New Zealand Film Commission (Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga)
NZFC contestable funding for NZ screenwriters, directors and producers to develop feature film scripts towards production.
The New Zealand Film Commission's Feature Film Development Funding (Scripted) supports writers, directors and producers to craft extraordinary feature film scripts and move projects towards production. Funding can be used across a wide range of development activities — screenwriting fees, director preparation, story workshops, wānanga, residencies, casting, location scouting, packaging, pitch materials, and animation concept work.
This is a contestable fund, so your application needs to make a clear case for why this project needs to be made now and what impact it will have. When applying, identify one or two key ambitions for your film: local audience appeal, commercial potential, critical acclaim, or innovation in filmmaking.
Funding amounts
You can apply for up to $35,000 per tranche, with a cumulative cap of $140,000 per project (including any previous NZFC development funding). If your script has advanced significantly, you may apply for more than $35,000 in a single tranche, provided the total stays within the cap.
Who can apply
Applicants must be NZ citizens or permanent residents who hold (or have an option on) the rights to the project, and who meet at least one of the following:
For second or subsequent tranches, applicants must be a producer or a writer/director with two theatrically released feature films. No individual may be attached to more than two applications under consideration at once.
Projects with significant Māori content must include Māori involvement commensurate with that content, with consideration given to IP ownership and capacity-building in line with Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Te Ao Māori.
How to apply
Before submitting, you must contact the funding team to arrange a 15-minute pre-application hui to discuss your project and eligibility. Applications are then submitted via the NZFC Portal at any time. Decisions take approximately eight weeks from receipt of an eligible application.
What to submit
AI use must be disclosed in your application, with attention to cultural authenticity, creative integrity, transparency, and ethical implications.
Contact the funding team at development@nzfilm.co.nz to arrange your pre-application hui.
