Congratulations to all members who received funding in the June funding round from the New Zealand Film Commission. The NZFC Board approved two new feature films for production financing totalling over $3.7 million. We've listed you below in bold.
Production Funding decisions
BabylonA Māori warrior priest comes to the lawless whaling settlement of Babylon to recover his father’s stolen head. A son’s love soon becomes a threat to the town's villainous mayoress, Sarah Graham.
Producers: Jill Macnab, Tainui Stephens and James BrownWriter/director: Glenn Standring.
One Winter
When the 1981 Springbok tour descends on Dunedin, teenager Josh Waaka is forced to clamber off the fence he has actively sat on all his life to stand up for himself, his whānau and his future.
Producers: Emma Slade, Sandra Kailahi and Angela Cudd
Feature Film Finishing Grants
Geoff Dixon – Portraits of UsRockets, endangered birds, environmental issues and pop-culture collide in vibrant textural colours and forms in this intimate portrait of the life, loves and friendships of New Zealand artist Geoff Dixon.
Produced, written and directed by Glenis Giles and Clare O’Leary
International Co-Development Funding decisions
Series Drama Matched Funding
How Nauru Foretold the End of The WorldNZ Producer: Carthew NealNZ Writers: Victor Rodger and Matasila Freshwater
Feature Film Co-Production
Come TogetherNZ Producer: Catherine FitzgeraldNZ Writer: Arezour Zalipour
Unreal Engine Real-Time Short Film Challenge
From a short list of six projects, two have been selected for funding, one of which is Cheng Beng, written and directed by Hweiling Ow and Peter Haynes, and produced by Morgan Leigh Stewart. This Australia – New Zealand initiative provides funding towards the production of animated short films that utilise Unreal Engine 5 software.
Catalyst He Kauahi Funding decisions
Picking Crew
When a queer Tongan man starts working as an apple picker, he learns that he is not the only outsider in this hyper-masculine environment.
Writer/Director: Tanu Gago
Producers: Morgan Waru and Nacoya Anderson
Let's Settle ThisTwo kung fu masters meet in a Chinese diner via a dating app. They must settle the bill – and an ancient vendetta – to consummate their fateful encounter.Writer/Director: Jack WoonProducers: Abba-Rose Dinah Vaiaoga-Ioasa and Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa