NZFC Funding Newsletter: Funding Issue March 2026

Kia ora koutou katoa,

He manu hou ahau, he pī ka rere.

I am a fledgling bird, poised for flight.

We often think about how to create the right conditions for storytellers to move forward in their filmmaking careers. While NZFC is predominantly focused on supporting filmmakers with some experience, we fund guilds, industry groups and community organisations that offer advice, support and connection for filmmakers at the early stages of their careers.

If you’re just starting out, our website lists a strong network of organisations where you can find advice, support and opportunities to connect.

Throughout the year, we host opportunities for filmmakers to connect with our team, both in person and online. It was great to see so many of you at the Tāmaki Makaurau and Pōneke Filmmaker Morning Teas last month. Our next Morning Tea is planned for mid‑year, and we’re also looking ahead to sessions in Christchurch and Dunedin.

For those who can’t attend in person, we’ll continue to run webinars throughout the year. Follow our Instagram for the latest, news, updates and events.

Ngā mihi o te ngahuru ki a koutou katoa.

Ainsley Gardiner - Head of Funding

• Feature Film Production Investment (June round), opened 9 March 2026:
  • Closes: 1pm, Tuesday 07 April
  • Board Date: Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 June
• Industry Development Fund, Strand 1, opened 9 March 2026:
  • Closes: Monday 13 April
  • Decisions: Friday 29 May
  • This funding supports New Zealand screen sector organisations, companies or collectives to deliver programmes that develop craft and practice to help our filmmakers make the strongest films possible. We’re keen on applications for intensive project-based filmmaker development programmes from organisations or practitioners with the ability to attract industry-active mentors and facilitators, and to administer and deliver successful initiatives.
  • Strand 1 - budget requests up to $350,000.
  • Booking a pre-application hui is essential, contact industrysupport@nzfilm.co.nzto arrange.
• Feature Film Development Funding: remains an open round, with decisions taking up to eight weeks.
• Feature Film Finishing Grant: remains an open round, with decisions taking up to six weeks.

• Annecy/Mifa travel round:
  • Opens: Friday 20 March
  • Closes: 12pm, Monday 30 March
  • Decisions: Friday 10 April
• Feature Film Production Investment rounds:
  • Deadline: 1pm, Monday 13 July (Board meeting Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 September)
  • Deadline: 1pm, Monday 14 September (Board meeting Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 September)

• Te reo script development: 

  We’re planning a focused development wānanga for Māori filmmakers working in te reo Māori whose scripts took part in, or showed interest in, last year’s informal He Kupu He Ao Wānanga. To receive the pānui with more details, please email rautaki@nzfilm.co.nz by the end of March 2026.

To apply, follow the link to our Tomo Mai application portal.

• New guidelines for our Feature Film Finishing Grant have been published on our website.

   

• We’ve also updated the He Kauahi Catalyst guidelines, find them here on our website. Funding decisions for the most recent He Kauahi Catalyst round will be announced on Monday 11 May, with a second round opening later this year.

All development, finishing grant, short film and industry funding decisions up to the end of February 2026 are available on our website. You’ll see project funding decisions shared in upcoming issues of this newsletter.

For Feature Film Production and Post Production Investment, titles and teams will be announced once offers have been made. Funding commitments will be listed on the website once a film has completed contractual close.

Feature Film Development Funding, January - March 2026:

• The Power of Two, Felicity Morgan-Rhind, Arani Cuthbert
• Walter and the Road, Matthew Darragh

Feature Film Finishing Grant, 2025/26 financial year (to date):

• Unlikely Kin, Kim Webby, Mike Jonathan
• TOITŪ: Visual Sovereignty, Chelsea Winstanley, Desray Armstrong

Feature Film Production and Post Production Investment, 2025/26 financial year (to date):

• Shearing the Love, Tom Hern, Halaifonua Finau, Belindalee Hope, Dan Musgrove, Natalie Medlock
• Whyte Xmas, Kerry Warkia, Kiel McNaughton, John Argall
• Cats in Conflict, Jill Macnab, Alex Reed, Mike Kelland, Slavko Martinov
• Daisy Chain, Jill Macnab, Aumua Crystal Vaega, Shoshana McCallum, Aidee Walker
• The Last Rodeo (working title), Alexander Behse, Ursula Grace Williams
• Hot Curlers, Kelly Martin, David White, Anna Taylor
• Jump, Matthew Metcalfe, Tom Blackwell, Lucy Lawless, Glenn Strandring

Industry Development Fund Strand 2 funded programmes, January 2026 – March 2026:

• Day One Shorts 2026 Mentor Support - Day One Te Hāpai Te Haeata.
• Practical Producing – Share the Knowledge.
• Re-Indigenising Our Acting Practice - Equity NZ & Ngā Aho Whakaari with Miriama McDowell.

A New Zealand delegation of documentary producers and directors attended AIDC 2026, with all official delegates having projects in development with NZFC or having recently received production funding. 

The delegation focused on building new creative and business connections between Aotearoa practitioners and Australian and international documentary representatives. As part of the programme, Ursula Grace Williams and Alex Behse were selected for The FACTory Pitch, where their project The Last Rodeo (working title) received the Raina Film Festival Distribution Prize. Mike Jonathan and Kim Webby’s Unlikely Kin was selected for The FACTory Rough Cut Showcase, and several filmmakers also took part in the Indigenous Creators Program, which ran alongside the conference.