March 2023

Funding Decisions 

At the March 2023 NZFC Board meeting conditional offers totalling over $2.8M for feature films Moss & Freud and Tinā were approved.

In the last three months four productions were approved for the Extended Screen Production Recovery Fund totalling $30,300. Seven applications, for a total of $143,600 were given the green light through the Early Development and Documentary Development Funds. Three International Co-Development Fund applications were also approved.  

Find out all about the successful projects, filmmakers, and more funding decisions here

Funding Deadlines 

Development & Production Upcoming Deadlines for 2023 

Applications for Early Development Funding and Documentary Development Funding close at 1pm on the following deadlines: 

• Tuesday 29 May 2023 

• Monday 7 August 2023 

• Tuesday 16 October 2023 

Applications for Feature Film Production Investment and Feature Film Post Production Investment close at 1pm on the following deadlines: 

• Monday 24 April 2023 
• Monday 19 June 2023 
• Monday 14 August 2023 
• Monday 9 October 2023 

Register your interest here and a member of the team will get back to you to schedule a meeting. 

Some funds do not have deadlines so applications can be made at any time. These funds are: Advanced Development Fund, Extended Screen Production Recovery Fund, Premium Contingency Fund, International Co-Development Fund and the Feature Film Finishing Fund.  Contact the D&P team to ensure you meet eligibility requirements. 

Extended Screen Production Recovery Fund 

In January 2023, Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage announced that the Extended Screen Production Recovery Fund would be extended to 30 June 2023.  Applications can be submitted up until July 2023. 

Funding is limited so apply asap. You can find the new eligibility criteria and guidelines here. Please register your intention by email to screenrecovery@nzfilm.co.nz.

Boost Funding 

Due to the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle, the deadline to make submissions for Boost Funding was extended from the 13th to the 16th of February 2023.  We received a total of 25 applications at the deadline. Applicants will be notified on 1 May 2023. 

Seed & Seed Advanced Grants 

Applications opened on Monday 27 February.  Guidelines can be found, and submissions made, through the New Zealand Writers Guild Puni Taatuhi o Aotearoa (NZWG) website (here).  

The deadline for applications is 12pm 11 April 2023.  Decisions are due to be announced 16 June 2023. 

Seed is for emerging and unproduced writers and Seed Advanced is for writers with more than 90 minutes of credited and produced scripted work. 

Producer International Travel Fund 

Since July 2022, we’ve loved supporting a wide range of producers to attend leading offshore festivals, markets and conferences via our Producer International Travel Fund (PITF). Unfortunately, the PITF allocation is now exhausted so we have closed the fund for the remainder of our financial year.  

The PITF will reopen from 1 July 2023. Email international@nzfilm.co.nz to register your intention to apply for travel after 1 July. 

In Production 

The following New Zealand Film Commission or Te Puna Kairangi Premium Production Fund-supported productions have commenced principal photography: 

• After the Party 

• Dark City – The Cleaner 

• fiftyone 

• Ka Whawhai Tonu 

• The Mountain 

• Workmates 

Shooting locations include Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Rotorua, Taranaki, Te Whanganui A Tara Wellington and Ōtautahi Christchurch. 

International News 

CONGRATULATIONS TO AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER

The Oscar for Best Visual Effects at the 95th Academy Awards has been won by Avatar: The Way of Water. It went to Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett. This is the largest VFX film Wētā FX has ever worked on, with a total shot count of 4,001 (including omits / final omits).  

Live action filming for Avatar: The Way of Water took place in New Zealand with Wellington the main production base and studio facilities also utilised in Auckland. Hear more about the story of this production and the talented Kiwis that worked on it here

Avatar: The Way of Water utilised the New Zealand Screen Production Grant for International Productions.  Find out more here

Coming soon to NZ cinemas is NZSPG supported film The Tank and NZ/Ireland official co-production Evil Dead Rise. Watch the trailers below. 

