• Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu Debut Feature to World Premiere at SXSW

    News
    Issue date: 11 Jan 2024

    Directed by Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa) and written by Maddie Dai with additional writing by Stewart-Te Whiu, We Were Dangerous, will have its world premiere in Austin, Texas at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival in March...

  • Millie Lies Low

    Film

    Anxiety-ridden Millie is on her way from Wellington to New York for an internship at a prestigious architecture firm when a moment of panic causes her to miss her flight. She doesn’t have the money for another ticket, and a deep sense of shame...

  • Meri Kirihimete and Happy Holidays

    News
    Issue date: 21 Dec 2023

    Our offices will be closed from  5pm – Thursday 21 December 2023 until 9am – Monday 8 January 2024 Ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa The NZFC Team

  • NZFC External Complaints Policy

    Resource
    Issue date: 23 Oct 2019

    The New Zealand Film Commission values feedback from our stakeholders. This document outlines the policy as it applies to all external stakeholders working with the NZFC, and also covers employees, secondees, interns, independent consultants,...

  • NZFC Spotlight - Robin Murphy

    News
    Issue date: 12 Dec 2023

    The last few years have been busy for filmmaker Robin Murphy.  She produced feature films Punch and Lowdown Dirty Criminals and managed locations for TV series’ After the Party, The Gone, Sweet Tooth and One of Us Is Lying. What is it...

  • Toitū carbonreduce certification for the 2022/2023 Financial Year

    Resource
    Issue date: 13 Dec 2023

    The NZFC has successfully completed its second year of Toitū carbonreduce certification. The total emissions for the 2022/2023 financial year were 561.43 metric tonnes of carbon. The Toitū carbonreduce certification means the NZFC’s greenhouse gas...

  • Perianayaki

    Film

    Recent immigrant from Sri Lanka, 56-year-old Perianayaki’s day begins as it does every day - at her dead-end job stacking shelves at the local supermarket. As a result of her inability to speak English, she struggles to fit in and build meaningful...

  • Breathe

    Film

    Breathe tells the story of Jaehee, a twelve-year-old girl with a special yet unorthodox ability to heal those who claim to be possessed. Her father has exploited her gift, readily accepting money from those seeking peace from their tormented lives....

  • We Are Still Here

    Film

    Through the eyes of eight protagonists, We Are Still Here traverses 1000 years from past,present, and future to explore stories of kinship, loss, grief, and resilience. But ultimately, it shows the strength of love and hope to overcome shared...

  • Juniper

    Film

    Sam (17) has been on a self-destructive spiral that could lead to his death. He returns home from boarding school to find his wheelchair-bound English grandmother, Ruth has moved in. Ruth is an ex- war photographer with a lust for life and a love of the...

  • Melbourne Film Festival

    Resource

    The Melbourne International Film Festival has been running for 71 years and is the most significant screen event in Australia. What is it? The Festival includes the best current cinema from around the world as well as retrospectives, tributes and...

  • Lucy Lawless’ Debut Feature Never Look Away to Premiere at Sundance

    News
    Issue date: 11 Dec 2023

    Acclaimed actress Lucy Lawless is set to unveil her directorial debut, Never Look Away, at the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival. The film will make its world premiere in the World Cinema Documentary Competition section of the Festival....

  • Hot Docs Documentary Film Festival

    Resource

    Hot Docs is North America's largest documentary film festival and conference. What does Hot Docs screen? The Toronto-based festival screens more than 170 films from around the world, many of them world and North American premieres. The ...

  • Busan Film Festival

    Resource

    The Busan International Film Festival is Asia's largest film festival. What is it? A great place to discover new work from the region's filmmakers A standard stop for festival programmers looking for Asian titles An important destination for the...

  • SXSW

    Resource
    Issue date: 28 Jan 2016

    Held in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. An essential destination for global professionals, the event features sessions, showcases,...

  • Rotterdam Film Festival

    Resource

    Rotterdam has become a crucial festival for bold international cinema. An annual festival of indie and innovative films from around the world, Rotterdam also includes the CineMart co-production market for new work. New Zealand films at Rotterdam New...

  • Berlin International Film Festival

    Resource

    The Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) is one of the world’s top film festivals. It takes place every February and is home to a wide range of film screenings and industry events. What is shown? Up to 400 films are shown each year. Most of...

  • Sundance Film Festival

    Resource

    Sundance is one of the world's most significant and important festivals for independent films.  The festival is universally recognised as a leading showcase for emerging directors, and a key  launch-pad for indie film from the U.S...

  • Venice Film Festival

    Resource

    Founded in 1932, the Venice Film Festival is the world's oldest film festival.   The festival is widely considered to be a showcase for international auteur cinema and is among the top five in the world in terms of prestige and as an industry event...

