Archive July 2024

Almost a year has flown by since we welcomed our newcomers, so here is an extensive scribe beginning from late July of last year. We are thrilled to have you in our membership!

Masen  Ma, Emily Leybourne, Miriam Silvester, Elora Battah, Aasta Otnes, Emily Carter,…

Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF) has unveiled the 105 films, including 19 shorts, in the 2024 line-up, and among the list are many WIFT members!

NZIFF 2024 Artistic Director Paolo Bertolin says, “This year’s programme is a celebration of the diversity and…

Congratulations to the team of We Were Dangerous, directed by Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, written by Maddie Dai, and produced by Morgan Waru, Polly Fryer, and Carthew Neal for their selection as the opening night film of NZIFF across the country!

Nellie, Daisy and Lou attend…

Madam, a NZ production, has won the Golden Nymph for Best Creation at this year’s Monte Carlo TV Festival and the project comes with long list of WIFT members! Congratulations to writer Shoshana McCallum, producer Belindalee Hope, Crystal Vaega as Executive Co-Producer, and co- producer…

In Wellington, Monday, 8 July, at 6pm, Write Room is hosting a panel discussion on Screenwriting Partnerships with established filmmakers Rob Sarkies and Duncan Sarkies who have collaborated on numerous projects including Scarfies and Two Little Boys and emerging team Amelia Addis and Ebed Pohl…

There's still time to get amongst the camaraderie of the VF 48 Hours. This country-wide event culminates at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington on the 27th July for the Grand Finals. Don't miss it! The top 15 films will screen along with the 3 Sir…

Nothing like a fresh strategy on the dawn of the new year of Matariki. NZ on Air have published their Statement of Intent 2024-28  while refreshing their Strategic Framework – Te Ipukarea, their foundational document. Additionally, they have published their Statement of Performance Expectations 2024/25,…

The New Zealand Television Awards recognises excellence in television and honours the special skills and unique talents of the companies and individuals who create, produce, and perform in television programmes in New Zealand… and their portal is now open for nominations!

Open Period: 1st July…

Vicky’s acting workshops are back later this month on July 13/14!

In this weekend training participants will be working in pairs with scripts, learning the Art of Relating, which maximises creative choices and trains actors to bring their instincts to the screen.

Benefits include:

-…

Last week the Doc Edge Industry event announced the winners in the 2024 Film Festival. The awards ceremony was broadcast live. You can watch the recorded session here.

The festival is still taking place around the country, with many great films on offer! Below are…

Brita McVeigh is offering a workshop later this month.

These are unique creative spaces where actors, writers, directors, producers, dancers and editors all work alongside each other. The process is intended to be nourishing. This 6-hour intensive works with embodied imagination, impulse, intuition and deep…

NZCS has announced a new category to spotlight Kiwi films in the annual cinematography awards.

They are introducing a split in the feature film category, designed to celebrate and recognise the unique challenges of working on both lower-budget feature films and on international giants. By…

There’s much doom and gloom at this moment in time, however, The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi and Creative New Zealand visited 10 towns and cities over three months to uncover how creativity can propel us forward, and their findings are optimistic. They released a…

We are congratulating WIFT member Ainsley Gardiner on her appointment to the role of Head of Funding at the NZFC. Ainsley is of Ngāti Awa, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Ngāti Pikiao and Te Whakatōhea tribal descent.

Ainsley is a seasoned producer and director of more than two…

WIFT members are at it again! $14.1 million* has been committed to Scripted projects in this round with a collection of comedy and children’s animation leading the way from NZ On Air - including two animated series for tamariki with a strong focus on te…

Congratulations to the WIFT members on being 15 of the 19 funded Non-Fiction projects!  Just under $17m in funding has been committed to local Non-Fiction content that explores many facets of life in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

“Due to our current media environment, Non-Fiction content in…

Six projects have been announced as the successful recipients of funding in the first-ever Aotearoa New Zealand Pacific Regional Media Fund that will create content for audiences across the Pacific and Aotearoa – and five of the funded projects are WIFT members! 

This is the…

The NZFC has announced funding, and WIFT members are the recipients! 

