We're pleased to see WIFT members among the five successful screen projects selected in the first round of the New Zealand Film Commission's $50 million Te Puna Kairangi Premium Productions for International Audiences Fund.
Conditional offers have been made to:
Better the Blood (Drama Series, 6 x 60 min)
When tenacious Māori cop Hana discovers a series of killings are retribution for a centuries-old crime, she must stop the killer before he comes after her family. But will the hunt to find him mean losing her faith in justice?
Produced by Carthew Neal, Morgan Waru, Taika Waititi, Michael Bennett, Jane Holland.
Directed / Written by Michael Bennett.
Mystic Series 2 & 3 (Drama Series 2 x 8 x 30 min)
Set in the fictional town of Kauri Point, MYSTIC is a contemporary adventure series with environmental themes, following a group of complex young characters whose friendship revolves around horse riding.
Executive Produced by Richard Fletcher, Simon Crawford-Collins, Produced by David Stubbs, Directed by Aidee Walker, Caroline Bell-Booth, Laurence Wilson, Written by Amy Shindler, Beth Chalmers, Hamish Bennett, Martha Hardy-Ward, Sam Shore, Briar Grace-Smith.
The Convert (Feature Film)
Munro, a soldier turned lay preacher comes to New Zealand to minister to the first colonisers but he is converted by the powerful chief Maianui to serve a different purpose.
Produced by Te Kohe Tuhaka, Robin Scholes, Bradford Joseph Te Apatu-o-te-rangi Maaka Haami (EP), Troy Lum, Andrew Mason Directed by Lee Tamahori Screenplay by Shane Danielsen with additional writing by Lee Tamahori, Bradford Joseph Te Apatu-o-te-rangi Maaka Haami. Based on a Screen Story by Michael Bennett. Pūmatanga Māori -Tātai Waitara Māori Bradford Joseph Te Apatu-o-te-rangi Maaka Haami, Ngamaru Raerino.
The Guinea Pig Club (Feature Film)
When maverick Kiwi surgeon Archie McIndoe defies the British establishment with his radical plastic surgery methods aimed at healing the horribly burned bodies and – most importantly – the tortured souls of heroic fighter pilots shot down in WW2, he risks his career, reputation, and marriage. In the process he teaches an entire town to give these broken men a will to live and hope for the future.
Produced by Tim Sanders, Directed by Roger Donaldson, Written by Mike Riddell
Our Big Blue Backyard Series 3 (Documentary Series, 6 x 60min)
Our Big Blue Backyard dives deep into six of New Zealand’s spectacular and diverse marine environments to reveal the drama and surprising challenges in the lives of the charismatic wildlife characters who live there.
Produced by Judith Curran, Kina Scollay, Directed / Written by Judith Curran, Bill Kerton, Laura Evers-Swindell.
Te Puna Kairangi Premium Fund supports the Aotearoa New Zealand production sector recovery from COVID-19 by supporting high-quality productions that tell New Zealand stories for global audiences. Applications were assessed against the five Key Objectives of the fund as created by Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage and Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment which are: to boost economic growth, increase employment, create cultural benefit and respond to COVID-19 with speed to market and develop skills and capability.
“The field of applications for this first round was incredibly strong,” said Christina Milligan, Independent Chair of the decision-making panel. “The level of experience, talent and expertise across the submitted projects was outstanding, and made the selection process extremely challenging for all.”