Netflix and New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) have today announced renewed support for A Wave in the Ocean (AWITO) - the filmmaker development program founded and led by Academy Award®-winning director Jane Campion, alongside co-director Philippa Campbell.
The first AWITO programme saw nine emerging writer-directors write and direct original short films which were selected to screen at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, including Lion Rock in the Orrizonti section. Building on this success, the new programme is focused on developing participants’ debut feature films.
The new Development Initiative will support AWITO alumni through an intensive creative process, where they will work with mentors, script consultants and peers to refine their stories, deepen their craft, and explore new ways of bringing stories from Aotearoa New Zealand to the screen.
Jane Campion comments: “To share and encourage the talent of new filmmakers and storytellers in New Zealand, through the AWITO programme and more generally, is simply the most satisfying and exciting part of my career to date. I love to be part of a multigenerational community that dares, cares, and creates. The quality of the participants’ shorts is so high I really hope we can share it with the New Zealand public.”
Debra Richards, Director of Global Affairs, Netflix ANZ said: “The creativity from the aspiring filmmakers involved in the initial AWITO program was impressive, so it was an easy decision to get behind them and the programme again. It’s a privilege to be part of an initiative that gives creators the freedom, resources and mentorship to take bold creative leaps, and one Netflix is proud to support.”
“These filmmakers represent an exciting new wave of New Zealand storytellers,” said Annie Murray, NZFC CEO. “We’re delighted to champion this next phase of the AWITO initiative, building on the strong foundation they’ve established, guided by mentorship from world-class creatives Jane Campion and Philippa Campbell. The programme reflects our commitment to developing filmmaker careers, giving them the opportunity to grow and share the unique perspectives and creativity of Aotearoa New Zealand with audiences worldwide.”
The AWITO Development Initiative will run throughout 2026, with feature films selected for programme development early next year. For more information, please visit www.waveintheocean.nz.