Caterpillar (Feature Drama) - Up to $1,707,602, from producers Georgina Conder and Andrew Marshall, and writer and director Chelsie Preston-Crayford 

Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant, from producer team Morgan Leigh Stewart, Alix Whittaker, and Ilai…

We congratulate the following people on their appointments into the new NZFC structure, effective since 1 July 2024: 

∙        Karen Larsen – Chief Financial Officer 

∙        Philippa Mossman – Head of Attraction and Marketing 

∙        Chris Payne – Head of Co-Production and Incentives 

∙        Te…

There have been lots of changes happening at the NZFC, and in that, they’ve released their new Statement of Intent (SOI) and Statement of Performance Expectations (SPE).

Additionally they have raised the standard funding cap on Feature Film Production Investment from $2 million per film…

Tickets for Wellington went on sale yesterday. There were queues outside the Wellington Box Office from as early as 7am — this is your sign to get those schedules locked in now so you’re ready for on-sale when it comes around!

Tickets for Auckland go…

NZIFF and WIFT are hosting a conversation with Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, the director of this year’s opening film We Were Dangerous. See here for information.  Be sure to go see the film!

Auckland: Thursday 15 August 1:30 – 2:30pm: Villa Maria Gallery, ASB Waterfront Theatre
Wellington: Thursday…

This project is directed by WIFT member, and Sweet Production’s Robyn Paterson (Down for Love),  and made with the support of NZ On Air! Congratulations on the completion of this project, Robyn. 

Wheel Blacks: Bodies on the Line goes behind the scenes to get to…

Kid Sister had a successful Season 1, and their Season Two is now on TVNZ+! And, it was made by a bunch of women and WIFTees! #proudWIFTmummoment

1News conducted an interview with WIFT member and director, Aidee Walker. "We are a team of female producers,…

Christchurch, if you haven't made it to the cinema yet to see the local documentary MAURICE AND I, or if you've been waiting for an excuse to see it again.... now's time! On Wednesday 24th July '24 at 6pm, Lumiere Cinemas are offering a $12…

The Grand Finals in Wellington at the Embassy Theatre are only 10 days away on 27th July, at 8 PM, where the very best films from across the country are judged by a panel of national and international judges, and among the list of nominees…

Creative Capital is a podcast from Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi about advocacy and systems change. Hosted by Elyssia Wilson-Heti (FAFSWAG), it explores the role that arts, culture and creativity play in Tāmaki Makaurau - with a focus on the people behind the work and their vision…

Perhaps it's time to pause that Netflix subscription? Aro Vision is an Aotearoa-based streaming service with many local and international releases, including new films and memorable classics! You can even search through the NZIFF catalogue of films from previous years.

There’s a number of WIFT…

Members only, our friends at Intellect Books have offered you a 30% discount on all books until the end of July! They publish relevant books on film and media, including New Zealand related arts and humanities. The company is owned by a British Iranian Woman,…

TWO DAYS ONLY TO APPLY FOR TVNZ's RFP for Season 3 of Documentary New Zealand. 

TVNZ are looking for contemporary New Zealand stories, relatable to a broad and diverse range of New Zealanders.

Each submission should be designed as a commercial one-hour, original broadcast on…

The BoostedXMoana 2024 workshop roadshow is moving forward and the next destination is Te Waipounamu! These workshops have been created to provide more context on the BoostedXMoana campaign, give knowledge on how to run a campaign, and to gain interest of our creative Pasifika anau.…

The ScreenSafe's Professional Respect Training Project was developed to support WORKSAFE's health & safety guidelines around harassment. The course will address predominately sexual harassment and also includes bullying, harassment, definitions, disclosures, and respectful behaviours in the workplace. Be a part of this screen sector culture…

In a joint event between SIGANZ and DEGANZ, join Jen Butcher & Hamish Gough in discussing all things 1AD from the director / 1AD relationship, the producer and 1AD relationship, the relationship between 1ADs, second and third ADs, the differences between New Zealand directors and…

Pitchfest presents an exciting screen industry event dedicated to boosting confidence and equipping our incredible wāhine creators with the skills to proudly pitch their ideas for a TV series, feature film, or video game. ​

Let’s bridge the gap: currently, 44% of Pitchfest followers are…

Keen to learn more about the role of an intimacy coordinator and director? Want to get an insight into what you can expect from the process of working with one? Eager to get your hands on some industry standard modesty garments and get some experience…

Now is the time to nominate your favourites for the NZTV Awards! Being an artist in this industry is no small feat, so take the time to let those who’ve impressed you know about it! #nomoretallpoppysyndrom 

These are the categories: (Eligibility Period: 1 July 2023…

Day One Challenge is a filmmaking challenge for anyone up to the age of 24 to tell their stories for a better tomorrow. The Day One Film Challenge, formerly known as the Someday Challenge, is all about giving filmmaking a shot, and amplifying youth voices.

