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.
Application portal now closed: Studio Canal - Dates: TBD, likely Nov 2026 – June 2027
Please read the guidelines and the position description carefully.
- London-based production company: Jan-June 2027. Portal likely to open Sept/Oct.
- Dublin-based production company: April – Sept 2027. Portal likely to open Nov/Dec.
- Auckland/Sydney-based distributor: 2027
- London-based sales company: 2027
Current & Anticipated Opportunities
International Film Festival Rotterdam: Rotterdam Lab, Jan 2027.
A five-day international workshop for emerging film producers and creators, to be held during the festival.
- Application portal open: Monday 28 September 2026
- Deadline – round closes for applications: 1PM, Tuesday 27 October 2026
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 likely to open mid-October 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.
Asian Producers Network – Dates: 25-30 October 2026.
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).