  • Toronto International Film Festival

    Resource

    The Toronto International Film Festival is a key festival for launching independent productions.  The festival (or TIFF) is often referred to as a test event for American and European independent productions, providing good opportunities for...

  • NZFC Spotlight - Hamish Bennett

    News
    Issue date: 28 Nov 2023

    Spotlight caught up for a kōrero with Uproar and Bellbird writer/director Hamish Bennett about his mahi and pathway into making feature films.  Ko Hamish Bennett tōku ingoa (Te Arawa, Patuharakeke, Kāi Tahu). I'm married to Jody and we have...

  • New Zealand Feature Film Head South to World Premiere at Rotterdam International Film Festival Opening Night

    News
    Issue date: 22 Nov 2023

    New Zealand filmmaker Jonathan Ogilvie’s semi-autobiographical music drama Head South, featuring Ed Oxenbould, Márton Csókás, singer-songwriter Stella Bennett (Benee), and Roxie Mohebbi will open the 53rd edition of the International Film Festival...

  • Team Coordinator (Fixed Term)

    News
    Issue date: 24 Nov 2023

      We are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic, and customer centric person to join our team as our Team Coordinator.  This role will manage all office administration tasks for the Wellington office and provide administrative...

  • Trailer Launched for The Convert, An Historical Epic From Acclaimed Director Lee Tamahori

    News
    Issue date: 23 Nov 2023

    Kismet in association with Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) and Mister Smith Entertainment are proud to release the trailer for THE CONVERT, which will be releasing in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2024. Following Once...

  • New Zealand Feature Film a Big Winner at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival

    News
    Issue date: 22 Nov 2023

    Loren Taylor’s darkly comic debut feature THE MOON IS UPSIDE DOWN was awarded Best First Feature at the closing ceremony of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival this weekend after sell-out screenings at the highly regarded A-List festival in Estonia....

  • Production Completed On Rachel House’s Debut Feature The Mountain

    News
    Issue date: 16 May 2023

    Production has wrapped on Piki Films (JoJo Rabbit, Hunt for the Wilderpeople) and Sandy Lane Productions (Bad Behaviour, Juniper) feature The Mountain. The film marks acclaimed Aotearoa New Zealand actor Rachel House’s (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mutunga)...

  • Annual Report 2022/23

    Resource
    Issue date: 20 Nov 2023

    This is the New Zealand Film Commission's Annual Report for 2022/23.

  • October Funding Decisions

    News
    Issue date: 15 Nov 2023

    Feature Film Production Investment At the October 2023 Board Meeting, the NZFC Board approved conditional offers of funding to three new feature films. The Gate (Documentary) Logline: Hidden away from the mainstream, New Zealand is at the forefront of...

  • 2023 Stakeholder Research Survey

    Resource
    Issue date: 15 Nov 2023

  • Production Underway for NZ Film Based on the Pike River Mine Tragedy

    News
    Issue date: 2 Nov 2023

    Production on a new local feature film based on the Pike River mine tragedy of 2010 has commenced in Māwhera, Greymouth. Directed by Rob Sarkies (Out of the Blue, Consent: The Louise Nicholas Story, Scarfies), and working in close collaboration with...

  • Production Set to Commence for New Kiwi Film The Rule of Jenny Pen

    News
    Issue date: 3 Nov 2023

    Shooting is set to commence in the Taupō region for a new local feature film The Rule of Jenny Pen starring Emmy, Tony and Golden Globe award winning actor John Lithgow (The Crown, Dexter, 3rd Rock from the Sun), Academy, Emmy and Tony award winning...

  • School Study Guides

    Resource

    Are you studying a New Zealand film at school? We have created school study guides for some films we have funded. These study guides can be used in conjunction with NCEA requirements.

  • Bad Behaviour

    Showcase
    Issue date: 2 Nov 2023

    Lucy, a former child actor, seeks enlightenment at a retreat led by spiritual leader Elon while she navigates her close yet turbulent relationship with her stunt-performer daughter, Dylan. Format  Film Production company Protagonist Pictures...

  • Seed Grants

    Funding Information

    New Zealand Writers Guild (NZWG) Seed grants offer an opportunity for writers to develop feature film scripts without a producer attached. NZWG Seed funds supported by New Zealand Film Commission: Assistance for writers with the development of...

  • Job vacancy: Systems Support Analyst – SharePoint and M365

    News
    Issue date: 19 Oct 2023

    The New Zealand Film Commission supports the development of high impact, authentic and culturally significant films for Aotearoa New Zealand; we work to sustain and strengthen economic growth for our thriving film industry; we support the development of...

  • Incentives & Co-Productions

    Page

    The New Zealand Screen Production Rebate (NZSPR) is a government-back screen incentives scheme available to international and domestic productions (including Official Co-productions). The New Zealand Film Commission administers film and...