We seek training and professional development opportunities that progress careers and help to grow our overall industry. We are pleased to be able to support individual filmmakers as well as work alongside industry organisations to provide valuable training opportunities. Here are details of some recent initiatives.
Toronto Producers Lab Partnership
The Producers Lab Toronto is an initiative of European Film Promotion in partnership with the Ontario Media Development Corporation and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). It is financially supported by the European Union's MEDIA Mundus Programme.
New Zealand and Australia were invited as guest countries to the Producers Lab Toronto, which was held during the 2013 TIFF. Producers with one or more feature projects in development suitable for co-production with Europe, Canada or Australia were invited to apply.
Fiona Copland and Robin Laing attended the Toronto Producers Lab for New Zealand and received NZFC support to attend. You can read more about Robin’s experience here.
International Financing Forum (IFF)
IFF is a feature film co-financing event at TIFF that brings together selected international and Canadian producers developing English language projects to do business through brokered meetings and networking opportunities with international sales agents, distributors, funders, agents, and executive producers.
Fiona Copland was accepted into the IFF. The NZFC supported her to attend this event, which took place after the Toronto Producers Lab.
Producer International Travel Assistance
Matthew Metcalfe was awarded a travel grant through PITA to attend TIFF with Giselle and Beyond the Edge.
John Barnett was awarded a travel grant through PITA to attend TIFF with White Lies.
Tim Riley and Ant Timpson were supported to attend TIFF to secure finance for their advanced projects.
Philippa Campbell was supported to attend the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in light of her nomination for Top of the Lake.
Pietra Brettkelly was supported to attend the Independent Film Week in New York in September with Flickering Time Bomb.
Tim Sanders was supported to attend the London Production Finance Market after winning the spot at MIFF.
NZFC Initiatives
“Breakfast with Curtis” Workshop
The NZFC contributed towards a screening and filmmaker Q+A with US filmmaker Laura Colella. The no-budget feature Breakfast with Curtis screened at the Academy Theatre in Auckland and at Park Road Post in Wellington. This independent film was shot in Colella’s backyard using her non-actor neighbours with the aim of providing an amusing and touching portrait of bohemian families resolving their various conflicts in an old New England town.
Simon de Bruyn Meetings
Simon de Bruyn from sales agent XYZ met with a number of emerging and experienced filmmakers in Wellington following the Big Screen Symposium, allowing them to establish relationships and have valuable discussions about their projects.
AFCI Cineposium Translations
Michael Bennett and his project The Cave was accepted into the Association of Film Commissioners’ International (AFCI) Cineposium in Korea. The AFCI covered all the travel, accommodation, food and transfers with the NZFC providing a small grant towards translation costs.
Professional Development Awards
Screen-acting coach Miranda Harcourt has been awarded a Professional Development Award to travel to Los Angeles. While there she will further her skills as a screen-acting coach, attending workshops through The Groundlings and Disney. She also plans to use this opportunity to touch base with current clients and build profile.
Writer/director Paora Joseph was awarded a Professional Development Award to travel with his film Tatarakihi: The Children of Parihaka to France and Bali to screen the film in the kaupapa the film was intended. This opportunity aims to further build his experience in a market/festival setting and to strengthen and build relationships in an indigenous distribution context.
Composer David Long (Beyond the Edge) was awarded a Professional Development Award to attend TIFF with the film.
CEO Delegations
Producer Sarah Cook was supported to attend the screening of her film Fantail in Wellington during the NZIFF.
Casting agent/actor Tina Cleary was supported to attend the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in light of her nomination for Top of the Lake.