Browse through our latest news or go back through our archives.

  • Production Resumes on NZ Feature Film Poppy

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Tue 2 Jun 2020

    New Zealand feature film Poppy resumed production on Friday 29 May after responding to the COVID-19 Alert Level 4 lockdown announcement on March 23.

  • Vale Bill Gavin

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Fri 29 May 2020

    The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) joins the New Zealand and international film community in sadly acknowledging the passing of Bill Gavin. Our thoughts are with his close family and friends and we celebrate his achievements.

  • NZFC Live Q & A 12 May

    News and Updates
    Issue date: 
    Thu 14 May 2020

    On Tuesday 12 May the NZFC held its second live Q&A event  with CEO Annabelle Sheehan, Head of Marketing Jasmin McSweeney and Head of International Relations Chris Payne.

  • Funding Announcement – Catalyst He Kauahi Round March 2020

    Funding Decisions News
    Issue date: 
    Mon 11 May 2020

    Catalyst He Kauahi supports New Zealand filmmakers to progress their talents to the next stage and make exceptional, high end narrative short films that will ignite the flame and be the catalyst for change in their career.

  • New Zealand Implements Screen Sector Health and Safety Protocols

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Fri 8 May 2020

    The New Zealand Screen industry’s COVID-19 Health and Safety Standard and Protocols were endorsed on 7 May by New Zealand Government agency WorkSafe, laying the way clear for local production to re-start in New Zealand.

  • Tuesday 12 May - Live Q&A Event: The International Marketplace Under COVID-19

    News and Updates
    Issue date: 
    Thu 7 May 2020

    Join New Zealand Film Commission CEO Annabelle Sheehan, Head of Marketing Jasmin McSweeney and Head of International Relations Chris Payne for a live Q&A on Tuesday 12 May at 5pm.

  • NZFC Q&A Event 28 April

    News and Updates
    Issue date: 
    Fri 1 May 2020

    On Tuesday 28 April the NZFC held its inaugural live Q & A event  with CEO Annabelle Sheehan, Head of Development and Production Leanne Saunders and Pou Whakahaere Karen Waaka-Tibble.  

  • Advisory # 4 Introduced by NZFC Chair, Dame Kerry Prendergast and the Board of the NZFC

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Fri 1 May 2020

    The Board are very aware of the significant losses and hardships experienced by the screen sector at this time. COVID-19 shut down 47 New Zealand productions when the global pandemic required the Government to move New Zealand into Alert Level 4.

  • Michael Bennett 2020 Te Aupounamu Māori Screen Excellence Award Recipient

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Wed 29 Apr 2020

    Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga New Zealand Film Commission is pleased to announce writer/director Michael Bennett is this year’s recipient of Te Aupounamu Māori Screen Excellence award grant of $50,000 to support his professional develop

  • Live Q & A Session with NZFC

    Reminder
    Issue date: 
    Thu 23 Apr 2020

    Join New Zealand Film Commission CEO Annabelle Sheehan, Head of Development & Production Leanne Saunders and Pou Whakahaere Karen Waaka-Tibble for a live Q&A on Tuesday 28 April, at 5pm.

  • Boost and Boost Up Funding Guidelines Available Now

    News and Updates
    Issue date: 
    Fri 17 Apr 2020

    As we mentioned in last week's Advisory, the NZFC's Boost funding round for 2020, and a new fund, Boost Up, are launching this week.

  • Advisory #3 NZFC Extends Business Support Funding To $1 Million (Plus Confirms Development Funding of $750k+ From Ongoing Programmes)

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Tue 7 Apr 2020

    As we enter week two of the lockdown, we do hope you are all safe and well. From our conversations with many of you over the last few weeks we are acutely aware of the challenges everyone is facing at this time.

  • He Pounamu Te Reo Māori Feature Film Initiative Deadline Extension

    News and Updates
    Issue date: 
    Tue 31 Mar 2020

    Based on industry feedback, we have extended the deadline for applications for He Pounamu Te Reo Māori Feature Film Initiative by two weeks.

  • NZFC Operations Continue Remotely

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Thu 26 Mar 2020

    In line with the New Zealand Government’s shift to COVID-19 Alert Level 4 from midnight on Wednesday 25 March 2020, the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) staff in Auckland and Wellington will be working from their homes at least for the ne

  • New Zealand Film Commission CEO Confirmed With COVID-19

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Wed 25 Mar 2020

    The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) can confirm that CEO Annabelle Sheehan has been diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus.

