NZWG and New Zealand Film Commission are excited to announce that Seed & Seed Advanced is now open.
Seed & Seed Advanced are screenwriter-only feature film script development grants.
Seed Grants allow writers to be innovative, brilliant, and to create something they own. The writer is the rights holder, and not working with a producer in early development.
Open: 9am, Monday 8 September 2025
Close: 12noon, Friday 17 October 2025
Announcement of Recipients: 4pm, Friday 19 December 2025
https://www.nzwg.org.nz/grants/seed-grants
There are two pathways available in the grants, Seed & Seed Advanced:
Seed is open to emerging writers who haven’t yet written and had a feature film produced.
- 6 x Seed Grants of $10,000 - includes $2,500 for script consultation
Seed Advanced is aimed at reducing competition in the Seed pathway, by separating emerging writers from more experienced writers. It is open to established writers who have more than 90 minutes of scripted broadcast credits.
- 2 x Seed Advanced Grants of $12,500 - includes $2,500 for script development
All grant applications are assessed through a blind-read process and marked on the following criteria:
- Idea – is it compelling/engaging? Does it have an audience?
- Craft – is the writer able to execute the screenplay on a high enough level to deliver on the promise of the idea?
- Voice – is the writer’s voice original and clear?
All applications require the following material:
- Logline
- Short synopsis
- Potential audience
- Treatment - 5 pages (10 pages for Seed Advanced)
- Screenplay sample - 10 pages
Got Questions?
Just email claire@nzwg.org.nz with any queries or if you require assistance with your application.