Archive JAN 2026 2026

The Actors Studio with Elena Stejko has a January workshop and Term One classes on offer, and Equity members receive a 10% discount

Upcoming Workshop

31 January – Audition Preparation Workshop

The fastest way to prepare for auditions using Michael Chekhov screen acting tools.

TERM…

WIFT International is delighted to announce a further group of outstanding speakers joining the growing programme for the 2026 Women in Film and Television International Summit being held in London next month.

• Clare Cheetham
  Emmy Award–Winning VFX Executive Producer
• Gretchen McGowan
  Emmy Award–Winning Producer & Production Manager…

Invitation - Power to Transform!    

“Guidelines for the Sexism-Free and Gender-Sensitive Use of AI in the Film and Media Industries”

As the Venice Berlinale approaches, organisers are very much looking forward to welcoming attendees to Berlin for the global forum for women film organizations @berlinale…

Script to Screen is delighted to announce the 2026 participants FilmUp mentorship programme who will join this growing community of advancing Feature Film practitioners.  

This year marks the twelfth addition of FilmUp and Script to Screen would like to thank the NZFC who have continued…

TENOR: My Name Is Pati, supported by New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC), is set to hit a high note at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in February, where it will make its world premiere. The documentary headlines a quartet of Aotearoa films screening at…

Needless to say you do NOT want to miss the awards party of the year in March - the 2026 WIFT Awards!

Tickets are available right now - Patricia is of course already working on her wardrobe, the fabulous Jazz is practising her dancing, and…

This award recognises an outstanding contribution by a Moana Pasifika woman in any field in the Aotearoa/New Zealand screen industry

The finalists are (WIFT Members in BOLD)

ANAPELA POLATA’IVAO

To call Anapela a powerhouse would do her a disservice; her decades-long creative nurturing presence in…

This award honours long-term contributions behind the scenes which ensure successful projects and provide essential support to colleagues. 

The finalists are:

SARAH CULL

Sarah’s essential and often invisible contributions to building the legal & infrastructure which enables the local screen sector to thrive cannot be…

This award honours a production company or individual whose work makes a significant contribution to the increased use and knowledge of Te Reo Māori me ngā tikanga.

And our finalists are:

VIV WIGBY-NGATAI (Ngāiterangi, Ngāti Ranginui)

Whaea Viv embodies the quiet achiever, devoted to the…

This award honours long-term outstanding work, generous support for others, and commitment to the growth of the industry both professionally and personally. This award can only be won once and this year's winner will be revealed on the night of the 2026 Wift Awards on…

This award recognises outstanding achievement in creativity in post-production in film, television or digital media between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2025.  Nominee job titles include editor, colourist, sound editor, ADR recordist, VFX artist, VFX supervisor, VFX editor, animator, compositor.

And our finalists are…

This award recognises a woman with an emerging body of work who shows the potential to have a significant career in the industry.

The finalists are (WIFT Members in BOLD):

ROSIE HOLE

The momentum Rosie is building as a future leader is impressive, reflecting her…

This Award recognises exceptional business achievement and is given to a woman who has demonstrated business acumen and entrepreneurial vision in establishing a sustainable financial enterprise, contributing to the future health and viability of the New Zealand screen industry.

Our finalists are (WIFT Members in…

This award recognises significant achievement with a short or feature film released in the last two years locally and/or internationally between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2025.

The finalists are (WIFT Members in BOLD)

ANAPELA POLATA’IVAO

I dare you to find a single human…

This award recognises a woman who has had a significant impact or achievement in any aspect of television or digital media between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2025.

Our finalists are:

RACHEL FAWCETT

Showing phenomenal commitment to the kaupapa of this project, Rachel took…

This award recognises exceptional talent in a woman under 30 working in the New Zealand screen industry across any field.

Our finalists are:

AMANDA-JANE ROBINSON

A rising talent deserving of all her success already, this impressive young producer delivered the powerful 2025 short film Womb…

This award recognises outstanding achievement in craft in film, television or digital media production, especially those working in the more traditionally male-dominated sectors, between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2025, e.g. camera, sound, lighting, grips, stunt work, set design.

The finalists are (WIFT members…

The NZFC funding team will be hosting morning teas in February in Auckland and Wellington and they would love to see you there! 

•       Auckland: Thursday 19 February, 10am-midday, RSVP here. 
•       Wellington: Tuesday 24 February, 10am-midday, RSVP here. 

They are also excited to launch a dedicated…

An inspiring workshop series has been launched for NZ Directors, Writers and Producers approaching production of their first dramatic feature. 

Developed and led by Rob Sarkies (Pike River) The Approach has been designed to help bridge the gap for emerging feature filmmakers between experience on…

International film industry analyst Stephen Follows has published a two-part data deep dive into the film industry and what that data tells us about what may lay ahead - and it makes for insightful (and sobering!) reading.

We'd like to point you in his direction…

Kia orana anau,

And happy new year to you all! Team Boosted is officially back on the tools from today onwards and here to support your crowdfunding needs and our first task is to bring our fellow creatives back up to speed on Boosted X…

The DocPlay Indie Booster initiative has been announced and added to this year’s AIDC (Australian Internatonal Documentary Conference), which takes place in Melbourne from 2-5 March, 2026.

Debuting as part of the AIDC 2026 Cut to the Chase meetings marketplace, the selected project teams will…

SAE Auckland has launched a new Graduate Diploma in Creative Business – a Level 7, one-year programme designed for creatives with a degree or industry experience who are ready to turn their practice into a sustainable career.

The programme is built around four flexible, eight-week…

Calling Bay of Plenty Producers!

Applications are now open for the Regional Producer's Accelerator (RPA). 

This is an 8-month mentorship and professional development programme with Matthew Metcalfe and workshops with leading industry experts on finance, contracting, distribution and festival strategy, plus up to $2000 support…

We’re pleased to let you know that Registrations for the 2026 round of the Game Development Sector Rebate (GDSR) has opened.

GDSR Registration is the first step in applying for the rebate. Even if you have applied in previous years, you still need to complete…