Issue date: 
Friday, 5 September 2025

A reminder that upcoming opening and closing dates of NZFC funding rounds are approaching. We encourage applicants to review the dates below. 

Feature Film Production Investment (Production & Post-production)

November Round Closes: 15 September 2025, 1pm (Please note, this is the last Feature Film Production & Post-Production Investment funding round for 2025).

Upcoming Feature Film Production Investment (Production & Post-Production) rounds for 2026

April 2026 round:

  • Opens: 05 January 2026, 9am
  • Closes: 02 February 2026, 1pm
  • Board Meeting: 15 April 2026

June 2026 round:

  • Opens: 16 March 2026, 9am
  • Closes: 13 April 2026, 1pm
  • Board Meeting: 24 June 2026

September 2026 round:

  • Opens: 15 June 2026, 9am
  • Closes: 13 July 2026, 1pm
  • Board Meeting: 23 September 2026

November 2026 round:

  • Opens: 17 August 2026, 9am
  • Closes: 14 September 2026, 1pm
  • Board Meeting: 25 November 2026

We are particularly interested in films whose ambition is innovation – the potential to forge new pathways in film technologies, methodologies, audience experiences and/or filmmaker talent and have a budget of $1.5million or less. If your budget is $1million or less, the decision will be made by staff committee. A sales agent attachment is not required, refer to our Feature Film Production Investment guidelines for more information. 

Feature Film Development Funding Dates

Development Funding will continue as a rolling fund but will close over the holiday period:

  • Development Funding Portal Closes: 19 November 2025, 1pm
  • Development Funding Portal re-opens: 19 January 2026, 9am
  • Pre-Apps: Please note that due to the holiday period, no pre-application meetings will be available from 18 December 2025 to 13 January 2026.

He Kauahi Catalyst Funding Dates

We have two rounds left for this financial year:

Round Two

  • Opens: 08 September 2025, 9am
  • Closes: 29 September 2025, 1pm
  • Decisions by: 24 November 2025

Round Three

  • Opens: 16 February 2026, 9am
  • Closes: 09 March 2026, 1pm
  • Decisions by: 11 May 2026

 

If you’d like to speak to the NZFC Funding Team, please contact development@nzfilm.co.nz.

Last updated: 
Friday, 5 September 2025