailer here .

In Cinemas

Whetū Mārama: Bright Star
In New Zealand cinemas now. View the trailer here here.

Festival and Market News

Muru, written and directed by Tearepa Kahi and produced by Reikura Kahi, Selina Joe and Tame Iti has been announced as the opening night film in the 2022 Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival.

Nine other New Zealand films have also been announced, including Punch, written and directed by Welby Ings and produced by Robin Murphy and Catherine Fitzgerald and anthology feature We Are Still Here, written by Tiraroa Reweti, Tracey Rigney, Renae Maihi, Samuel Nuggin-Paynter, Danielle Maclean, Dena Curtis, Tim Worrall, Richard Curtis, Miki Magasiva and Mario Goa, directed by Tim Worrall, Richard Curtis, Renae Maihi, Miki Magasiva, Mario Goa, Chantelle Burgoyne, Beck Cole, Tracey Rigney, Danielle Maclean and Dena Curtis and produced by Mia Henry-Teirney, Toni Stowers and Mitchell Stanley.

Documentaries When the Cows Come Home directed and produced by Costa Botes and Geoff Dixon - Portraits of Us directed and produced by Glenis Giles will have their world premiere screenings at the NZIFF.

Juliet Gerrard: Science in Dark Times, written, directed and produced by Shirley Horrocks, Florian Habicht's newly colourised version of Woodenhead, and planetarium audio-visual experience Path 99 will return from the NZIFF's 2021 programme to have their Auckland premieres.

Other New Zealand films included in the programme are Pan-Asian anthology film Kāinga and Nina Nawalowalo's feature debut A Boy Called Piano – The Story of Fa'amoana John Luafutu.

We Are Still Here and Millie Lies Low, directed by Michelle Savill, written by Michelle Savill and Eli Kent, produced by Desray Armstrong and Angela Littlejohn, are announced to screen at the Melbourne International Film Festival. Also selected is anthology film Kāinga, directed by Angeline Loo, Asuka Sylvie, Ghazaleh Golbahksh, Hash Perambalam, Julie Zhu, Michelle Ang, Nahyeon Lee and Yamin Tun, written by Angeline Loo, Asuka Sylvie, Ghazaleh Golbakhsh, HASH, Mei-Lin Te Puea Hansen, Mia Maramara, Nahyeon Lee, Shreya Gejji, and produced by Kerry Warkia, Kiel McNaughton and Shuchi Kothari.

Jack Be Nimble will screen at New York’s Museum of Modern Art on July 12 and 13, with director Garth Maxwell in attendance for post screening discussions. Digitised with funding from the NZFC’s Digitisation Programme and presented in 4K courtesy of Altered Innocence, Maxwell’s gothic horror is part of the Gender and Horror film programme of MoMA summer series, Horror: Messaging the Monstrous. The New York screenings are followed by the West Coast premiere of the restored film, at the American Cinematheque in Los Angeles, with Maxwell in attendance.

James & Isey, directed by Florian Habicht and produced by Lani-Rain Feltham and Florian Habicht, screened in Salt Lake Film Society’s Māsima: Pacific Island Film Tour.

Poppy, written and directed by Linda Niccol and produced by Robin Laing and Alex Cole-Baker, will screen at Martha’s Vineyard 2^nd Annual Disability Festival on July 21. The film opened the Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival, screening at the Art Academy of Cincinnati on July 7 and won the Audience Award. Poppy also screened in the Panorama programme of Zlín Film Festival for Children and Youth in Czech Republic.

Whina, directed by James Napier Robertson and Paula Whetu Jones, written by James Lucas, James Napier Robertson and Paula Whetu Jones, and produced Matthew Metcalfe and Tainui Stephens, premiered internationally in the First Nations programme of Sydney Film Festival . We Are Still Here opened the 2022 festival and Millie Lies Low screened in the Features programme.

Boy, written and directed by Taika Waititi and produced by Ainsley Gardiner, Cliff Curtis and Emanuel Michael, screened online in the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts On-Demand June programme, celebrating Indigenous Peoples Month.

Vai screened at the Folk Film Gathering in Edinburgh.

Balance of the Five Elements and Whetū Mārama - Bright Star screened at Doc Edge Festival, with independent New Zealand and co-production documentaries Behind the Mask, Disco Bloodbath, Iorram (Boat Song), The Last Marathon, The Milford Road, Off the Rails, Only I Can Hear, Our Aotearoa, Scope, and Who I Am and Wildfire. Interactive and VR film projects Atua, Rangi Tuwhera Open Sky, Taputeranga Matine Reserve and Whakakitenga are presented as part of the Doc Edge XR Exhibition.