Festival and Market News 

Red, White & Brass, directed by Damon Fepulea'i, written by Halaifonua Finau and Damon Fepulea'i, produced by Georgina Conder, Morgan Waru and Halaifonua Finau, will have its international festival premiere in the Hawai’i International Film Festival Spring Showcase.

Also selected is Muru, written and directed by Tearepa Kahi, produced by Reikura Kahi, Selina Joe and Tāme Iti; and Dame Valerie Adams: More Than Gold, written and directed by Briar March, produced by Leanne Pooley. The 2023 HIFF Spring Showcase will be presented at Consolidated Kahala Theaters, 31 March – 6 April.

Muru, will screen in Official Selection at Nottingham International Film Festival, April 14-16.

The following feature films will screen at Birrarangga Film Festival in Naarm Melbourne, 23-28 March

• Whetū Mārama - Bright Star, directed and produced by Toby Mills and Aileen O’Sullivan;
• Whina, directed by Paula Whetu Jones and James Napier Robertson, written by Paula Whetu Jones, James Napier Robertson and James Lucas, produced by Matthew Metcalfe and Tainui Stephens;
• Muru, Closing Night Film with Tearepa Kahi and Tāme Iti in attendance for a Q&A session;
• A Boy Called Piano - The Story of Fa'amoana John Luafutu, directed by Nina Nawalowalo, produced by Katherine Wyeth; and
• Ka Pō, produced by New Zealand’s Chelsea Winstanley with Mojean Aria and Etienne Aurelius, directed by Etienne Aurelius, written by Etienne Aurelius, Mojean Aria, Lauren Campi

A Boy Called Piano - The Story of Fa'amoana John Luafutu, is selected to screen at Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival, 16-19 March. The film will also screen as part of the festival's online programme for US audiences 20-29 March. 

The tenth edition of Māoriland Film Festival launches this week, with an incredible programme of short and feature films, VR projects and music videos by indigenous filmmakers from around the world. Discover films from Aotearoa’s emerging and established directors, including feature films Muru, Kāinga, and A Boy Called Piano - The Story of Fa'amoana John Luafutu. Māoriland Film Festival takes place in Ōtaki, 15-19 March with tickets available here

Punch, written and directed by Welby Ings, produced by Robin Murphy and Catherine Fitzgerald, screened in competition for the first and second-time directors’ Audience Award at Glasgow Film Festival, 1-12 March. Mister Organ, written and directed by David Farrier, produced by Emma Slade and Alex Reed, also screened in Official Selection.

Whetū Mārama - Bright Star and Night Raiders screened as part of The Smithsonian’s Mother Tongue Film Festival, 23-26 February in Washington, DC.

Four New Zealand feature films screened In Competition at the 20^th FIFO International Oceanian Documentary Film Festival in Tahiti, 4-12 February

• Dame Valerie Adams: More Than Gold;
• A Boy Called Piano - The Story of Fa'amoana John Luafutu;
• Milked, directed and produced by Amy Taylor, co-produced by Chris Huriwai; and
• No Māori Allowed, directed by Corinna Hunziker, produced by Megan Jones and Reikura Kahi
• Documentary series Chatham Islanders, directed and produced by Kathleen Mantel, also screened in the FIFO Non-Competing Films programme

The following feature films screened at Skábmagovat Indigenous Peoples’ Film Festival, 26-29 January

• We Are Still Here, written and directed by Aotearoa New Zealand’s Renae Maihi, Tim Worrall and Richard Curtis, Miki Magasiva and Mario Gaoa, Tiraroa Reweti and Chantelle Burgoyne, and Australia’s Samuel Nuggin-Paynter and Beck Cole, Danielle MacLean, Dena Curtis and Tracey Rigney, produced by Mia Henry-Teirney, Toni Stowers and Mitchell Stanley; 
• Night Raiders, written and directed by Danis Goulet, produced by Tara Woodbury, Paul Barkin, Ainsley Gardiner, Georgina Conder, Chelsea Winstanley and Eva Thomas; and
• A Boy Called Piano - The Story of Fa'amoana John Luafutu 

