It's great to see WIFT NZ members in the mix for NZ On Air's latest funding round for children's content.
Gisborne-based Amo Studios (which includes Felicity Letcher and Sam Witters) receives up to $1,900,000 for Black Sand Beach, for TVNZ+.
Gibson Group receives up to $596,849 for Mr. Hugo’s Little Library for TVNZ+ and RNZ.
Whitebait Media receives up to $2,000,000 for Māui and Elvis – How I Alienated my Nan for Prime/Sky and YouTube.
This second children’s content funding round of the year focused on projects with aspirations for international co-productions and/or eligibility for the NZ Screen Production Grant (NZSPG).
Black Sand Beach is based on popular graphic novels by award-winning New Zealand–born author and illustrator Richard Fairgray. It follows four courageous kids as they unravel spine-chilling mysteries involving monsters, ghouls, and supernatural thrills.
Fabulous fables told through the medium of drag will bring some razzle dazzle to screens in Mr. Hugo’s Little Library. Featuring larger-than-life fables, legendary performances, and original songs, Mr Hugo’s Little Library is Aotearoa New Zealand’s first ever kids’ show by drag performers. Helmed by George Fowler (AKA Hugo Grrrl), it centres on an eccentric library custodian who has retreated into a fantasy world of books.
The live-action drama Māui and Elvis – How I Alienated my Nan follows best friends and neighbours Māui and Elvis, who discover an alien device and accidently blast Māui’s beloved nan with it, causing an alien hell-bent on destruction to take up residence in her body. It’s based on two books penned by Wellington author Suzanne Mains.