Talent Development funding supports the development of sustainable and successful career pathways. Mentorship is one of the most effective means to support filmmakers to progress their careers.
Hunga Taunaki ā Rorohiko - Online Mentorship Programme 2022 is focused on learning, project and career development for writers who are at mid-career stage.
Overview of the Hunga Taunaki ā Rorohiko - Online Mentorship Programme 2022 for Screen Storytellers
Hunga Taunaki ā Rorohiko - Online Mentorship Programme 2022 is for up to five mid-career mentees with a long-form project to be developed. The NZFC will undertake a bespoke matching process to connect the mentees with high calibre established screen industry mentors. The programme includes:
- A grant of $3000 per mentee
- Payment for the mentor’s time
- Ten one hour, one on one sessions with established mentors
- Support from a mentor to progress the mentee’s development goal of a long-form project across ten weeks
Considerations we will take into account:
- Where possible, the NZFC will aim to award 50% of the total funding available to individuals who identify as female
- Applicants are encouraged to consider diversity and reflect the society of Aotearoa New Zealand in their submitted projects
Who can apply
Mid-career storytellers (as indicated by the Talent Development Eligibility Criteria Guidelines) including writers, writer/directors (writing as primary focus), writer/producers (writing as primary focus) and documentary makers may apply:
Applicants must provide evidence of them having been credited as a writer and their writing focused CV.
Applicants must have a feature film, or long-form content project they are currently developing. Long-form projects can include feature film, TV, and online series, projects do not need to be in development with the NZFC or in advanced development stage.
Applicants must be either a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
How to apply
Your application must be completed online through the NZFC’s application portal. Applications open on Wednesday 22 December 2021 and all applications must be submitted by 1pm on Monday 14 February 2022. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted unless there are exceptional circumstances such as a technical difficulty with the application portal and you notify the NZFC immediately by emailing funding@nzfilm.co.nz.
Please read Hunga Taunaki ā Rorohiko - Online Mentorship 2022 for Scren storytellers – Guidelines for Applicants before you apply online at https://funding.nzfilm.co.nz/.
What you need to provide in your application
- A brief proposal - showing how you believe the mentorship will progress your career development pathway and how you will approach the mentorship
- Key credit and writing focused CV
- A short sample of your writing – Either, up to ten pages of a long form screenplay (feature film or series episode as sole writer) a documentary treatment, or a previous short film or short content script. (NB: These are not assessed but are requested by mentors at the shortlist stage).
- Project development plan - summary details for the proposed project including creative content, indication of your plans to progress your project through the mentorship, and proposed creative collaborators
- Project logline and synopsis
- Visual support for your project and/or link to previous work (optional – if available)
- Development goal – details of your project progression goal which is to be completed across the eight sessions
- Information about any other projects which have received funding from, or you have in development with, the NZFC.
Applications will be assessed against the criteria as outlined in the guidelines by a panel of NZFC Talent Development staff. The five mentors will be chosen by NZFC. The panel will make a shortlist recommendation to each mentor.
Applicants will be contacted by the Talent Pathways Manager by email if shortlisted. Shortlisting will not be published. The mentor will make a recommendation of the mentee they wish to work with from the shortlist and the final decision will be ratified by the Head of Talent Development and the Chief Executive of the NZFC.
Announcements will be made week of the 28 March 2022
Questions?
If you have any questions, please e-mail the Talent Pathways Manager from Monday 10 January 2022 and as far in advance of the application deadline as possible at talentdev@nzfilm.co.nz with the subject line: Questions Hunga Taunaki ā Rorohiko - Online Mentorship 2022 application.