Calls for Submissions

Calling all filmmakers!  

The Sandbox Fund offers grants, engagement events, and other opportunities for independent artists seeking to explore the intrinsic link between science and culture through innovative storytelling. The program is administered by the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund, in collaboration with Sandbox Films.

U.S. and international feature-length nonfiction projects are eligible.

Applicants from any…

SKY SPORT is continuing their commitment to commissioning Māori and Pasifika sport stories with a
third year of Te Kete Aronui.

Rangiata Sky has become the home of premium sports documentary, with titles such as Black Ferns
Wāhine Toa, Dame Valerie: More Than Gold, Wheel Blacks: Bodies on the Line, We the South:
Manukau Rovers and Forever Auckland…

Waitaha Canterbury Script Accelerator 2027

Have you got a Feature Film or TV Series script and want to take it to the next level?

Te Puna Matarau | The Canterbury Screen Industry Association has successfully run creative screen incubator programmes for Waitaha Canterbury-based filmmakers over the last 3 years, focusing on creative development of long-form feature…

Feature Film Production Investment (November 2026) and He Pounamu Te Reo Māori Feature Film Production Investment 

•       Application deadline: Monday 14 September, 1pm
•       Board meeting: 24-25 November
•       There will also be a mid-November deadline for consideration at the NZFC 16-17 February Board Meeting.  

He Kauahi - Catalyst Short Film Funding

•       Application deadline: Monday 12 October, 1pm
…

The Information for Applicants for the NZ On Air second funding round for the 2026/27 Financial Year, Round Rua, is now available HERE.

In Round Rua they will accept applications across the following range of priority audiences and content genres: Scripted, Non-fiction, Children, Youth, Content Development, Capability and Discoverability.

Allocations for this round are:

Non-fiction

The Aho Shorts Development Lab is a talent development initiative established by Ngā Aho Whakaari and designed and delivered in collaboration with Caravan Carpark Films. The wānanga-based programme supports Māori writers, directors and producers to develop and package short film projects through mentorship, practical learning and industry guidance. Focused on story, craft and project readiness,…

New Zealand Writers Guild and New Zealand Film Commission are excited to announce that Seed & Seed Advanced is now open, and this round there's something a little extra to celebrate.

Seed & Seed Advanced are screenwriter-only feature film script development grants.

For the first time since the programme began in 2014, Seed & Seed…

WIFF is are now accepting film submissions for the 2026 Women's International Film & Arts Festival, taking place October 21–25, 2026 in New York City.

This submission period is open for a limited time only.

Submit your film by midnight (EST) on August 21 for the opportunity to be considered.

Click the link below for…

Te Māngai Pāho Mōhiohio

Deadline for pitch submissions is Thursday 23 July 2026 at 6pm. 

NZ On Air Round Rua

Deadline for pitch submissions is Thursday 30 July 2026 at 6pm. 

All pitches must be submitted in their commissioning portal Tono.

If you have a pitch or idea you’d like to discuss prior to submitting,…

The NZFC Industry Development funding round is now open for applications, for Strand 1 and Strand 2. 

The fund supports the delivery of programmes that help develop filmmakers’ craft and practice to help our filmmakers make the strongest films possible, strengthening New Zealand’s screen industry.

If you’re a screen sector organisation, company, or collective registered…

The Te Māngai Pāho - Irirangi Te Motu | NZ On Air Reo Māori Co-Fund is now open for applications.

The co-fund, which will distribute approximately $8m, is seeking proposals for high quality Scripted, Scripted Development and Non-fiction reo Māori screen content for a broad audience.

Applications and proposals will be considered by a panel…

As part of streamlining their workflows, Whakaata Māori is retiring the Content Coordinator email address.

What’s changing?

• All milestone invoices and milestone reports must now be sent to this email:            milestones@whakaatamaori.co.nz

• All proposals for new projects must be submitted directly through the Te Kauhanga Funding Portal.  Whakaata Māori's Funding Portal

• For any other Delivery enquiries…

The Information for Applicants for the NZ On Air first funding round for the 2026/27 Financial Year, Round Tahi, is now available.

In Round Tahi they will accept applications across the following range of target audiences and content genres: Drama, Comedy, Documentary and General Factual, Children, Youth, Journalism, Podcasts, Content Development, Capability and Discoverability.

The…

The Aho Shorts Production Fund provides production funding for five short films by Māori creative teams.

Each project will be awarded $40,000 NZD to create a narrative scripted short film that delivers on at least one of the following pou:

• Champions te reo Māori
• Enables a distinctly Māori story to be told
• Supports a Māori…

Boosted X Moana is back in its sixth year supporting Pasifika creatives to crowdfund their creative kaupapa through Boosted, Aotearoa’s only arts-dedicated crowdfunding platform.

