Feature Film Finishing Grant

The NZFC Feature Film Finishing Grant supports NZ-based filmmakers who have independently produced a feature film and are ready to take it across the finish line. You can apply for a non-recoupable grant of up to $60,000 NZD to cover post-production costs.

To be eligible, the director and producer must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents, the film must not have received NZFC Production or Post-Production funding, and the total production budget must be under $1,000,000. Your film needs to be between 75 and 110 minutes long and at a late rough cut, fine cut, or locked cut stage.

There are two pathways to eligibility

• Distributor Pathway: a recognised NZ distributor is attached for theatrical release; or
• Festival Pathway: the film has been invited to screen at NZIFF, DocEdge, Rotorua Indigenous Film Festival, Māoriland, Resene Architecture and Design Film Festival, or a prestigious international festival — with a pathway to NZ theatrical release.

If your project has significant Māori content, appropriate Māori involvement is required, along with consideration of intellectual property ownership and benefit sharing in line with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Before applying, you must contact the NZFC Funding Team for a pre-application hui. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis via the NZFC portal, with an estimated six-week turnaround for decisions.

Your application should include a viewing link of the cut, a logline and synopsis, director's vision notes, team biographies, producer notes with an audience reach plan, post-production budget and schedule, and a summary of chain of title. You'll also be asked to identify your film's primary ambition — whether that's local audience appeal, commercial reach, critical acclaim, innovation, or social/cultural impact.

This is a contestable grant, so bring your passion — tell the assessors why you made this film, why now, and what you hope it will achieve.