Getting Your Film Seen

We want New Zealand films to be enjoyed both here and overseas. 

Local

We expect all the films we fund to be seen in New Zealand cinemas. We know New Zealand films need help going up against international films with far larger budgets and audiences. That is why we subsidise film screening materials and can provide a portion of the advertising budget for local films. We also work with producers and distributors to create release strategies that maximise audience and revenue.

International 

Major international film festivals, markets and events provide a vehicle for sales agents to launch and promote films to the international marketplace. Reviews will be written, audience reaction gauged, awards may be won and buzz created. In the world of independent film, festivals are likely to be an essential part of a feature film’s launch strategy.

Trade events

Film markets are trade events where distributors (buyers) and sales agents (sellers) meet in one space to deal in film. Many of the world's leading festivals operate a formal market alongside the festival itself. 

International partnerships

The Film Commission regularly attends major international film festivals and markets. Our main role there is to promote New Zealand films and filmmakers to the broader international film industry and facilitate international partnerships.

We also offer support to New Zealand filmmakers to travel to major international festivals and markets to pursue future career opportunities.  More information on this can be found in the Funding for Career Development section.