Whina, Millie Lies Low, Coming Home in the Dark, Night Raiders, Whetū Mārama - Bright Star and short films Washday and Sista screened at Māoriland Film Festival. The Lion King Reo Māori also screened, with independent New Zealand films A Morning With Aroha, Disconnected, Disrupt, E Lele Le Toloa, Fire in the Water, Fire in the Sky, He Ara Ano (There is Another Way), Hiama, Ka Puta, Karanga, Mao Whenua, Missing You, Nau Mai e Ka Hua, Raids, Rohe Kōreporepo - The Swamp, The Sacred Place, Space Invader, Taiao, Tama Kaiatea, Te Ha Te Ka, Te Putunga o te Hinu, True Love, Vaka, When Nobody Was Looking and Wind, Song and Rain.

Cousins, Poi E: The Story of Our Song and short films Ani, Daddy's Girl (Kōtiro), Purerehua, and The Winter Boy screened as part of the 2022 Matariki Cinematic Showcase at Village Cinema Community Picture Theatre in Tauranga. Independent short films He Hekenga Tūhura - A Voyage of Discovery, Krystal, Rock-Star Mum, Purea and Taiao also screened as part of this four-week celebration of Māori film.

Came A Hot Friday, Goodbye Pork Pie, The Quiet Earth, Utu: Redux and Vigil screened at the Globe Theatre Christchurch in May, part of a New Zealand film showcase.

Ngāti and Fizz screened in the Masterton programme of Wairarapa Film Festival.

The Scarecrow screened at The Hollywood Avondale, digitised as part of the NZFC’s Digitisation Programme

Short Films

Three NZFC funded short films will screen in Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival’s 2022 short film programmes NZ's Best and Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts.

Perianayaki, written and produced by Shreya Gejji and directed by Bala Murali Shingade and Rustling written and directed by Tom Furniss and produced by Morgan Waru will compete for a total prize pool of $15,500, with a jury awarding three prizes at the premiere screening of New Zealand’s Best in Auckland on 6 July, and the Audience Award, as voted by the public, awarded on the closing night of the festival in Wellington, 14 August.

Smog, written and directed by Alex Liu and produced by Ben van de Laar will compete for the Wellington UNESCO City of Film award for Best Film ($3000 cash prize), as judged by a jury. This award will be presented at the final Wellington screening of Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts on Saturday 13 August at The Roxy Cinema. Audience members at Tāmaki Makaurau and Te Whanganui-a-Tara screenings will vote for their favourite short to win the Letterboxd Audience Award, a cash prize of $1000, and this will be announced at the Closing Night of NZIFF in Wellington.

Catalyst He Kauahi funded short film Washday, written and directed by Kath Akuhata-Brown, produced by Verity Mackintosh and Julian Arahanga, and Kōpere Hou – Fresh Shorts Perianayaki and Rustling, written and directed by Tom Furniss and produced by Morgan Waru, will screen in the Melbourne International Film Festival's Short Film Competition.

Kōpere Hou – Fresh Shorts Firsts, written and directed by Jesse Ung and produced by Elanor McKenzie, and My Friend Michael Jones, directed by Ian Leaupepe and Samson Rambo, written by Eldon Booth, Ian Leaupepe and Samson Rambo, produced by Eldon Booth and Alex Lovell, screened in June as part of the 2022 Guangzhou Love is Love LGBTQ+ Film Festival.

Congratulations go to...

Studiocanal CEO Anna Marsh who was named International Distributor of the Year at CineEurope, the exhibition conference which took place in Barcelona in late June.

Leanne Pooley, Cass Avery and Alex Reed for having their film, The Girl on the Bridge, acquired by Premiere Digital for global distribution including the U.S.

Marc Chesterman whose soundtrack for Florian Habicht's Woodenhead has been released as a double vinyl album featuring the original soundtrack and new re-imagined songs inspired by the film. Outstanding New Zealand musicians were challenged to create new music, including Charlotte Yates, epsilon-blue, Scott Mannion and Mimi Gilbert.
Each song was inspired by the soundtrack and music of the film Woodenhead and artists were given an open brief with the freedom to pursue their own diverse ideas. More...

