• Our Board

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    The New Zealand Film Commission is governed by an eight-member board appointed by the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage. Members represent the film industry and the wider business and arts community. The Board meets every two months to set...

  • Funding Decisions and Deadlines

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    You can apply for funding at any time. There are no longer any rounds or deadlines for Feature Film Development Funding.  Feature Film Production Investment applications are considered by the NZFC Board. You can apply at anytime, but to have...

  • What We Fund

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    The New Zealand Film Commission provides grants, loans, and equity investment to New Zealand filmmakers and businesses to assist in the development and production of feature films and short films. Our aim is to support the New Zealand film...

  • NZWG - Seed Development Grants

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    The New Zealand Film Commission collaborates with the New Zealand Writers’ Guild (NZWG) for early script development under the name Seed Funding. Seed Grants offer an opportunity for writers to create feature film scripts. Seed Grants provide money...

  • Short Films in Festivals

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    Screening a short film at a major international festival creates profile for a filmmaker and helps to build international exposure.  The relationship between international festivals and short films delivers different rewards and operates under...

  • How To Apply

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    You will be able to apply for funding from the New Zealand Film Commission if you are a New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or a business registered in New Zealand. Read before applying For most funds, you apply online via the NZFC's funding portal...

  • Develop Your Projects

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    Got a great story that would make a fantastic movie, but you don't know where to start? The Film Commission can assist you with developing your film project and help that story make the screen. The first step of developing a film project is...

  • Develop Your Career

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    Do you need some help to become a better filmmaker? The Film Commission assists talented industry professionals to develop their careers. Our Talent Development team focus on finding, fostering, connecting and progressing New Zealand screen...

  • Feature Film Funding

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    We invest in feature films for the big screen that entertain audiences and are recognised and celebrated all over the world.  Our investment in film develops careers and attracts international business to help drive our economy. We...

  • Locations

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    With fantasy worlds loved by millions of fans, our stunning and easy-to-access locations also “double as” US, UK, Asian and European settings. You don’t have to travel far for diverse looks and with seasons opposite to the Northern Hemisphere, you can...

  • Sound Stages

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    New Zealand offers a variety of sound stage, studio and warehouse options for shooting your next project. Both Auckland and Wellington have dedicated studio/soundstage spaces with offices, parking, backlot and workshops. There are a number of other...

  • Help, I'm Alien Pregnant

    Film

  • Rochelle

    Film

  • Bookworm

    Film

  • My Friend Michael Jones

    Film

    Michael Jones (MJ) is the ridicule of his high school peers. His obsessive compulsive need to fingertap doorframes before entering and avoid cracks in the pavement make him a target for relentless bullying. Chief among his tormentors is Selena. When MJ...

  • New Zealand Screen Production Rebate for New Zealand Productions

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    The New Zealand Screen Production Rebate is a government-backed screen incentives scheme, first introduced on 1 April 2014. Eligible productions can access a 40% cash rebate on Qualifying New Zealand Production Expenditure. Criteria The...

  • Social Media Terms of Use

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    All the New Zealand Film Commission's social media channels are monitored regularly by New Zealand Film Commission staff. While we are supportive of engagement between users and free speech discussions, we reserve the right to remove or delete anything...

  • Head South

    Film

  • Dame Valerie Adams: MORE THAN GOLD

    Film

  • Milk of Dreams

    Film

  • Never Look Away

    Film

  • Kōkako

    Film

    Isolated in the New Zealand wilderness, Ashley is an aspiring ornithologist in search of an extinct bird called the kōkako. When a brief moment of cell phone coverage connects her with home, she learns that her grandmother passed away and that the...

  • Whetū Mārama – Bright Star

    Film

    For Māori, the canoe underpins our culture. “ If it wasn’t for the waka we wouldn’t be here today and that’s the long and short of it” (Hek Busby) We once built waka/canoes from giant trees and sailed the vast Pacific by...

  • Whale Rider

    Film

    Set at the East Coast town of Whāngārā, Whale Rider tells the tale of a young Māori girl, Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes), who challenges tradition and embraces the past in order to find the strength to lead her people forward. Niki Caro's second...

  • The Whole of the Moon

    Film

    One day while skating he suddently collapses and is rushed to hospital where a series of tests progressively disclose he is suffering from bone cancer. He is subjected to chemotherapy and watches as his friends shy away from him and his dreams of...

  • Kiwi Flyer

    Film

    Kiwi Flyer is inspired by the Nelson Trolley Derby which takes place annually in February/March. The derby is an institution in the Nelson community and attracts a crowd of thousands every year. Eclectically designed trolleys of all shapes and...

  • Hunt For the Wilderpeople

    Film

    Writer and director Taika Waititi first came in contact with the Hunt for the Wilderpeople project in 2005, when executive producer Charlie McClellan employed the then “writer for hire” Waititi to adapt the Barry Crump classic Wild Pork and...

  • Alien Weaponry: Kua Tupu Te Ara

    Film

  • People and Infrastructure

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    New Zealand is a hothouse of creativity, talent and experience. Some of the largest and most impressive films of the past two decades are a result of collaborations with New Zealanders. Multiple Emmy and Academy Award®- winners call New Zealand home and...

  • International

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  • Poppy

    Film

  • Contact Us

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      Get in touch with our filming experts. We are here to help.  Aspiring filmmakers and short films: industrysupport@nzfilm.co.nz Development and production funding: development@nzfilm.co.nz Film festival and film sales: marketing@...

  • Industry Support

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    The Film Commission offers a range of initiatives to support industry guilds and organisations working in the screen sector to develop talent and upskill practitioners. These funds support organisations to deliver impactful training and skills...

  • Board Meetings

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    The Board meets five times a year to set policy and budgets, monitor progress and consider applications for feature film financing. 

  • A Mistake

    Film

  • Past Funding Decisions

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    Looking at how we have funded films on their journey to production helps you to see how films get funded and the various ways we support filmmakers.  More recent, more detail Our records date back to 1988/89 and reflect information published...