Wednesday
12
Mar
2025
TAKE THE REEL INTO YOUR OWN HANDS - SELF DISTRIBUTION WELLINGTON

TAKE THE REEL INTO YOUR OWN HANDS - SELF DISTRIBUTION WELLINGTON

Posted Tuesday 04 Mar 2025

In an ever-evolving screen industry, self-distribution is becoming an empowering - sometimes the only - option for filmmakers. This WIFT NZ workshop brings you producers who have successfully self-distributed both scripted and documentary films.  It can be done!!

Hear firsthand insights on navigating festival strategies, securing theatrical and digital releases, building engaged audiences and making self-distribution work for your project. 

Whether you're looking for alternatives to traditional distribution or keen to learn from those who have done it, this session will be packed with practical advice and real-world experiences.

Jane Mahoney - Maurice & I - co-producer and co-director
Maurice and I 
celebrates Sir Miles Warren and Maurice Mahoney’s hugely influential architectural partnership, and their legacy that was all but lost in the devastating Christchurch earthquakes. 

James Partridge - The Turn of the Screw - Executive Producer
An actor arrives at a Wellington theatre one night, after being thrown into a dress rehearsal for ghost story The Turn of the Screw. Soon she starts to fear that she is being haunted for real.

Cass Avery - The Girl on the Bridge - Producer
The Girl on the Bridge
follows 22-year-old Jazz Thornton, suicide survivor and mental health advocate, as she shares the story of the loss of her close friend Jess. 

Robin Laing- Poppy - Producer
Poppy A young woman with Down syndrome refuses to be defined by disability and takes control of her own life. Her ambition to become a motor mechanic

Moderated by Jasmin McSweeney - Head of Sales and Acquisitions (NZ) for Melbourne based Australian distributor Umbrella Entertainment and the New Zealand producer for Sanctuary Pictures, the production arm of Umbrella Entertainment.

FREE FOR WIFT MEMBERS

$20 NON MEMBERS - Ticket includes drinks and nibbles

SECURE YOUR TICKETS HERE

Date: Wednesday 12 Mar 2025
Location: Wētā Workshop Group Space, 129 Park Road, Miramar, Wellington 6022, New Zealand
Time: 6.00PM

Wednesday
12
Mar
2025

Upcoming events...

Wednesday 12 Nov 2025

Co-Productions: An In-Depth Dive with the NZFC

Co-Productions: An In-Depth Dive with the NZFC

Navigate the world of international co-productions with confidence. New Zealand has 18 official co-production agreements globally, with another on the horizon. But what do these agreements actually mean for filmmakers?

This comprehensive presentation demystifies the concept of co-production and the 18 co-production arrangements, breaking down the practical benefits and requirements of official co-productions versus unofficial co-productions. You'll gain clarity on how these agreements work, which opportunities could align with your project, and how to leverage them effectively.

Delivered by: Co-Production & Incentives and Funding kaimahi

With extensive experience overseeing New Zealand's co-production landscape, they will share insider knowledge on international co-production.

Following the workshop, the NZFC team will offer virtual one-on-one sessions for filmmakers who want to discuss their specific projects and explore potential co-production pathways. You will be able to sign up for these at the workshop.

- NEW DATE: Wednesday 12th November
- Time: 6pm-7:30pm
- Location: St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont Street Ponsonby, Auckland

Free for WIFT & Ngā Aho Whakaari members, $20 for non-members. Drinks & nibbles provided.

Special thanks to the New Zealand Film Commission and Ngā Aho Whakaari for supporting this event.

 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Wednesday 12 Nov 2025

(Wellington) Framing The Film: The Unit Stills-Producer Collaboration

Framing the Film: The Unit Stills Photographer-Producer Collaboration

Brought to you by the New Zealand Film Commission, Sony New Zealand, WIFT & Topic Rentals

Great stills don't just happen. They require planning, collaboration, and understanding their value from day one.

Publicity stills are how you sell your film. They're also a contractual requirement for funders, yet they're often an afterthought in pre-production. This session explores how to approach unit stills strategically: building them into your budget and schedule, meeting funder requirements with high-quality imagery, and creating a collaborative process that delivers compelling promotional assets.

Join us for an insight into the crucial relationship between unit stills photographers and producers, featuring Matt Grace (Pike River, Time Bandits, The Rings of Power) and Vicky Pope (Producer, Pike River, Went Up the Hill, Savage).

Matt and Vicky will share how they approached unit stills on productions (including working together on Pike River and Savage), to capture outstanding stills that served both the creative vision and the practical demands of distribution and publicity.

Whether you're a producer planning your next project or a photographer looking to work in unit stills, this is an opportunity to understand what makes this collaboration work.

Date: Wednesday 12th November
Time: 6pm-8pm
Venue: Wētā Workshop Group Space, 129 Park Road, Miramar, Wellington

Free for WIFT members, $20 for non-members
Drinks & nibbles provided

REGISTER HERE

Programme is brought to you with generous support from the NZ Film Commission and Foundation North.