Director Dame Jane Campion and Location Manager Sally Sherratt for The Power of the Dog being nominated for a Location Managers Guild International Award in the Outstanding Locations in a Period Film category. Recipients will be announced at a ceremony in August.

Director Michelle Savill on signing with Arts & Sciences for US and UK representation. This is the first representation for Savill, who has established herself as an emerging talent with her feature debut Millie Lies Low. More...

Libby Hakaria, Chelsea Winstanley, Dr. Ella Henry and the NZFC's own Kiriovea Jasmin McSweeney for being recognised in the Queen's Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours for 2022 for their contributions to the New Zealand screen industry.

Actress Rena Owen, writer Briar Grace-Smith and sound mixer Richard Flynn for being the only three New Zealanders among the 397 people recently invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

NZFC News

He Ara Whakaurunga Kanorau | Diversity and Inclusion Strategy

On 1 June 2022, the NZFC launched He Ara Whakaurunga Kanorau | Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. The Strategy will support existing NZFC programmes and introduce new initiatives to increase understanding of diversity, improve access to systems and create equitable pathways for better representation on screen and behind the camera. Particular attention will be given to meet the needs of underrepresented communities. More information and a link to the Strategy can be found here. The NZFC values input from the sector and welcomes feedback on the Strategy, please email diversity.inclusion@nzfilm.co.nz if you have any questions or would like to discuss the Strategy further.

Statement of Intent & Statement of Performance Expectations

The NZFC has published its updated Statement of Intent for the 2022-2026 period and it's Statement of Performance Expectations for the 2022-2023 financial year.

You will find the Statement of Intent here, and the Statement of Performance Expectations here.

Staff News

Rosie Hole has joined the Development & Production team as Investment Executive. Rosie spent almost a decade working in London as part of the Universal Pictures Content Group, where she was responsible for acquiring feature films, documentaries as well as a range of other content for global or multi-territory distribution across all platforms. In this role, she developed a solid knowledge of the international feature film marketplace, building relationships with producers and sales agents worldwide and negotiating deals on projects from the pre-buy stage through to finished films. Prior to Universal Pictures, Rosie worked at Television New Zealand as the Commissioning Assistant and then as Production and Partnerships Coordinator for TVNZ’s Digital Channels.

Pablo Ibieta has taken the new role of Business Systems Support Analyst. Pablo's role is to help set up and develop the new application portal and to support users once it is live. He has been in the IT industry for 15 years working in different areas like desktop support, onsite and technical support, projects, and business analysis. Originally from Chile, Pablo has been in New Zealand for 20 years and has a family here with his wife and two kids, Charlotte and Lukas.

Sue Rogers joins us as Premium Investment Executive, responsible for continuing the work of Polly Fryer and Kay Ellmers, formerly Co-Heads of the Te Puna Kairangi Premium Production Fund. Sue has extensive industry experience, including graphic title design and unit publicist roles on Heavenly Creatures, Braindead and The Frighteners. She then moved into producer roles on documentary, film and television working with directors including Peter Jackson, Gaylene Preston, Scott Reynolds and Costa Botes. More recently Sue has worked with Blue Cat Films Australia on film releases and has assessed for NZSPG.

Jaunnie Ilolahia has joined the Development and Production team as Investment Coordinator. Jaunnie has carved out an exciting and successful career in film and television working on projects like: The Panthers, Mulan, The Meg, The Jungle Book and The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Shannara Chronicles. She cut her teeth on the sets of large-scale Hollywood feature films and television series before taking up an administration role with the Indigenous and Film Development departments at Screen Australia/Australian Film Commission where she spent eight years growing and developing her skills. Her time here proved to be invaluable, managing hundreds of onscreen projects and developing her own story ideas, and exercising her ability to communicate and connect across all cultures and ages.

Katie Chilton-Towle joins us as the Senior Office Administrator in the Wellington office. Her role involves ensuring the efficient running of the office, including facilities and health and safety management. She has an extensive background in administration and finance and recently went back to study at Victoria University of Wellington, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Film. She has a particular interest in film sound and keeps busy in her spare time with various musical pursuits.

We have also said farewell to four staff members, Ange Senior, Talent Development Executive; Polly Fryer and Kay Ellmers, the co-heads of Te Puna Kairangi Premium Fund; and Matthew Horrocks, Funding Advisor – Premium Production Fund. They have been valued members of the NZFC team and we wish them all the best with their future endeavours.