The NZCS Awards are your opportunity to showcase and be acknowledged for your work, regardless of genre, format, or budget. With only less than two weeks remaining to enter, now is the perfect time to submit your entry. Don't miss this chance to have your…

Toi Mai, the Workforce Development Council (WDC) that represents the creative, cultural, recreation and technology sectors are seeking to appoint board members. They are an important part of the vocational education system, ensuring industry has a stronger voice in making the Aotearoa workforce fit for…

The year’s best New Zealand short films.

A total of 95 films were submitted for this year’s New Zealand’s Best short film competition. NZIFF Head of Programming, Michael McDonnell, Production and Events Manager Matt Bloomfield, and Junior Programmer Amanda Jane Robinson viewed them all to…

Paul Wolffram’s urgent documentary takes us into the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea and one indigenous woman’s fight against the insidious influence of sanguma – sorcery violence.

Producer: Shu Run Yap

Sound Design: Mel Graham

 'MARIMARI was and still is, an emotionally challenging but…

In 1979, group of young Māori and Pasifika activists sought to stop Pākehā students at the University of Auckland performing a parody of haka each capping week. Unfortunately, the consequences for those activists were severe – many were convicted of crimes. Director Katie Wolfe uncovers…

Mean Girls meets Face/Off  to absolutely wild results in Sasha Rainbow’s gory and uniquely Kiwi black comedy about a Chinese student who finds a new way of achieving popularity one body at a time.

To say this film packs a punch would be an understatement.…

Even if you’re not a fan of heavy metal, you can’t help but admire Alien Weaponry. If not for their rise to fame on an international scale, then for being the first band of the genre to sing in te reo Māori.

Director Kent Belcher…

New Zealand in the 1950s was not an especially friendly place for outcasts, especially for those who also happened to be young, queer, or Māori women. When teenage Nellie (Erana James, Hot Mother, NZIFF 2021) and Daisy (Manaia Hall, in her feature film debut) are…

Five new Aotearoa shorts examine the ways we connect with each other. From strangers uniting to stand up for what is right to fleeting moments of understanding between loved ones, these films deftly capture the bonds and binds between us.

Payback 

When a welfare department’s…

This collection of Māori and Pasifika short films has been selected by co-curators Leo Koziol (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Rakaipaaka), Director of the Wairoa Film Festival, and Craig Fasi (Niue), Director of Pollywood Film Festival. Support these homegrown films across the motu and vote for your…

Best known for his cultish debut feature, Jack Be Nimble, as well as prolific work in television across both sides of the Tasman, Garth Maxwell here offers a deeply personal film, co-directed by the late Peter Wells, in Naughty Little Peeptoe. An ode to friend,…

What began as an experience in biculturalism between Māori and Pākehā grew into Taki Rua Theatre, the unofficial national Māori theatre company. As we tour the motu with the latest ensemble of young artists, we witness the deeply personal and politically visionary story of the…

And the winner of this year’s Dame Gaylene Preston and WIFT Best Female / Gender Diverse Director award at the Vista Foundations 48 Hours Grand Finals is WIFT member Julie Zhu for Monster State by the team, Sad Jackie! Congratulations!

Additionally we want to congratulate…

NZFC have announced the appointment of WIFT members Esther Cahill-Chiaroni to the role of Development Lead and Morgan Waru (Ngāti Porou) to the role of Exec – Development and Investment. Congratulations to Esther and Morgan on their appointments!

