It's always satisfying to report on members receiving funding for projects! We congratulate all of you who received NZFC funding in the December round, and we're looking forward to seeing your work on the big screen!
Here are the details:
Feature Film Production Investment
At the December Board Meeting, the NZFC Board approved discretionary financing to one new feature film.
Bookworm is a feature drama produced by Emma Slade, Roxi Bull and Mette-Marie Kongsved with Associate Producer Victoria Dabbs.
Logline: During a time of crisis, a washed-up American magician and his precocious estranged daughter take to the New Zealand wilderness, in search of a mythical black panther.
Additional equity was also approved for a feature film produced by Vicky Pope and Timothy White with the working title Untitled Robert Sarkies Project, on top of a conditional offer approved in April 2022.
And the re-versioning of two further Disney films – Coco and Encanto into te reo Māori, by Matewa Media – (Chelsea Winstanley) was approved.
Early Development & Documentary Development
Decisions for the last round of Early Development, Documentary Development and Whakawhanake Kiriata Funding were made in late November 2022. Out of 28 applications to the fund – the largest number received – 10 were approved funding, totaling over $219.5k.
We’ve listed the projects WIFT members are involved with below.
Feature Drama
Cookie Cutter Team: Alix Whittaker, Andrew Todd
Maria, Take a Bow Team: Alex Reed, Emma Mortimer, Alayne Dick, Martin Sagadin
Refuge Team: Craig Gainsborough-Waring, Arlo Green, Max Currie
The Mooncake and the Kūmara Team: Kerry Warkia, Mei-Lin Te Puea Hansen, Kiel McNaughton
Weathered Bones Team: Catherine Fitzgerald, Michele Powles
Taniwha Team: Libby Hakaraia, Tainui Stephens, Desray Armstrong, Ricardo Giraldo.
Advanced Development
Two feature drama applications to the Advanced Development Fund have been approved since the last newsletter update, totalling over $54k.
Big Girls Don’t Cry, Producer: Vicky Pope
Island Dancer, Producers: Karin Williams, Sharlene George, Jane Holland.