Former CEO of Film New Zealand, WIFT NZ member Judith McCann is back in business with mPics, her Wellington-based international consulting firm.  mPics Group (NZ) offers policy and governance advice, targeted research and analysis, programme development and implementation, and evaluation services to New Zealand, Cana…

In a landmark deal, acclaimed series The Jaquie Brown Diaries has been sold in the US to Logo of the MTV Networks.  Congratulations to Jaquie Brown and Smiley Film Sales' Ewa Bigio.

Recent films produced by WIFT New Zealand members continue to gain worldwide …

The proportion of women directors, executive producers, producers, writers, cinematographers, and editors working on American films has declined in the past decade, according to Dr. Martha M. Lauzen, a professor at San Diego State University.  WIFT NZ has received an advance copy of Dr Lauz…

The NZFC has this week launched its new Low Budget Film Initiative: Escalator will provide funding of $250,000 for four projects each year for the next three years.

The Commission has developed the scheme to provide different access points to the industry and different stori…

In the first time in the 82-year history of the Oscars, the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences has bestowed a Best Director award on a woman filmmaker.  Kathryn Bigelow's war-on-terror thriller The Hurt Locker also received more Academy Award nominations this year than…

Awaiting the release of the review of the NZFC, producer John Barnett has written opinion pieces for Onfilm and ScreenHub on why the Film Commission Review is so desperately needed.  Barnett also talked about whether the film industry is forgetting its audience on National Radi…

New Zealand box office revenue rose 8.6% in 2009.  Takings had not increased as much as in China, which boasted 44% box office growth, or Australia, which had 15% higher box office last year.  In 2009, local cinemas screened 273 films including 5 domestic feat…

New Zealanders spent more time in 2009 watching TV than ever before, and more time in front of the box than engaging with any other media.  According to figures released by the NZ Television Broadcasters' Council (NZTBC), an average of 2.94 million people watched television…

SPADA has endorsed a new set of guidelines prepared by NZ Casting Directors in consultation with NZ Actors Agents. The guidelines outline reasonable expectations in the casting process in the context of the New Zealand screen industry. SPADA intends to work with them, and recomm…

Long established film correspondent Philip Wakefield has a new blog: ScreenScribe.tv, which he describes as "your daily guide to HDTV technology and content in New Zealand and beyond: displays, channels, DVRs, Blu-ray  releases, home theatre gear and gadgets�"  This week alone, he has uploaded se…

A website is now up and running for Brother Number One, a documentary produced/directed by WIFT NZ member Annie Goldson with Producers James Bellamy, Peter Gilbert, Rob Hamill and Associate Producer Chakara Lim, that followsOlympian and Trans-Atlantic rowing champion New Zealander Rob Hamill to Camb…

We're looking for a stylist who is interested to get some film experience to help out for a day or two and give direction on the wardrobe, hair and makeup needs.  Ideally you have some editorial, runway etc experience. Please send photos and resume.  S…

Key tasks include:

• Garment restoration, maintenance and repair
• Garment storage
• Unpack and catalogue new Awards Show garments
• Pack garments for return to designers
• Prepare and assist with WOW Gallery exhibition changes
• Prepare garments for mini shows, walkthroughs, photo shoots, etc

Opportunity location: Tahu…

Producer Ainsley Gardiner's latest feature film Boy (directed by Taika Waititi) has won Grand Prix of the International Jury at the Berlin International Film Festival.  Boy was one of three New Zealand films, all produced by women, that took away half the major award…

Congratulations to Rachel Gardner, who has been selected by ACE (Ateliers du Cin�ma Europ�en) to attend Paris-based and Zurich-based workshops in March 2010 and join the ACE Producer Network.

The following producers have been granted NZFC finance through the Early Development Fund: Arani Cuthbe…

WIFT NZ member Gaylene Preston, who made War Stories Our Mothers Never Told Us and Perfect Strangers, has spoken out about the challenges filmmakers face in the shift to digital distribution.  Speaking at a Digital Cinema Symposium at Victoria University in Wellington, Preston discussed…

Gisella Carr has been appointed Chief Executive of Film New Zealand, the national film office based in Wellington.  Ms Carr has an extensive background in New Zealand's creative industries, arts management and cultural policy, including a range of developmental national roles and projects across mult…

New Zealand's South Pacific Pictures has teamed up with Australian independent Cordell Jigsaw to launch new Sydney-based production outfit, Highwire Television.  Former Sky1 (UK) commissioning editor Steve Jones has been hired as Chief Executive of Highwire, which is set to open next month with ac…

Auckland-based sales agency Smiley Film Sales has recently opened its European office in Berlin, focusing on festival management and strategy as well as sales and acquisitions for German territories headed by Diana Kluge.  It is one of the few 100% owned New Zealand based s…

Canadian entertainment company E1 Entertainment is expanding its international operations into Australia and New Zealand and will acquire all rights to films and television content for both territories. It will distribute DVDs through a partnership with Brisbane-based distributor Beyond Home Entertainm…

On Radio New Zealand's Arts on Sunday programme on 14^th February, James Thompson, the Film Commission's new Head of Sales responded to criticism levelled at the Commission's choices by John Barne…

The New Zealand Film Archive has begun a major new initiative as part of its relationship with Te Mangai Paho, the M�ori broadcasting funding agency.  Since signing an archiving agreement in 2008, more than 2,000 hours of Te Mangai Paho-funded M�ori Television programmes have …

New Zealand-born screenwriter/director Jane Campion and Pakistani director Ayesha Arif Khan have laid a complaint with India's Ministry of Urban Development, claiming they were sexually harassed by the husband of the festival organiser during the India International Women Film Festival (IIWFF) held in December …