    Her symptoms are currently minor, and she is recovering in isolation at home in Wellington.

  • Advisory #2 COVID-19 Pandemic as it Affects Production

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Mon 23 Mar 2020

    Today the New Zealand Government has announced the country is now at COVID-19 Alert level 3 with an upgrade to level 4 at midnight Wednesday, 25 March 2020. Level 4 is expected to continue for a minimum of 4 weeks.

  • Advisory #1 Regarding the COVID-19 Situation

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Tue 17 Mar 2020

    As the COVID-19 virus continues to create uncertainty for us all, we at the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) would like to update you on the measures we are taking to manage as much as possible the impact the pandemic is having on our ind

  • Travel Grants Programme Suspended

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Thu 12 Mar 2020

    This morning the World Health Organisation has made the assessment that COVID-19 coronavirus be characterised as a pandemic.

  • Tautoko Tāngata Māori Talent Development Fund Opens

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Fri 14 Feb 2020

    Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) has launched a new talent development fund under its Te Rautaki Māori strategy which was introduced in 2018 to champion Māori film and filmmakers in partnership with the Māori film

  • Trailer Released For Film 'This Town' Starring Robyn Malcolm, Rima Te Wiata And David White

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Thu 13 Feb 2020

    The trailer for new Kiwi comedy This Town has today been unveiled ahead of the film’s nationwide theatrical release on 30 April 2020.

  • Fresh Shorts Funding Announcement

    Funding Decisions News
    Issue date: 
    Tue 11 Feb 2020

    Six filmmaking teams have been offered funding in the
    2019-20 Fresh Shorts round and will receive a grant of $15,000 to put toward the making of their short films. 

  • Male and Female Indigenous Talent Reach New Levels with 2020 Academy Awards Nomination

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Tue 28 Jan 2020

    The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) / Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga would like to congratulate Taika Waititi (Te Whānau ā Apanui) and Chelsea Winstanley (Ngāti Ranginui ) on becoming the first indigenous producers to be nominated for a Be

  • Now in its Fifth Consecutive Year, Fellowship Honors Artistic Contributions of Late Māori Filmmaker

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Tue 28 Jan 2020

    Sundance Institute today announced director and producer Leya Hale as the 2020 recipient of the Sundance Institute Merata Mita Fellowship, an annual fellowship named in honor of the late Māori filmmaker Merata Mita (1942-2010).

  • Unique New Zealand Series The Dead Lands Launches

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Thu 23 Jan 2020

    A ground-breaking New Zealand television series launches today, Thursday 23 January 2020 to what is being described as one of the largest ever international audiences for a New Zealand television production.

  • Trailer Dropped for Action-Comedy Guns Akimbo

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Thu 16 Jan 2020

    The trailer for Guns Akimbo has dropped today, starring Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and Samara Weaving (Ready or Not).

  • NZFC Holiday Hours

    News and Updates
    Issue date: 
    Fri 20 Dec 2019

    The New Zealand Film Commission wishes all of you a very happy holiday season and all the best for the New Year.

    Our offices will be closed from 21 December 2019 until 6 January 2020.

  • Official Trailer Dropped for Action-Comedy The Legend of Baron To'a

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Mon 16 Dec 2019

    The official trailer for Aotearoa’s brand-new action-comedy The Legend of Baron To’a has today been released ahead of its nationwide theatrical release on 20 February 2020.

  • Bellbird Wins at Macao International Film Festival

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Wed 11 Dec 2019

    Hamish Bennett, writer and director of New Zealand feature film, Bellbird, was the recipient of the Best Screenplay award at the Macao International Film Festival, last night.

  • Vale Joe Moodabe

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Mon 9 Dec 2019

    The NZFC joins the New Zealand film industry in farewelling veteran exhibitor, Joe Moodabe.

  • New Zealand Film Commission Releases Annual Report for 2018-19

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Wed 4 Dec 2019

    The New Zealand Film Commission’s Annual Report 2018/19 was tabled in Parliament on 3 December.

  • R.I.P. Arthur Baysting

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Wed 4 Dec 2019

    The NZFC and the New Zealand entertainment industry were saddened to hear that Arthur Baysting passed away on Tuesday 3 December.

  • Catalyst He Kauahi Funding Announcement

    Media Release
    Issue date: 
    Tue 3 Dec 2019

    Catalyst He Kauahi supports New Zealand filmmakers to progress their talents to the next stage and make exceptional, high end narrative short films that will ignite the flame and be the catalyst for change in their career.