This initiative is part of the ongoing and growing partnership between Boosted and the Creative New Zealand Pacific Strategy team, grounded in a shared commitment to uplift and invest in Pasifika…

Whakaata Māori is seeking comprehensive proposals to produce engaging content that caters to the diverse interests of Māori audiences. These proposals should highlight and showcase Māori culture and language through rich storytelling via various video formats, with the aim of fostering cultural pride and supporting language use and proficiency among viewers.

This round prioritises audience-led,…

Screenrights has today opened applications for its 2026 Cultural Fund, inviting bold new initiatives to apply for a share of a $300,000 grant pool.

With the 2026 annual focus revealed as Learning Through Story, the Fund seeks to award grants of up to $50,000 for projects that foster the creation and appreciation of screen content…

With the year now well and truly underway, TVNZ's annual funding deadline calendar is drafted and available in the Google Drive HERE alongside delivery specifications, asset requirements and publicity guidelines.

The deadline to receive pitches for consideration in NZ On Air’s Round Tahi is Thursday 9 April 2026 at 6pm. These need to be submitted…

The NZFC has opened the Film Production Investment (June round).

Dates to note:

•       Closes: 1pm, Tuesday 07 April
•       Board Date: Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 June

Also on offer is the Industry Development Fund, Strand 1.

This funding supports New Zealand screen sector organisations, companies or collectives to deliver programmes that develop craft and practice…

The dates for the Screen Canterbury Production Grant’s final round of the 2024-2026 cycle have been set. 

Round 3 2024-26

Applications open: Wednesday 18 March 2026, 9am

Applications close: Sunday 19 April 2026, 11.59pm

Decision by: Tuesday 19 May 2026

$67,500 will be distributed to eligible productions by an independent advisory panel made up of…

Ngā mihi o te Tau Hou Pākehā!

As we head into the year ahead, Whakaata Māori is excited to reconnect and continue working closely with Wifties to produce even more outstanding content for their audiences. They value the creativity, collaboration, and dedication you all bring to your projects and they're looking forward to another year…

The invitation is out - the Austin Film Festival wants WIFT NZ members to submit their work for their 2026 Film Competitions.

With a mission centered on spotlighting independent filmmakers, AFF welcomes submissions across nine competitive categories. These include our Academy Award®–qualifying Animated Short, Documentary Short, and Narrative Short competitions, as well as genre-focused categories…

Show Me Shorts – Short Film Lab 2026 is now open for entries!

Got a short-film script ready to go, plus two more project ideas? The Short Film Lab is designed for emerging writers looking to level up. Eight writers will be selected for a day of mentorship with top screenwriters. Two will receive NZ$40,000…

Toru is the third and final round of funding for the 2025/26 financial year and applications open Thursday 11 December, closing Thursday 29 January 2026 at 4.00pm.

Decisions will be due: Fri 10 April 2026

Information for applicants

The Round Toru Information for applicants is now available on the NZ on Air website and these…

Kia ora Women in Film and Television!

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Springboard Awards – a unique opportunity to kickstart early-career artists of any discipline with $15,000 cash and a year-long mentorship with an Arts Foundation alumni, helping build a sustainable arts career.

Who can be nominated

The…

Kia ora Filmmakers!

Stage two of the Southern Documentary Accelerator is now accepting applications.

You are invited to submit a short proposal to pitch your short documentary project.

Proposals should be sent to documentary@sfo.nz, and must be a maximum of three A4 pages. 

Up to three teams will be awarded a $500 Development Grant to…

Calling filmmakers worldwide - especially YOU our beloved WIFT storytellers - submissions are now open for MIFF 2026!

Following a record-breaking MIFF 2025, submissions are now being taken for the 74th edition of the Melbourne International Film Festival, taking place from Thursday 6 to Sunday 23 August 2026. Be part of Australia’s leading film festival…

The NZFC is delighted to share some new funding opportunities available to filmmakers. 

Whether you’re exploring fresh technologies, new methodologies, or unique audience experiences, the NZFC team is eager to hear from you, champion fresh perspectives, and support you along your filmmaking journey. 

As always, the NZFC remains committed to amplifying bold ideas and innovative…

Whakaata Māori is seeking short proposals that deliver engaging, culturally resonant, and entertaining content that predominantly serves fluent te reo Māori audiences, especially rangatahi and whānau, with the goal of promoting te reo Māori in everyday life, supporting active learners in their language journey, fostering confident Māori identity among rangatahi, and strengthening Māori cultural connection.

Whakaata Māori invites proposals from production companies to develop original, digital-first, haka-themed serialised content for release in early 2026. The Commissioning for Outcomes 2025 (CFO25) strategically aims to celebrate and amplify Māori voices through character driven creative that showcases authentic humour and entertaining storytelling for social media and digital platforms, primarily MĀORI+

Content Focus

• Kapa…