Issue date: 
Tuesday, 10 September 2013

Film New Zealand is enhancing the in-house expertise and services it offers to the international screen industry through the appointment of a new Director of Business Development and Enquiries. 

Chief Executive Gisella Carr says she is delighted to announce the appointment of former Television New Zealand programme commissioner Philippa Mossman to the newly created role at Film New Zealand. 

“Philippa will be actively working to identify and encourage serious screen projects which could be based in New Zealand. She will be a direct point of contact for international enquiries looking at what the New Zealand market has to offer. 

“Her breadth of experience and knowledge particularly in the television sector will be of real benefit to the industry as we seek to attract more of this business.” 

The screen industry is worth nearly $3.3 billion in revenue to the New Zealand economy, according to latest Statistics New Zealand figures. 

Gisella Carr says Philippa Mossman’s 20 years' experience in the New Zealand production sector makes her an ideal person to liaise between offshore customers and local industry specialists. 

“With roles in production, channel management, programming and partnership at Television New Zealand, Philippa has excellent contacts and knowledge of the New Zealand industry. This will be invaluable in helping to match New Zealand screen industry expertise with inbound productions.” 

Gisella Carr says Philippa Mossman has a proven track record of bringing projects to completion in the competitive production environment.

“In addition, she held various production roles at Greenstone Pictures previous to working at TVNZ, and was an executive member of the Screen Production and Development Association.” 

Film New Zealand sees this as an opportunity to further develop New Zealand’s reputation overseas as an outstanding film and television production destination, Gisella Carr says. 

“We’ve continue to work alongside industry to cement New Zealand as a premier screen production destination and to encourage more screen production in New Zealand. 

“The next step forward is to invest in a role dedicated to attracting more activity, having someone with knowledge and expertise of the New Zealand industry to work with overseas customers and to find solutions to production requirements,” says Gisella Carr. 

Philippa Mossman says she is very excited about the challenge her new role brings. 

“After more than 20 years in the screen industry in Auckland and in various television roles, the move to Wellington and joining Film New Zealand is a big new adventure,” she says. 

“Film New Zealand facilitates and promotes New Zealand as one of the world’s best screen production destinations, building on this country’s remarkable worldwide reputation in the industry. Creating real value for this business which I’m proud of and have been invested in for so long is what this role is about and I can’t wait to get started,” she says. 

Philippa Mossman says she knows from experience the wealth of talent and ability the New Zealand screen industry has to offer, and she looks forward to connecting overseas clients with those in the domestic market.