Calls for Submissions

He Kauahi Catalyst Fund

Posted Tuesday 27 May 2025

This NZFC fund is designed to support narrative short films (including animation), and help emerging filmmakers develop their feature filmmaking skills through powerful short-form storytelling. There is up to $90,000 available for the production of the short film! Get your applications in!

Closes: Monday 23 June, 1PM

 

The key objectives of He Kauahi Catalyst are:

  • Invest in talent - by supporting the progression of New Zealand writers, directors, and producers through creating exceptional short films.
  • Critical – the potential for film festival success: a provocative or cathartic cinema experience, reliant on a unique voice, cultural specificity and artistic excellence.
  • Innovation – the potential to forge new pathways in film technologies, film methodologies, audience experiences and/or filmmaker talent.

What we fund

  • Narrative drama and animation short films
  • Up to $90,000 is available for the production of the short film - The fund no longer contains the additional funds for early feature film development.

Who can apply

  • you are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident; and
  • you are the owner of the rights in your short film project; and
  • you are:
  • a writer, director and/or producer who has 80-minutes of cumulative produced scripted content, or has had a short film accepted into one of these listed international festivals: the NZ International Film Festival, Māoriland, Rotorua Indigenous Film Festival or Show Me Shorts; or
  • an experienced practitioner who can provide evidence of significant success in a related narrative discipline (e.g. published novelist, esteemed playwright); and
  • your short film project:
  • is a narrative short film or animated short film;
  • is not in an episode or documentary format; and
  • has significant New Zealand content. Please read the New Zealand content information sheet for more detail.  
  • Any individual writer, director or producer may only be attached to one application per funding round.

Find out more: https://www.nzfilm.co.nz/funds/he-kauahi-catalyst