Funding
Placements & Opportunities
If you're looking to grow your skills and expand your global network, check out our latest placements and opportunities.
Our placements offer a unique chance to:
work with leading film companies around the world, gaining insights across all areas of development, financing, production, post-production, distribution and marketing (Company Placements)
shadow directors or producers on local and international productions filming in Aotearoa (Project-Based Placements).
To apply, you need to have secured NZFC, NZOA or TMP development or production funding or have been accepted into an intensive funded talent development initiative.
You can apply for Company Placements as they come up and can submit an Expression of Interest to be considered for Project-Based placements at anytime. See full information about eligibility and process in the guidelines.
Additionally, we work with a number of international partners to provide special opportunities for NZ filmmakers to attend prestigious labs, workshops and markets. Eligibility criteria differs for each opportunity, and in some instances these opportunities are for filmmakers with projects that have already secured development funding from NZFC.
You can read more about specific upcoming placements and opportunities below.
Current & Anticipated Placements
Expressions of interest are always open on our portal for Project-Based Placements. These offer a place to shadow directors or producers on local and international productions filming in Aotearoa.
Madman Entertainment – Dates: TBD, likely Mar – Aug 2027
Madman Entertainment is an independent distributor; having distributed a number of New Zealand films that rank amongst the highest grossing local films of all time including TINA, PIKE RIVER, HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, THE BREAKER UPPERERS, SAVAGE recently adding classics SIONES WEDDING & WHALE RIDER to the catalogue.
- Application portal open: Thursday 12 November 2026
- Deadline – round closes for applications: 1PM, Monday 7th December 2026.
This will be a hybrid NZ/AU Placement requiring international travel.
Protagonist Pictures – Dates: TBD, likely April – Sep 2027
Protagonist Pictures is a sales, finance and production company with a proven track record of creative and commercial success. Based in the UK, the company handles films from around the world, always maintaining a focus on filmmakers with exceptional vision and storytelling skills.
- Application portal open: Thursday 12 November 2026
- Deadline – round closes for applications: 1PM, Monday 7th December 2026.
This is an international Placement taking place in the UK.
Anticipated 2027
- Dublin-based production company: April – Sept 2027. Portal likely to open Nov/Dec.
Current & Anticipated Opportunities
AIDC 2027 New Zealand Delegation & Co-Production Market
A new Mahi Tahi initiative to support local documentary and factual producers.
NZ Film Commission, NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho are partnering with the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) to support a delegation of documentary and factual producers to attend the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) and participate in a Co-Production Market held in Sydney in March 2027.
Application round opens: 1PM, Monday 9 November 2026.
Application round closes: 1PM Monday 16th November 2026
If you have any queries before submitting, please email briar.march@nzfilm.co.nz
International Indigenous Filmmaker Collaboration (Shared Ground) – Dates: TBD 2027
Shared Ground is an international Indigenous storytelling and screen collaboration initiative developed by the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC), Indigenous Screen Office, Canada (ISO), and Screen Australia.
Application portal open: Friday 16 October 2026.
Deadline – round closes for applications: 1PM, Monday 30th November 2026.
If you have any queries before submitting, please email rautaki@nzfilm.co.nz
Application portal now closed: Asian Producers Network – Dates: 25-30 October 2026.
Application portal now closed: International Film Festival Rotterdam: Rotterdam Lab - Dates: 29 Jan-3 February 2027.
Application Process
One
Before
· Read the Placement Fund (Company & Project-Based) Guidelines.
· Contact development@nzfilm.co.nz with any questions.
Two
Three
When
Project-Based Placements are always open for expressions of interest.
Refer to Current and Anticipated Placements sections for all upcoming opportunities.
Previous Placements
Our inaugural international placements initiative launched in 2025 with the following companies:
Previous Participants
Previous participants selected for these prestigious international placements include: Ashleigh Roworth (Keeper), Julia Parnell (Misfits), Eva Trebilco (Studiocanal), Joyce Wong (Good Chaos) and Litia Tuiburelevu (Protagonist).