After 13 years of support from Foundation North, applications are now open for the 2026 South Shorts Script Mentorship programme.
This programme will continue to support new and emerging screenwriters from the South Auckland community* to enhance their screenwriting capabilities. Take the leap and submit your story ideas to be a part of this unique development opportunity. South Shorts will help you develop your story idea/s (short film or web series), write a script, share your unique perspective, and advance your screenwriting career within a supportive framework.
During this mentorship programme (August-November 2026), you will attend a series of one-day Saturday hubs alongside like-minded creatives, be led through focused script development and receive one-on-one feedback under the guidance of writer and director Briar Grace-Smith (Cousins, Waru). Briar has mentored the past 8 years of South Shorts, and she brings considerable experience and knowledge from her own projects.
They also welcome applications from past participants of the South Shorts programme who wish to develop a new script idea.
Opens: Fri, 12th June 2026
Applications Close: 1pm, Monday 13th July 2026
Notification of outcome: 20th July
*This initiative is intended for people who either live in South Auckland or are connected to the South Auckland community – maybe you grew up there, have whānau there, have worked there for years or have another genuine connection to the community in some way.