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, the Lab equips creative teams with the skills, materials and confidence to progress towards funding and production, while positioning the short film as a strategic pathway for capability building and long-form storytelling.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Be of Māori descent;
- Be based in Aotearoa and be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident;
- Be 18 years or older at the time of submission;
- Be available to participate fully in all scheduled activities. See the Key Dates section below;
- Be a member of Ngā Aho Whakaari: Māori in screen
The number of participants selected will be at the discretion of the selection panel.
What are they looking for?
We’re looking for creatives who fulfil one or more of the following Pou:
- Demonstrate a readiness for creative leadership as a Writer, Producer and/or Director;
- Have a distinct, self-aware voice that reflects the richness of Māori perspectives and the depth of Aotearoa storytelling;
- Have a feature film in development, or a clear ambition to progress towards feature filmmaking. Applicants do not need to demonstrate an advanced project or accelerated timeline, but should be able to show that this is a realistic next step in their creative pathway;
- Producers will ideally have at least one producer, co-producer, associate producer, line producer or production manager credit in any creative format, such as screen, theatre, podcasting or live events.
Key Dates
Applications Open:
Tuesday, 28 July 2026 at 9am NZST
Applications Close:
Monday, 7 September 2026 at 5pm NZST
In-Person Wānanga:
13-15 November 2026 & 23-25 January 2027
How to Submit
To apply:
- Complete the Cover Sheet via this LINK
- And email the following to shorts@ngaahowhakaari.org with subject line:
Aho Shorts Production Fund 2026 – [Your Project Title]: - Advanced Script (a treatment may be accepted in some cases but your application will be stronger with a script)
- Proposal
- CVs incl. short bio, filmography, festivals your work has screened at and/or awards you've won.
Applicants may only apply as a fully-formed team (Writer, Director, Producer).
For further information CLICK HERE: