Funding programmes

Are you a business or film industry organisation that wants to develop talent and deliver training for the New Zealand film industry?

We want New Zealand films to be seen both here and overseas. We expect all the films that we fund to be seen in New Zealand cinemas but we understand that in a competitive market your film might need help to reach its audience.

Documentaries are a vital part of our country's film industry. The Film Commission is committed to funding both short and feature length documentaries. 

We invest in feature films for the big screen that entertain audiences and are recognised and celebrated all over the world.  Our investment in film develops careers and attracts international business to help drive our economy.

New Zealand is a place of the imagination. Hobbits roam the magnificent landscape, dragons come to life and the Na’vi live in harmony with nature on Pandora.

If you are an industry guild or some other organisation working in the film industry then the Film Commission has a number of initiatives that can help you develop filmmaking talent and upskill practitioners. 

The New Zealand Film Commission collaborates with the New Zealand Writers’ Guild (NZWG) for early script development under the name Seed Funding.

If you have finished your film and need some help to get it across the finish line, you can apply for post production funding. Depending on the scale of the work needed to finish your film, there are several options.

Production Funding offers production financing for your project.

We are committed to developing New Zealand screen stories and the voices of the people who create them.  

Our short film funds aim to identify the next generation of New Zealand feature filmmakers by nurturing up-and-coming talent through short film development and production.

Are you wanting support for your filmmaking career? The Film Commission has a number of initiatives to develop the careers of filmmakers, including those in their early stages.

Kia ora. Are you a Māori filmmaker with a story to tell? The Film Commission values cultural diversity and wants to help more Māori filmmakers find pathways to bring their stories to life.  

We assist producers to travel to key international markets where they can advance the packaging and financing of their film projects.