Archive October 2024

We are thrilled to share A MISTAKE with you! We have 5 double passes available for a giveaway.

This film is written and directed by Christine Jeffs, adapted from the best-selling novel A Mistake, and starring Elizabeth Banks in the lead role, and will be…

The winners of Kōpere Ake 2024 have been announced!

But first - this year saw 196 applications, created by 235 writers! NZWG have said "The number of applications is a testament to the level of talent in the screenwriting community of Aotearoa New Zealand.”

Congratulations…

Léah McVeagh wrote & directed a music video for NZ On Air funded artist, Sabreen, which came out last week! Among the team was Joey Leung as Camera / VF Assist and Props Assist, and Rachel Sung as Gaffer.

The song is based on the…

After having its World Premiere at Whānau Marama NZ International Film Festival 2024, the trailer for Taki Rua Theatre - Breaking Barriers, a documentary on kaupapa Māori theatre company Taki Rua Productions, has been unveiled ahead of its nationwide cinema release on Thursday 17th October!…

Irene Gardiner, president of SPADA, shared great news about the success of our industry. Read this article and experience an uplifting review of how successful our little Aotearoa industry is. https://www.thepost.co.nz/culture/350421421/tv-shows-and-films-bringing-new-zealand-world

And listen to this fantastic interview with WIFT member, Robyn Paterson, interviewed by Duncan…

Content London is the world’s leading development marketplace and conference, and they are offering WIFT members a discount!

The conference takes place over three days between December 2 – 5. It attracts more than 3000 leading content executives from all over the world, with a…

Marimari, a film by first-time producer and WIFT member, Shu Run Yap, won the Award of Merit at the Impact DOCS Award! This category recognizes passionate filmmakers that delivered projects highlighting issues from around the planet. Congratulations to the team on this project, including WIFT…

Māoriland Charitable Trust is thrilled to announce a collaboration with DreamWorks Animation to dub the beloved animated film Shrek into te reo Māori, leading to a world premiere at the Māoriland Film Festival in March 2025, followed by a series of special screenings across New…

WIFT member team are in the midst of their Boosted Campaign for Puli and the Tiger, from Art Director, Sadie Wilson, Crowdfunding Manager, Kate Chu and 1st AD, Francesca Mackenzie.

 > https://www.boosted.org.nz/projects/puli-and-the-tiger

Just like the folktales her grandmother used to tell, a Tiger pays a…

The 2024 Show Me Shorts programme, see here, has been announced featuring many WIFT members projects!

This year's programme includes features films from 23 countries, selected from 2,400 submissions. This year's screenings will span 126 showings in 40 venues across Aotearoa New Zealand throughout October.…

The theme for Te Wiki 2024 is ‘Ake ake ake – A Forever Language’. It represents the resilience, adaptability and endurance of te reo Māori. It also reflects the commitment New Zealanders have to embracing and learning te reo Māori long into the future. Here…

Broadtech's Annual Car Boot Sale is back, and they are calling all soundies, cam-ops, and techies! This is an opportunity to sell your old gear and discover new treasures.

Join for a day of fantastic finds and great deals. Don't miss out on this opportunity…

Created and run by award-winning Māori filmmakers, the Rotorua Indigenous Film Festival (RIFF) brings together the year’s best indigenous films from around the globe for an intense three-day festival from 15^th – 17^th November 2024.

Screenings are focused on excellence in indigenous filmmaking and supplemented…

Join for an unforgettable evening at the 7th NZCS Awards!

With over 200 entries highlighting the incredible talent in New Zealand cinematography, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

Expect a fast-paced show as they screen the winners' clips, offering an overview of…

Screen Music and Sound Guild are hosting the AI Creative Media Hackathon on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th October 2024 in Auckland, with the support from AUT, SAE, APRA, and Graeme Revell.

This groundbreaking, fun event aims to explore the pros and cons of AI…

This full opportunity is particularly important for CCH members, although not limited!

SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE and TE WĀNANGA WHARE TAPERE O TAKITIMU are pleased to announce the inaugural NATIONAL SCREEN INDUSTRY TRAINING PROGRAMME.

Designed to meet the increasing need for key skilled crew in Aotearoa’s…

Over the last few months our Music Advisory Board has been undertaking workshops to determine the future direction of Auckland City of Music. As a result of this, four main themes emerged each containing several recommendations and suggestions.

They are now seeking a wider sector…

Last week California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills designed to give greater protections to performers and others over the use of their digital likenesses during their lives and to their estates.

