Archive May 2018

Watch the world pr�miere of this very special documentary, and support the Cancer Society, at the upcoming benefit screening of Shirley Horrocks' Dancing With Atoms, in Wellington. In November 2008, Sir Paul Callaghan awoke to find himself in hospital after radical bowel surg…

We're celebrating the news that Armagan Ballantyne, Vea Mafile'o and Chelsie Preston Crayford are among the eight chosen for this year's Script to Screen FilmUp Programme. FilmUp is an intense eight-month development programme for writers, directors and producers who have already shown considerable talen…

Here's a wonderful opportunity shared by our WIF LA colleagues, and we strongly encourage you to apply for it. The well-established Film Finishing Fund awards 10 to 15 grants to films by and about women, and this year's theme is water. Documentary, narrative, animated,…

Get the real story behind Kiwi national treasures Jools and Lynda Topp, at this return screening of director Leanne Pooley's wonderful 2009 documentary The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls. Produced by Arani Cuthbert, the documentary is described as "The greatest movie ever made …

We're delighted to hear that Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga New Zealand Film Commission has created the 125 Fund, and we encourage you, dear members, to apply! It's open to dramatic features in any genre and offering an investment of $1.25 million each …

But wait, there's more good funding news! The NZFC has announced the Rautaki M?ori Feature Film Initiative, a one-off $2 million investment for dramatic features in any genre where the director and at least one other key creative is M?ori; plus He Pounamu, an ong…

Gain a unique insight into casting from industry expert Liz Mullane - WIFT members get a 10% discount. If you're mid-career and looking to develop your skills then this workshop is for you. Mullane will explain the process of casting, what the role …

Now is definitely the time for funding announcements! Screenrights, the audio-visual copyright society for Australia and New Zealand, has announced a $AU200,000 Cultural Fund to support innovative new projects which will foster the creation and appreciation of screen content in Australia and New Zealand.…

Head to Wellington on 24 May and prepare to have your mind blown! This year's Creative Realities conference will see innovators in all areas of technology descend on our capital city to geek out over artificial intelligence, blockchain, games, virtual and augmented reality, and…

Auckland-based short film fans, you're in luck this winter. Show Me Shorts has launched a monthly series of short films from a different country, to screen every month through the colder part of the year. The first screening of Russian short films was…

It's not just for kids you know...the Screenies Children's Film Festival is back for its third year at Auckland's TAPAC, from 17-20 May. This dedicated children's festival offers international short films and local content for kids aged between three and (but not limited to…

Pukeko Pictures are now actively looking for Producers, Line Producers and Production Managers with experience in animated series for children. Send your CVs and cover letters to info@pukekopictures.com or for more information email jordan.griffiths@pukekopictures…

Video Editor

FilmConvert is looking for a part-time entry-level video editor to assist in testing its new video plugin. The role is paid, based in Wellington, and will require a few hours per week during regular office hours. Users require basic familiarity with Adobe Pre…

A timely discussion at this year's Screen Edge Auckland Forum will look at cultural change and empowerment through the #metoo and #timesup movements, with panelists including our own Robyn Patterson and Emma Slade. WIFT members can register for the Forum at special discounted …

International feature film producers are invited to apply to IFF, the feature film co-financing event at the Toronto International Film Festival. This event brings together selected international and Canadian producers  with international sales agents, US distributors, agents, equity financiers and executive producers for b…

Screenies 2018 features packages of short films from around the world, curated by Little Big Shots in Australia, a successful children's festival that tours in Australia. We're giving away three double passes to the TAPAC session of your choice.

To enter, jus…

We're celebrating with the winners of TVNZ's New Blood competition, Ashleigh Reid and Isla Macleod, whose comedy-drama Oddly Even has been released as a full series. The two 23-year olds, who met at the NZ Broadcasting School, shot their pilot episode over a weekend, with bor…

Candid, funny, caustic, irreverent, poignant and utterly engrossing, here's proof that there is truly nothing like a Dame! Due for release in New Zealand on 7 June, Tea With The Dames is a unique celebration of the lives and careers of four iconic actresses…

Networking can be an awkward business, so DEGNZ is offering an alternative: speed networking for Young Creators. At this event, you'll have the chance to make connections in a number of fast, informal 8-minute sessions, plus the opportunity to grab a drink and mingl…

A woman pitches a tent at the edge of a forest and starts to collect men...it sounds like Catherine Bisley's short film Untitled Groping Revenge Fairytale, is going to be an intense nine minutes! UGRF has been accepted into the Montclair Film Festival and…

When NZOA put out a call for 'creative proposals looking at the role of women', WIFTers were in their element! To honour the 125th anniversary of New Zealand women being given the right to vote, NZ On Air issued a special call for suffrage-based ide…

Women ruled the Cannes Film Festival red carpet on Saturday 12 May; 82 women marched in protest against gender inequality in the film industry. Just 82 films have screened in competition at the festival since 1946 (compared to an estimated 1,645 by men). The pur…

Here's a wonderful opportunity to showcase your work in front of an international audience! Submissions to the 2019 Athena Festival are now open, and they're looking for films that showcase women leaders who currently are making or have made a difference in the wor…

The NZIFF is fast approaching so keep your eyes peeled for the programme, which will be out later in June. We have a code for WIFT members to get discounted tickets, and we'll email that to you as bookings open. Meanwhile the latest from …

Be sure to catch Canadian Screen Award-winner Nadine Pequeneza's fascinating documentary The Invisible Heart, at its world premiere in Auckland on May 25, where it is screening as part of the Doc Edge International Documentary Film Festival. The Invisible Heart documents the impact of Social Inves…

Just in case you missed this in the May 2018 NZ On Air newsletter...Following a stakeholder conversation about the state of local drama production (hosted by NZOA in September 2017), NZOA has released a Development Roadmap which sets out its approach to allocating funding…

Women tell amazing, dynamic, interesting, thought-provoking, affecting, inspiring, funny and down-right exciting stories, and here's your chance to prove it! Submissions are now open for the 2019 Vancouver International Women in Film Festival (VIWIFF) and the International Screenplay Competition. Now in its 14th year, V…

The 12th annual Screen Edge Forum is on at the weekend and there's still a chance to get tickets! And remember,  WIFT members can register for the Forum at special discounted rates! The fun starts Friday 25 May - Screen Edge Forum is a uni…

All Screen Edge Forum Auckland registrants are able to attend Doc Pitch as audience members (think Dragon's Den for documentary ideas)

Check out the 2018 doc pitches you'll be watching here >>

Dearest members, we have a challenge for you and it's for a wonderful cause! Next week, the Ministry for Women will be launching the Whakat? W?hine Challenge, a video competition for young Kiwis. It's inspired by the suffragists who, 125 years ago, challenged the way th…

A warm congratulations to Dr Ruth Harley CNZM (pictured above) who takes up membership and the role of chair of the New Zealand Broadcasting Commission (NZ On Air). Dr Harley brings an incredible depth of industry knowledge and experience to this position, Broadcasting Mi…

Hey doc filmmakers! The International Documentary Association has very helpfully put together a list of over 250  availableinternational documentary funding grants and fellowships. It's called the Other Grants Directory, and you can find it at this link:

Don't be fooled by the name, London's Smalls Film Festival is anything but little! Submissions are open, and this year's theme is Fighting for 50/50 in Film, with a brand new category celebrating equality in the industry. Every festival winner is awarded �500…

The Screen Women's Action Group wants your feedback on its draft consultation document, based on the findings from two SWAG forums held in Auckland and Wellington earlier this year. Part of the process has been to refine and collate all the feedback from the fo…