The FilmUp Mentorship is professional development programme for filmmakers making feature films. In 2026 it will continue to support and empower eight tenacious and talented feature filmmakers to reach the next stage in their creative careers.
As this is a one-to-one mentorship, it is open to individual filmmakers rather than writing partnerships and/or teams.
Applications are now open for filmmakers who are writers, directors or producers with a feature project in development and who can demonstrate that their project and career are at the right stage for mentorship.
FilmUp will run from April to November 2026.
Each successful filmmaker will receive:
- 20 hours of one-to-one mentorship
- Attend five group development hubs (a mix of in-person and online)
- Funding of up to $2,000 each to be used for additional support while attending the programme
- Travel and accommodation support for those outside of Auckland to attend in-person hubs
- Wrap around support from Script to Screen across the duration of the programme
Mentorship forms the cornerstone of the FilmUp programme, successful applicants can clearly identify and hold their learning and development needs. Autonomy is fostered from the start of the programme with participants actively involved in the selection of their mentor and additional support.
Since its inception in 2013, FilmUp has gone from strength to strength, with a growing number of alumni who have benefitted and progressed from the programme, including 22 debut feature films being made by alumni following their FilmUp mentorship.
Alumni include Briar March (Dame Valerie Adams: MORE THAN GOLD, Mothers of the Revolution), Chelsea Winstanley (TOITU:Visual Sovereignty,Ka Po, Night Raiders), Desray Armstrong (Kōkā, The Mountain, Bad Behaviour), Florian Habicht (James & Isey, Spookers), Gaysorn Thavat (The Justice of Bunny King), Jake Mahaffy (Reunion, Free in Deed), Nic Gorman (Human Traces), Paula Whetu-Jones (Whina, Waru), Sophie Henderson (Workmates, Baby Done) and Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa (Three Wise Cousins, Take Home Pay)
To prep yourselves for the BEST application possible, Script to Screen invites you to join them at 6pm on Wednesday 15th October for the FilmUp Application Q&A Webinar.
This is your chance to:
- Learn how FilmUp has supported Aotearoa’s writers, directors, and producers since 2013
- Get top tips for crafting a strong application
- Ask questions about the mentorship programme
- Discover if this opportunity is the right fit for your creative journey
The webinar will be held with Script to Screen's Executive Director Dale Corlett.
Register HERE.
Further criteria and key dates as follows:
SELECTION CRITERIA:
The selection criteria is used by the selection panel to help assess your application and guide their discussion. Listed below in no specific order.
- Evidence that prior work is of a high quality
- Evidence that work demonstrates a unique voice
- Current feature film synopsis is strong
- Goals are specific and achievable
- Filmmaker/project are at right stage to benefit from mentorship
- Assessors' overall instinct of applicant
KEY DATES:
APPLICATIONS OPEN: Monday 29th September 2025
APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 1:00 pm, Monday 10th November 2025
NOTIFICATION OF OUTCOME: Early December
HUB DATES: (Dates subject to change)
HUB 1: Auckland (2 days) - Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st April 2026
HUB 2: Online – Friday 22nd May 2026
HUB 3: Auckland (1 day) TBC – proposed late June/ early July
HUB 4: Online – Friday 28th August 2026
HUB 5: Auckland (2 days) – Thursday 5th and Friday 6th November 2026