“We’re making sure that no one turns over their name, image and likeness…

The Screen Accelerator Project aims to help bring productions into New Zealand, create opportunities and build international connections. 

Emmy-award winning Hollywood producer Jon Kroll will work with producers to develop their idea(s) for unscripted content – specifically documentaries, docu-drama series or formatted TV shows so…

Spend a day with Hamish Bennett (Bellbird, Uproar) as he guides participants through the fundamentals of screenplay writing for short film. 

The focus of the day will be building stories around character and bringing specificity to your work. This workshop will be craft based, combining…

There’s a woman's genius behind this film. This is the work of Christine Jeffs in A Mistake. It’s intuitive, deep, subtle, yet with substantial power. She has skillfully layered the intricacies of a dynamic human experience. Nothing is over the top, and everything is cleverly…

From a heart-pounding battle to protect ancient trees to a tender quest for extraterrestrial contact, Loading Docs: The Tenth Collection reflects the diversity of New Zealand storytelling. As a collection of films, it speaks to universal themes of social and environmental responsibility, connection to whenua,…

What if a classroom could be a dahlia farm, a house bus, a forest, or a lounge?

The Spinoff is excited to platform Home Education, from award-winning filmmakers, Chris Pryor and Miriam Smith, a docu-series that looks into the lives of six families who have…

Highlighted in this year’s Show Me Shorts Award Nominations, are of course, WIFT members. Congratulations!

The Show Me Shorts awards celebrate filmmakers who have achieved excellence through their Festival-selected short films. The winners of the top two awards become qualified to enter the Academy Awards.

We are thrilled to share this new comedy youth series is on its way to TVNZ+ produced by WIFT member Joyce Wong. Camp Be Better marks her first (but not last) scripted series ticked off the bucket list! Many WIFT members were part of the…

Bottle Money, made by director and writer Rebekah Tyler, producer Madison Smith and starring Romy Hooper is winning in their international festival circuit.

Bottle Money has screened in the DownUnder Film festival in Berlin, won Audience Favourite at the Beverly Hills Film Festival, and was…

We have 5 double passes up for grabs for this wonderful Iranian film, My Favourite Cake, to be released in cinemas on 17 October. 

“Pure joy to watch an Iranian ‘Before Sunrise’” - Firstshowing 

Mahin (70) lives alone, until she decides to break her solitary…

Acclaimed French auteur Catherine Breillat returns with a new taboo-breaking film, Last Summer. We are delighted to offer a chance to win a double pass to see Last Summer, in NZ Cinemas from October 17. We have 5 passes up for grabs, courtesy of Potential…

Congratulations to Alison Rayner, WIFT NZ member, currently based in UK, who was selected for the prestigious WFTV Kay Mellor Screenwriters' Lab, sponsored by Miss Scarlet Limited. 

She shared, "It was a fantastic week of learning and sharing and I’ve come away feeling validated, invigorated…

Applications are now open for the Write Room 2025 Wellington screenwriting residency. The successful writer will receive a grant of $9,750 to complete a draft of their feature film screenplay, 12 weeks of free office space at Toi Pōneke Art Centre from March-June 2025 and…

Aotearoa’s latest animated series, Ngā Kōtiro o Taranaki, premiered last week on Whakaata Māori +. This 10-part series, written, directed and animated by Rautini Conroy Thompson O’Brien with Māoriland Productions, brings to life a powerful Māori story of survival and resilience set in 1880s Taranaki.

The Climate Storytelling Fellowship is open for submissions! Rewrite the Future, in partnership with the Black List, the Redford Center, the CAA Foundation, and NBCUniversal.

The fellowship awards $USD $20,000 each to three writers to support the revision of a feature screenplay or pilot that…

Applications are officially still open for Day One Shorts 2025 (formerly Someday Stories)

This year, they’re funding 8x short films, and they’ve added a new category for directors or director/writers over 30!

Deadline: 18th October 2024

Documentaries receive $15k

Dramas receive $20k

Visit www.dofilm.co.nz/shorts/ for…

Round Toru date change 

The dates of the third and final funding round for the 2024/25 have been amended slightly to provide more flexibility for applicants to submit over the holiday period, as well as to line up their assessment dates internally for the rest…

Advanced Development: Applications accepted at any time

International Co-Development Fund: Applications accepted at any time

Feature Film Finishing Grant: Applications accepted at any time

He Kauahi Catalyst: Closing, 21 Oct 1pm 

Filmmaker International Travel: Applications accepted at any time

He Pounamu Te Reo Māori Feature…

You are invited by the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to participate in a survey to understand the impact of changes made to the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate for International Productions 5% Uplift test and Post, Digital and Visual Effects (PDV)…

Taiwanese director, Wang Ming-Hsia is coming to Aotearoa to bring her film She’s Talking, in Island for one screening ONLY on Monday 28th October at Bridgeway Cinemas. 