Olsberg SPI Report on the Economic Impact of the Aotearoa New Zealand Screen Production Sector Released

A study of the economic impact of the screen sector in New Zealand has been carried out by renowned international consultancy Olsberg SPI. Economic impact studies are a valuable tool in measuring the scale of screen production activity and its overall economic footprint. The NZFC commissioned the report in 2020 and some of the key findings were presented to the industry at the Big Screen Symposium. If you would like to read this report it is available here (on our website). We would like to thank everyone who gave their time to speak with Olsberg SPI.

Read the full report here.

NZSPG 2021-22 Overview

The New Zealand Screen Production Grant Panel met 16 times over the 2021/21 financial year and assessed 65 applications. A total of 35 Final and Interim applications, representing over NZ$554 million of spend in New Zealand across the domestic, international and PDV productions. 30 Provisional Certificates were also issued and many of these projects are now underway.

Temporary provisions were added to the NZSPG Criteria for New Zealand Productions in July 2020 to allow Panel discretion in certain areas of the criteria which were identified as being more challenging to meet in a COVID environment. These provisions have now lapsed, with the following transitional condition:

The COVID provisions will continue to apply to productions with a valid NZSPG Provisional Certificate or an acknowledged NZSPG Registration dated on or before 30 June 2022.

We are grateful to the Ministry for Culture and Heritage for supporting this initiative.

If you have any queries, please contact nzspg@nzfilm.co.nz.

Producer International Travel Fund Open

The NZFC's Producer International Travel Fund has re-opened for the 2022/23 financial year.

This fund offers grants of up to $5,000 to support producers to travel to international festivals and markets.

You will find details and how to apply here.

Strategic Training Fund Open Now

The NZFC invites expressions of interest from New Zealand screen sector industry organisations, guilds, filmmaking collectives and training providers interested in delivering training and talent development programmes that meet the assessment criteria.

The Strategic Training Fund is available for programmes that are aimed at the above the line roles of producers, directors, actors and writers.

You will find details and how to apply here.

NZ Film On Demand

NZ Film On Demand, the NZFC's transactional VOD platform offers over 330 feature and short films ranging from recent cinema releases to digitised back catalogue classics.

New releases to the platform include Shaker Run, Sweetie, Fresh Meat,100 Men and Beyond the Known World.

See the full NZ Film On Demand collection and sign up for an account here.

Filmmaker Opportunities

Upcoming Finance & Co-Production Markets

Tokyo Gap Financing Market
25 -27 October 2022
Application Deadline: 20 July 20221
Apply here

Berlinale Talents

Berlinale Talents is the Berlinale International Film Festival’s talent development programme aimed at emerging film actors, audience designers (i.e. curators, cinema or festival makers), composers, cinematographers, directors, distributors, editors, film critics, producers, production designers, sales agents, screenwriters, sound designers and, new for 2023, digital set designers with an existing portfolio of work.

For information on how to apply, follow the link here.

Write Room Producer Internship

Write Room Wellington is a screenwriter residency programme and they’re looking for this year’s Producer Intern. Each year an emerging or mid-career producer is selected to develop a draft of their feature film screenplay, with the support of a group of experienced industry mentors. It’s a fantastic opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of your own instincts for story, the role of a producer in the creative process and tools for supporting script development.

This year the Write Room Producer Internship will promote diversity in the industry by focusing on a producer who identifies with an under-represented community in film. A stipend of $2500 will be awarded for the producer internship

Producer Applications are due by Monday 25 July.

More information is available here.

48 Hours 2022

2022 marks the 20th anniversary of the Vista Foundation 48 Hours Film Competition. There are $90,000 worth of prizes up for grabs this year for teams of filmmakers up for the challenge of making a short film in the space of a single weekend.

Early-bird registrations for the 2022 Vista Foundation 48Hours are now open! You can register here.

Shoot Weekend is 12-14 August, 2022.

ASPC is offering FREE to producers of selected projects a 1:1 strategy session with a publicist/social media expert or other publicity practitioner eg social media content creator/stills photographer etc. This comprises 2 hours for briefing/research/prep, a 2-hour sit-down discussion and follow-up.

To book a session or to find a range of resources including a downloadable publicity planning toolkit, check out their website.

Upcoming Festival Deadlines

Thanks for keeping up with what's going on at the NZFC. Got a suggestion? Email us at feedback@nzfilm.co.nz.

Ngā mihi,

The NZFC Team