The New Zealand Film Commission is proudly supporting a new collaboration with the New Zealand Writers Guild (NZWG) for early script development.
The NZWG will offer 10 x $10,000 grants (a total fund of $100,000) to help projects progress to the stage where they may apply to the NZFC’s Early and Advanced Development funds or continue to be developed independently.
“We are excited to be supporting the NZWG to take a greater role in identifying projects and talent at an early stage,” says Graeme Mason. “It sits alongside a number of changes the NZFC is introducing that increase partnerships with the industry to further grow the screen sector.”
The new scheme replaces the NZFC’s Seed Development Fund (SDF), while ensuring a structured opportunity for developing initial ideas remains. Writers will be able to work with script consultants to help them refine the strongest film from their original idea, with the aim of progressing projects to the point that they can be presented to individual producers or production companies.
This fund is not solely for emerging filmmakers, but is primarily for emerging ideas. The NZWG has a strong membership of more than 400 writers and is well placed to take on this role in continuing to foster the wider culture of screenwriting and development in New Zealand.
The NZWG will publish the criteria in mid-November 2013 and will be holding workshops throughout the country. Application dates and process details will be available here on their website in late November.