This is a phenomenal Taiwanese road feature made in 7 days, and played on the big screens of…

Tickets to this year's New Zealand Television Awards are on sale! Get your tickets for a celebratory evening hosted by Pax Assadi.

NZTV have decided to revise the format of this year’s awards ceremony to better reflect the needs and realities of our film and television…

Floating Rock is co-hosting a screening of Brave and Q&A at The Roxy on Monday 14th October 6:30pm with Oscar-winning director Mark Andrews coming over to Wellington from Los Angeles!

--- Merida (Kelly Macdonald), the impetuous but courageous daughter of Scottish King Fergus (Billy Connolly)…

Screen Australia have two fabulous resources online to support your festival strategy planning!

They have listed over 50 International Film Festivals where you can discover deadlines and screening information, and easily link to each festival's website to start entering your films!

Additionally, they have compiled…

Spend a day with Hamish Bennett (Bellbird, Uproar) as he guides participants through the fundamentals of screenplay writing for short film in Christchurch, this weekend.

The focus of the day will be building stories around character and bringing specificity to your work. This workshop will…

The British & Irish Film Festival is back for its second edition, bringing the best of the 2024 Toronto Film Festival (TIFF) lineup to New Zealand cinemas as well as selected Cannes Film Festival favourites.

From Kerikeri to Dunedin, the festival will screen from 23…

DEGANZ welcomes filmmakers to this Director's Masterclass and/or Feature Film Project Consultation with renowned Australian Director Robert Connolly. Directors can apply for both the Masterclass and Project Consultation or register for just the Masterclass in the morning. Feature film project consultations are open for Director…

The ScreenSafe's Professional Respect Training Project was developed to support WORKSAFE's health & safety guidelines around harassment, and they have an upcoming workshop taking place Friday 18th October,  in Auckland!  

Time: Fri, 18 Oct 2024 8:45 AM - 5:00 PM 

Location: The Hawkes Sea Scouts…

Members, here is free event on Tuesday, 15 October at 8am - 9am, with Monica Sasso, Global Financial Services Digital Transformation Lead at Red Hat, who will lead a conversation on resilience in leadership and teams.

Location: Generator / Britomart Place

Level 10/11 Britomart Place,…

Voices for Shrek in Te reo Māori
Māoriland Charitable Trust and DreamWorks Animation

Kaiurungi Toi Tangata | Director of People, Language, and Culture
Whakaata Māori

Chief Advisor
Whakaata Māori

Senior Legal and Business Affairs Executive
NZ Film Commission

Production Realm Crew Coordinator
Wētā FX

Lighting Technician
TomTom Productions

Technical Officer –…

Members, fill this in. It’s paramount. 

As part of NZFC’s ongoing commitment to He Ara Whakaurunga Kanorau | Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, the New Zealand Film Commission have launched a survey to better understand the experiences of those working in the Aotearoa screen industry. They…

We’re thrilled to announce Tash Christie as the new President of our Board! Let’s give a warm welcome to our newest board members: Jasmin McSweeney, Sally Campbell, and Kathryn Graham! We’re excited to have you on this journey with us!

A huge thank you to…

The finalists have been announced for the NZTV Awards. We extend a big congratulations to all the members who have been selected!

The 2024 New Zealand Television Awards are set to be an exciting celebration of the country's talent and programming. With an impressive 121…

Congratulations to WIFT member, Elizabeth Crummett, as her feature film project Delia’s Ghost was one of seven projects selected worldwide to pitch and compete at the Academy Award qualifying film festival Sitges Cinema Fantástic in Barcelona early in October. Her project won the best feature…

This year’s Spada Screen Industry Award Recipients were announced at the prestigious industry Award’s ceremony on Thursday, 10 October 2024, and of course, our members are among the winners!

Congratulations to Joyce Wong for winning the Runner Up in the Spada Emerging Producer Award (Principal…

At the Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards 2024, held in the Wellington Beehive, WIFT member, Tusiata Avia MNZM was honored with the prestigious Senior Pacific Artist Award, celebrating her exceptional contributions to literature and performance.

Reflecting on her journey from receiving the emerging artist…

Congratulations to the team of The Rule of Jenny Pen, produced by WIFT member Catherine Fitzgerald, for their selection in the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, and as the closing night film! The film was edited by Gretchen Peterson, with costume design by Gabrielle Stevenson.