Kāinga, directed by Julie Zhu, Asuka Sylvie, Michelle Ang, Nahyeon Lee, Yamin Tun, Ghazaleh Golbakhsh, HASH, and Angeline Loo, written by Mei-Lin Te Puea Hansen, Asuka Sylvie, Mia Maramara, Nahyeon Lee, Shreya Gejji, Ghazaleh Golbakhsh, HASH and Angeline Loo, produced by Kerry Warkia, Kiel McNaughton and Shuchi Kothari, screened as Closing Night film at Melbourne Women in Film Festival, 23-27 February.  Producer Kerry Warkia was in attendance for the screening and also participated in the festival’s discussion panel, Global Connections: Collaborating, Storytelling and Networking Overseas, presented by Film and Screen Studies, Monash University.

Patu! directed and produced by Merata Mita and restored by Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, screened in the Cinema Regained programme of International Film Festival Rotterdam, 25 January – 5 February. Cinema Regained is a collection of restored classics, documentaries on film culture, and explorations of cinema’s heritage.

Boy screened at KAVI Audiovisual Institute of Finland, as part of the 2023 Spring Film Series in partnership with Skábmagovat Indigenous Peoples’ Film Festival, February 22 and 25.

SHORTS

Writer/director Tearepa Kahi has curated the following selection of Aotearoa New Zealand short films to screen in the NGĀ RĀRĀ O TE RĀKAU ‘Small branches from our tree’ programme of Birrarangga Film Festival, 23-28 March

• Hiama, written and directed by Matasila Freshwater, produced by Lisa Taouma, Maria Tanner;
• Washday, written and directed by Kath Akuhata-Brown, produced by Julian Arahanga, Verity Mackintosh;
• The Voyager’s Legacy, written and directed by Bailey Poching, produced by Libby Hakaraia, Matilda Poasa, Madeleine Hakaraia de Young;
• Wind Song and Rain, directed by Matariki Bennett, produced by Rachel Fawcett;
• Disconnected, directed by Maruia Jensen, produced by Angela Cudd; and
• Disrupt, directed by Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand, written by Aroha Awarau, produced by Peata Melbourne;

Additional New Zealand short films screening at Birrarangga Film Festival include

• The Machine, directed by Isaac Bell, written by Matt Kelleher, produced by Mark J Cassidy;
• The Politics of Toheroa Soup; written and directed by Tiana Trego Hall, produced by Libby Hakaraia, Matilda Poasa, Madeleine Hakaraia de Young;
• E Lele Le Toloa, written and directed by Selu-Kian Faletoese, produced by Bai Buliruarua;
• E Rangi Rā (Things Are Different Now), directed by Tioreore Ngatai Melbourne, produced by Libby Hakaraia, Matilda Poasa, Madeleine Hakaraia de Young;
• Taiao, directed by Andrei Talili and Micah Winiata, produced by Micah Winiata;
• He Ara Ano (There is another way), directed and produced by Holly Beckham; and
• Manu Masters, written and directed by Te Waiarangi Ratana, produced by Libby Hakaraia, Matilda Poasa, Madeleine Hakaraia de Young

New Zealand/Thailand short film Trip After, directed by Ukrit Sa-nguanhai and produced by Tuntita Nititsopon, screened in the Forum Expanded programme of Berlin International Film Festival, 16-26 February.

The Ballad of Maddog Quinn, written, directed and produced by Matt Inns, premiered in Europe at Tampere Film Festival in Generation XYZ Competition, 8-12 March. The film is selected to screen in Competition at Landshut Short Film Festival in Munich, 22-27 March.

Datsun, directed by Mark Albiston, written by Albiston and J. Patrick McElroy, produced by Sharlene George, Gal Greenspan, Andy Mauger; and New Zealand director Nathan Morris' short film My Eyes Are Up Here written by Aminder Virdee and Arthur Meek, produced by Katie Dolan, Vanessa Muir and Naomi Wallwork, screened in Flickerfest International Short Film Festival’s Best of International Shorts programme, 20-29 January.

