11th February 2025
Strengthening New Zealand’s Film Industry
The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) has announced key funding changes for 2025, designed to simplify processes, enhance accessibility, and support a broader range of filmmakers. With an emphasis on cultural storytelling, commercial viability, and innovation, these updates aim to make New Zealand’s film industry more dynamic and globally competitive.
As filmmakers prepare for the new funding cycle, here’s a breakdown of the most important changes and how they may impact your projects.
Defining Your Film’s Aspirations
Filmmakers will now be required to define the aspirations of their projects from the outset. This ensures that NZFC funding aligns with the film’s intended impact and goals. Projects should fit into one or more of the following categories:
Cultural: A film that represents Aotearoa’s identity and unique storytelling.
Critical: Aimed at international film festivals and critical acclaim, with a clear audience and distribution pathway.
Local Audience: Strong potential to connect with and engage New Zealand audiences.
Commercial: A film with market attachments and international sales potential.
Innovation: Projects by emerging or distinctive filmmakers that push creative or technological boundaries.
By clarifying these aspirations, filmmakers can better align their projects with NZFC’s funding priorities.
Major Updates to Development Funding
One of the biggest changes in 2025 is the shift to a rolling development fund. This means filmmakers can apply for funding at any time, removing the need for set deadlines or funding rounds.
Key changes to development funding:
Applications open from Monday 3 February 2025.
No separate EDF, DDF, or ADF – all development funding will be part of a single pathway.
Increased funding cap: Projects can now receive up to $140,000 in total development funding.
Higher tranche limits: The cap for first and second tranche funding has increased to $35,000 per tranche, allowing for more robust development processes.
Mandatory pre-application meetings: Filmmakers must book a 15-minute consultation before applying. Meetings will be available from 13 January 2025.
Shorter processing times: Decisions will be made within 6-8 weeks of application submission.
Eligibility Requirements for Development Funding:
To be eligible for development funding, applicants must:
Be a writer, director, or producer with experience in their discipline.
Have at least 80 minutes of produced screen work in the same format (scripted/documentary) or a short film that has screened at a major festival.
If applying for later tranches without a producer attached, the writer or director must have at least two theatrically released feature films.
This new development model aims to provide more flexibility, ensuring that filmmakers can access funding when they need it, rather than waiting for specific rounds.
Production Funding: More Flexibility, Clearer Timelines
Key changes to production funding:
Rolling submissions: Applications can be submitted at any time.
Board meeting deadlines: To be considered at a specific NZFC Board Meeting, applications must be submitted at least 10 weeks in advance.
Pre-application meetings required: For the April Board meeting, these must be scheduled between 13-24 January 2025.
Funding Caps for Production:
Scripted feature films: The NZFC’s equity funding cap remains at $2.5 million.
Documentary films: Can apply for up to $800,000, with potential exceptions for larger projects.
Innovative films: Projects with budgets up to $1.5 million that prioritise new technologies or production methods may also apply.
2025 Production Funding Board Meeting Dates:
30 April – 1 May
9 – 10 July
17 – 18 September
26 – 27 November
By allowing rolling submissions while maintaining structured deadlines for decision-making, NZFC is making production funding more accessible and predictable.
Additional Funding Streams Remain Open
While some funding structures are changing, others remain available:
The Advanced Development Fund (ADF)
International Co-development Fund (ICF)
Feature Film Finishing Grant (FFFG)
These funding opportunities will continue to support filmmakers as they move through different stages of production.
A More Streamlined Future for NZ Filmmakers
The NZFC’s 2025 changes reflect a commitment to simplifying funding processes and ensuring that filmmakers have the support they need, when they need it. By moving to a rolling fund model, increasing funding caps, and requiring clear aspirations for projects, these updates create a more efficient and strategic approach to film development in Aotearoa.
Filmmakers are encouraged to book pre-application meetings early and prepare their submissions in alignment with the new guidelines.
For more information, visit the New Zealand Film Commission website or contact development@nzfilm.co.nz.
Reference: NZFilm
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