Confined…

Join NYWIFT for their Masterclass Series: Creative Strategies for Financing with Emmy-nominated impact producer Simone Pero. This three-part masterclass will offer you new insights and approaches to the fundraising process. You will explore how to effectively plan your path forward from a holistic, strategic point…

A team of writers has been selected following a national call for applications. Māoriland announced the participants for the inaugural Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab, two of which are WIFT Members!

Congratulations to Paula Whetu Jones with Sins of the Mother and Libby Hakaraia with Disco Kuini.

Join for this special celebratory screening of Vincent Ward's acclaimed first feature film, Vigil.

Vigil was the first New Zealand film to screen in competition at the Cannes Film Festival (1984), and it received a standing ovation. Vincent will be present at the majestic Embassy…

For over a decade, The Spinoff has been passionate about devouring and dissecting all kinds of local television. Now, they are funnelling all that knowledge and expertise into their most ambitious pop culture project yet: a definitive list of the Top 100 New Zealand television…

Wairarapa Film Festival is back this Labour Weekend from Friday 25 - Sunday 27 October 2024 with a carefully curated collection of films, masterclasses, and workshops - and all with a local connection!

Their Spring Programme includes film screenings at Circus Cinema, Martinborough.

1. Ma Olsen…

Here is a dynamic interview with WIFT member Roseanne Liang on 30 with Guyon Espiner. You can watch on YouTube or TVNZ+

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7hEWvmZl7s

Roseanne Liang is a talented New Zealand director and writer known for her compelling storytelling and innovative filmmaking style. She gained significant…

Members Vanessa Patea and Ruth Korver are producing Season 2 of Life in the FFN with Awa Films.

After a successful first season, Awa Films is excited to announce a casting call for the second season of "Life in the FFN," set to air on…

Te Māngai Pāho invites producers to submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) for the creation of Scripted and Factual content for diverse audiences across eligible broadcast, on-demand and digital platforms. We expect to allocate up to $8,000,000 of funding. 

Reo Māori Content
Reo Māori content is…

SAE invites the aspiring filmmakers to a Screen Info Night on October 30th from 6 PM to 8 PM at their campus at 12 Heather Street, Parnell. This event is a fantastic opportunity for prospective students to delve into the world of screen production.

The…

Join for an unforgettable journey through German cinema at KinoFest 2024, in cooperation with the Vic Devonport. The festival is taking place from 2nd to 10th of November at the Vic Devonport, Auckland. Featuring 12 films under the theme “GLOBAL TIES, PERSONAL JOURNEYS”, the programme…

Below are two different workshops coming up in Wellington and Auckland.

AKL: Animating Icons: Character Development & Techniques in Animation 
Join Visual Effects Society NZ (VES), Media Design School, and Visual Effects Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand (VFXG) on October 30th for an insightful discussion…

NZCS and Xytech Group invite you to an insightful afternoon with DP Dave Garbett and Gaffer Phil Totoro, discussing the evolution of camera and lighting over the past decade.

Join as they share their experiences with the latest technologies that have transformed the industry, producing…

Here is a great opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge about production management!

End City Productions will be hosting a 90-minute online masterclass about the function of production management in the film industry. The masterclass will also be followed up with a 30-minute question and answer…

Broadtech is hosting a Car Boot Sale for soundies, cam-ops, and techies on 2^nd of November in Mt. Wellington! Join for a day of fantastic finds and great deals. Sell your old gear, discover new treasures, and enjoy the following:

• Food & Free Coffee
• Live…

Here are some upcoming festival deadlines! Remember, the sooner you make a deadline, the more money you save. 

The Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF) is a competitive international women directors’ film festival established in 2001, as a not-for-profit organization. Voted one of the “Top 50…

This past Monday, 21 October, ScreenSafe announced the official launch of the redesigned website, built to make navigating screen industry safety easier for all screen workers and industry professionals. Their goal is to streamline access to essential safety resources and training while enhancing the overall…

WELLINGTON EVENT -

AWGACS & AWG CEO Claire Pullen and the AWG’s Industrial and Policy Manager Bryant Apolonio are in NZ to talk all things secondary royalties. Joined by NZWG ED Alice Shearman for an update on happenings at NZWG. And joined by AWGACS Board…

This is the final week to apply to A Wave in the Ocean. The application closing date is 29 October 2024. 

The course focuses on Writing/Directing skills. It is designed for self-starting Postgraduate-level applicants with life experience and proof of energy and ambition. 

Applicants will…