Seven New Zealand short films screened at FIFO International Oceanian Documentary Film Festival in Tahiti, 4-12 February

• Perianayaki, directed by Bala Murali Shingade, written and produced by Shreya Gejji;
• Fast Eddie, directed by Keely Meechan, produced by Meechan and Virginia Wickham;
• Kava ‘O Aotearoa, directed by Joshua Teariki Baker, produced by Maria Tanner;
• He Ōhākī - Imparting Words of Wisdom, directed by Kararaina Rangihau, produced by Kelly Davis, Ruth Kaupua;
• Mana over Meth, directed by Holly Beckham, produced by Beckham and Jason Crane;
• Testimony, directed by Alice Lolohea, produced by Sandra Kailahi; and
• Find Where I Belong, directed by Kahu Kaiha, produced by Carrisse Utai

The following short films screened at Skábmagovat Indigenous Peoples’ Film Festival, 26-29 January

• Waihere – The Waters that Bind, directed by Matiu Hamuera, produced by Hamuera and Renae Maihi;
• Ruarangi, written and directed by Oriwa Hakaraia, produced by Libby Hakaraia, Matilda Poasa, Madeleine Hakaraia de Young;
• Street Lights, written and directed by Te Mahara Tamehana, produced by Libby Hakaraia, Matilda Poasa, Madeleine Hakaraia de Young;
• Ngā Riwha a Tama, written and directed by Keeti Ngātai Melbourne, produced by Libby Hakaraia, Matilda Poasa, Madeleine Hakaraia de Young;
• The Retrieval, directed by Aree Kapa, written by Matilda Poasa, produced by Libby Hakaraia, Matilda Poasa, Madeleine Hakaraia de Young;
• Once Upon A Time in the Bay, directed by Judith Schuyler, produced by Renae Maihi and Shareph Breakwell;
• The Politics of Toheroa Soup;
• E Rangi Rā (Things Are Different Now);
• Manu Masters;
• Washday; 
• The Voyager’s Legacy

Four New Zealand short films screened at Melbourne Women in Film Festival, 23-27 February

• Sista, directed by Chantelle Burgoyne, written by Burgoyne and Leilani Tamu, produced by Marina Alofagia McCartney, screened with Opening Night feature film Sweet As;
• The Meek, written and directed by Gillian Ashurst, produced by Catherine Fitzgerald and Nadia Maxwell;
• When We Were Kids, written and directed by Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, produced by Sarah Cook; and
• fire in the water, fire in the sky, written and directed by Mīria George, produced by Hone Kouka, screened with Closing Night feature film Kāinga

Industry News

Kua hinga te totara o te wao nui a Tane. He ringa rehe o te mahi pāpāho a Ngamaru. Moe mai e hoa, e te rangatira. The NZFC would like to acknowledge the passing of NGAMARU RAERINO Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Tuwharetoa.  In addition to his contribution to the development of The Convert, Ngamaru was the kaumatua on Whale Rider and Māori dialogue coach on Mahana. He was committed to te reo me ona tikanga, and his work was grounded in the promotion of te ao Māori.

Fulcrum Media Finance has announced that founding Managing Director SHARON MENZIES is stepping down and will pursue new opportunities. Tim Phillips has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer.

Ngā Aho Whakaari Industry Hui 2023
Te Mahurehure Marae, 73 Premier Ave, Pt Chevalier, Auckland
Friday 24 March 2023 9:00am – 5:30pm
This event is a unique opportunity for Māori screen professionals to exchange knowledge and shape the future of the sector, whilst hearing from some of its most influential voices. The theme for the day is "Navigating the Future". More info here 

NZFC Ins and Outs

Development and Production recently said farewell to Special Projects Manager, Vicki Jackways and Business Technology Services say goodbye to Pablo Ibieta and Sean Gonzales this week. The NZFC wish these valued team members all the best in their new adventures. 

The Legal & Business Affairs team welcome Zoë Vaunois in a Legal and Business Affairs Executive role. 

Filmmaker Opportunities

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

Ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa,

The NZFC Team