Search

Director’s Notes - Michael Duignan “When you’re young you can make and lose friends very quickly; usually because you’re still figuring out who you are yourself and how you fit in the world. “Truant” is an...

Director’s Notes - Joseph Lee “Changing of the Guards is a film that that is classic in its construction and contemporary in his characterization. It is a pleasure me for to write a film about a 69 year old man and to see that story...

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT - Michele Amas "In this film I wanted to look at random-ness and opportunity, to create a ‘slice of circumstance’ situation that can occur every day, one which you can either choose to explore or leave for...

A surreal and visually arresting film about the forces that push a small and beautiful man into the army.  

The Inland Road explores the unconventional love story between an anti-social teenager, a Scotsman and a five-year-old-girl. Tia hitches a ride on an isolated country road. When the car crashes with fatal consequences, Tia finds she has nowhere to...

Orphans & Kingdoms is a poignant drama that bravely explores delicate relationships between children and parents. Three explosive, desperate and lost teenagers without a place in the world are on the run. They are the only family they have and...

An irreverent thrill ride into the dark heart of rural New Zealand that charts a battle between the forces of science and the guardians of nature, Jonathan King’s debut feature is a high-spirited take on the question that has puzzled New Zealand...

It’s a hot summer day at the beach and two nine year old girls, desperate for ice cream money, strike a deal with a stranger to show him their local rock pool. The deal turns sour when he refuses to pay up and tries to trap one of them in a creepy...

Warwick Stanley Broadhead has survived four heart attacks, a triple bypass operation and the guilt and grief of his mother’s and his sister’s suicides. Born in Auckland New Zealand in 1944, he grew up in a working class Catholic family of...

Writer/director Anthony McCarten says that the idea for Via Satellite came to him while watching sport on television. On the other side of the world at that moment, Mark Todd was going for his third championship win at Badminton. At one point in...

In 1994 London based, New Zealand writer Kirsty Gunn published her first novel 'Rain'. It received international acclaim and identified Gunn as 'a new author of undeniable talent' (Sunday Times, London). The novel was described as a '...

Two-time Academy Award nominee Ra Vincent (Jojo Rabbit, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) is this year’s recipient of Te Tumu Whakaata New Zealand Film Commission’s Te Aupounamu Māori Screen Excellence Award announced at the Māoriland Film Festival this...

“SNAKESKIN” is an adjective more than a noun. It’s a state of mind,” says Writer/ Director GILLIAN ASHURST. “The film is essentially about taking risks. Our two heroes have grown up watching too much film and television and...

A veteran of the New Zealand screen industry has been appointed the independent Chair of Te Puna Kairangi (The Premium Production Fund). Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC), Irirangi Te Motu New Zealand On Air (NZ On Air) and...

Written and directed by Loren Taylor, Going, Going's stellar cast includes Elizabeth Hawthorne, Victoria Haralbidou, Loren Taylor, Robyn Malcolm, Robbie Magasiva and Cohen Holloway. Production has commenced in Wellington, New Zealand this week for a new...

Join New Zealand Film Commission CEO Annabelle Sheehan along with the Joint Heads of Te Puna Kairangi- Premium Fund and Ara ki Te Puna Kairangi -  Premium Development Fund, Kay Ellmers and Polly Fryer. Molly Littlejohn will once again moderate the...

At 8-months pregnant, Kahu, lives a fairly routine and comfortable life in Auckland NZ with her husband and first born.  Manāia is a young prospector trying to prove himself to his gang. On this night, following her evening rituals, Kahu pops out...

This feature follows director Vea Mafile’o's father, Tongan migrant pensioner Saia Mafile'o. Driven by his deep faith in God and Tongan culture, pensioner Saia Mafile’o carefully navigates not only the rough streets of South...

Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) Chair, Dame Kerry Prendergast, announced today that CEO Annabelle Sheehan would step away from the role, after three years leading the agency, and return to Australia. Making the...

Exploring cultural differences, Eating Sausage tells the story of a recent Korean immigrant trapped in Auckland's suburbia while her husband works. When one of the neighbours invites her to go to their weekly swimming lessons, she finds her place in...

The guidelines for Ara ki Te Puna Kairangi (The Premium Development Fund) are now available. The portal will open to applications on 22 March 2021. You will find details of the fund, including guidelines and eligibility criteria here.

On Wednesday 16 December CEO Annabelle Sheehan, Head of Development and Production Leanne Saunders, Head of Marketing Jasmin McSweeney joined moderator Molly Littlejohn for a live webinar. The panel gave updates on the Screen Sector Recovery Funds...

The Black List and the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) are excited to announce the joint creation of a new fund and script development workshop, the Black List New Zealand Project (BLNZP). This is a one-off fund, designed to foster the creative...

Night Raiders, the Indigenous sci-fi thriller marks the feature film directorial debut from award-winning Saskatchewan-born Cree/Métis writer/director, Danis Goulet (Wakening, Barefoot), the film is a Canada / New Zealand co-production, an Indigenous...

Kia ora koutou, In light of the COVID-19 Alert Levels increase throughout New Zealand and in response to the industry, the Agencies (NZFC, NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho) have collectively decided to extend the Premium Productions for International...

Ka ao, ka ao, ka awatea! The three agencies collaborating to deliver the Te Puna Kairangi Premium Fund, the Premium Productions for International Audiences Fund have struck on an innovative leadership model for the Fund. Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga...

Cornerstone will launch worldwide sales, excluding ANZ, for writers and directors James Napier Robertson and Paula Whetu Jones’ Whina (pronounced fee-nah), out of the upcoming European Film Market. Rena Owen (The Last Witch Hunter, Star Wars: Revenge of...

Six filmmaking teams have been selected for funding through the 2020 round of Fresh Shorts and will each receive a grant of $15,000 to make their short film. The selected teams and their projects are: Arrival Writer/producer: Francesca Mackenzie...

The New Zealand Film Commission sadly acknowledges the passing of filmmaker Tony Hiles. Tony’s filmmaking career began in the mid-1960s when he documented US President Lyndon B Johnson’s visit to New Zealand on film.  He followed this with work in...

The  Premium Productions for International Audiences Fund  (Te Puna Kairangi Premium Fund) is now open for applications. Please go here for more information including guidelines and a link to the NZFC's application portal.

The New Zealand Film Commission’s Annual Report 2019-20  was tabled in Parliament on 27 January. Releasing the report NZFC Chair Kerry Prendergast said, “It has been a challenging year for the screen sector, and one that has tested and proved its...

HBO Max debuted the trailer and key art today for the new Max Original documentary There is No I in Threesome.  The film begins streaming in the US ahead of Valentine’s Day on 11 February and will have its world premiere this weekend...

The New Zealand Film Commission acknowledges the passing of actor Peter Vere-Jones ONZM. In a long and varied career across six decades, Peter Vere-Jones’s career spanned theatre, film and television. Peter’s film career included the lead role in...

The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) joins the New Zealand film, and wider arts community in sadly acknowledging the passing of Bill Sheat, the organisation’s inaugural Chair. Bill’s 60-plus year involvement with the arts started at Wellington’s...

Join CEO Annabelle Sheehan, Head of Development and Production Leanne Saunders, Head of Marketing Jasmin McSweeney and Moderator Molly Littlejohn for a live webinar on Wednesday 16 December. The panel will update on the Screen Sector Recovery Funds...

We are pleased to announce the successful applicants for this year’s Whakawhanake Te Ao Niko - Interactive Development Fund. Whakawhanake Te Ao Niko - Interactive Development Fund supports concept development of original, narrative-focused, interactive...