Esther was Executive Director at Script to Screen…

We are a week away from NZIFF kick off in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland on 7 August! Have you taken a good look at the programme and purchased your tickets? Christchurch opens on 15 August, and the whole festival will be rolling out around the country!…

Our WIFT member Celia Jaspers, has been selected into 37 South's PostScript & Direct programme! Go Celia! PostScript & Direct enables selected Australia/NZ directors/writers/creatives to meet with, and pitch to, selected 37ºSouth registered Australian/NZ producers and interest them in their work and skills via a…

Went Up the Hill, produced by WIFT members, Vicky Pope, executive produced by Jill Macnab, line produced by Michelle Turner, with costume design by Kirsty Cameron, has been selected for the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival, Special Presentations! Congratulations to the entire team. We wish…

NZ On Air recently partnered with Te Māngai Pāho to commission a study into the media behaviour, attitudes and content needs of Māori audiences. The research is to inform the two funding agencies' strategies and decisions around creating content that appeals to and engages Māori…

Film Otago Southland launched a regional Sustainable Filming Directory: Sustainable Filming Directory » Film Otago Southland

This Directory is an interactive and filterable feature on their website that lists local (Otago and Southland based) organisations that offer waste, recycling and circular solutions, as well as…

To better connect parents, caregivers and children with NZ On Air-funded tamariki screen content, NZ On Air intends to create a hub on YouTube. The intention is to make it easier to find and enjoy local content made specifically for New Zealand children.

Therefore, they are…

SEED is closing very soon on Midday 9 August 2024. We are sure you are already busy working away at this, so we just want to wish you all the best success with your application. 

Seed Grants represent an opportunity for writers to be innovative,…

This is a cross-organisation, co-funded initiative between Creative NZ, NZ On Air and RNZ based on the findings and recommendations of the research, New Mirrors – Strengthening arts and culture media for Aotearoa New Zealand. The fund is to address the national deficit in arts…

The course will be taught by Gavin McGibbon. Gavin is a freelance screenwriter who is currently developing a TV Series and a Feature Film with the Executive Producer of the Emmy nominated hit TV show Severance.This is a special course exploring, what are the most…

Familiar Strangers, APRA & NZ On Air are offering a free workshop 'Music Supervision 101,' on music budgeting, creative development, and licensing for Film & TV.

Music synchronization and supervision experts, Aminé Ramer and Tim Bern are excited to bring their international expertise to the…

DEGANZ have announced they are to take-over management of MIFF, Melbourne International Film Festival’s Accelerator Lab. This was previously managed by NZFC. The MIFF Accelerator Lab is held for four days during the Melbourne International Film Festival, which this year runs from 8 – 25…

There are some spaces remaining for this semester of the The Actors Lab: Monday night Foundational, suited to those with little to no acting experience and Sunday Professional Block 2, for more advanced students. They’ve offered a discount of $40 off for WIFT members on…

Get your ticket to the Day One Shorts cinema premiere before they sell out! They will be showcasing the 8 funded short films - followed by a Q&A with our talented up-and-coming filmmakers on Tuesday, 3rd Sep 2024, 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm.

Tickets range…

This is a short simple and effective series made by The Big Idea, featuring Dina Jezdic, Roadmap to Success.  It’s a series of videos that outline some key points on any kind of creative path, and how to support you into success.

Dina has directed…

This blog is an informative read, 3 Language Tips for Directing Intimacy, and refers to a workshop held by Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand. DEGANZ will be hosting another in Rotorua on October 16

Here is a simple checklist to determine whether you need to hire…

NZTVA awards have received some outstanding entries so far, and there is still time, so keep the submissions coming!  Submissions close on 9 August at 5:00 PM.

Find more information.

Reminder – all video links submitted via the NZTVA portal must have either a YouTube…

Following Minister Goldsmith’s announcement on 2 July 2024, a minor change was made to the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate Criteria for New Zealand Productions.

• Effective from 1 July 2024, scripted series with minimum Qualifying New Zealand Production Expenditure (QNZPE) of NZ$10 million per season…

Berlinale Talents is the talent development programme of the Berlin International Film Festival, with project development labs taking place digitally in late January and an onsite summit with panels, discussions and networking opportunities during the Berlinale each February.

Berlinale Talents is aimed at filmmakers, series…

The 2025 BlueCat Screenplay Competition is now open for entries (feature screenplays and short screenplays)! 

BlueCat has a long and distinguished history of discovering unknown screenwriters, introducing them to the industry and launching their careers. They read every screenplay and provide written notes on all…