News

4:00 - 5:00PM, Tuesday, 3 December 2024

Register HERE

Spada invites you to join our webinar and discover insights about accessibility and understand what role an Access Coordinator may play in your next screen project. Panelists include Access Coordinators Felicity Hamill and Jared Flitcroft talking about their role, their training, and their work on productions to date, with Tayla Hancock from NZFC and local Producer Jasmin dos Santos providing information on how to factor an Access Coordinator into your future projects. There will be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions during the discussion.

4:00PM, Wednesday, 20 November, 2024

Register HERE

SPADA and Greenlit invite you to an engaging seminar about Greenlit's sustainability initiative for the screen industry. Discover practical strategies for integrating sustainability into your projects, and hear inspiring success stories from those working in the area of sustainability for the screen industry. Panelists include Rose Archer, Sustainability Manager, Ilai Amar, Producer, and the session will be hosted by Greenlit's Janine Russell, who will delve into the tools and resources Greenlit offers to help productions reduce their environmental impact. Whatever your role in the screen sector, you're welcome to join our Sustainable Scenes webinar.

We’re inviting you to participate in the NZFC survey, to help them shape the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion in Aotearoa's screen sector.

This biennial survey aims to gather insights into the lived experiences of screen practitioners, providing valuable feedback on how the sector can continue to improve equity and inclusiveness. With a strong focus on qualitative, narrative-driven data, it’s open to all who work within our industry.

The survey is independent, fully anonymised, and results will be published in a report without any identifying information. Your voice matters, and sharing your experiences will support the NZFC’s ongoing initiatives and decisions.

Please join us in contributing to a more inclusive future by completing the survey!

Click here to take the survey

If you’re scheduling any filming between 19 December and 10 January, there are a few key things to keep in mind. With the city bustling and many services on holiday hours, planning ahead is crucial to ensure your project goes smoothly!

Get in touch with Screen Auckland early to lock in the details and make the most of Auckland's fantastic locations over the break.

The Ministry for Culture & Heritage have reached out to industry to advise that the ‘one year check-in’ on the domestic component of the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate (NZSPR-NZ) is now open for feedback. People who have direct experiences with the domestic rebate are invited to share their views on the changes made to the rebate in August 2023.

They want to understand whether the changes are delivering as intended. They are keen to hear your views on the below changes:

• Allowing access to all types of screen production to access both the NZSPR-NZ and other Government production funding (for instance via NZ On Air and Te Māngai Paho).
  
• Capping the amount of ‘above-the-line’ expenditure that can qualify for the NZSPR-NZ, subject to an ‘exceptional circumstances’ discretion.
  
• Allowing investment from entities related to the applicant production company to qualify as ‘market attachments’, provided the entities operate truly independently.
• Allowing interim NZSPR payments if specific criteria are met, to help minimise productions’ interest costs.

They are not seeking feedback on the wider review or other areas of the NZSPR. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will be conducting a separate process later in the year to check in on the impacts of changes made to the international component of the rebate.

You can submit your feedback via this online survey. 

The survey will run from 27 August 2024 to 24 September 2024. All responses will need to be received by 11:59pm 24 September 2024.

The feedback you provide will form part of their analysis and advice to the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage on the success of the changes, and any tweaks or other actions that may be required.

In 2019, the Association of Film Commissioners International ("AFCI") and global creative industry consultancy firm Olsberg SPI (“SPI”) published the Best Practice in Screen Sector Development report.

The first report of its kind, it highlighted successful polices, strategies, and other interventions to drive sustainable growth in the film, documentary and television (“Screen”) production sector around the world.

There has been unprecedented global growth in Screen production in recent years, as well as significant changes and challenges, including the global COVID-19 pandemic, labour strikes in the US, and rapid technology advancements.

Five years on, Best Practice in Screen Sector Development has now been expanded to include diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”), sustainability and partner engagement as key areas of best practice, alongside updates to the previous areas of analysis (production incentives, workforce capacity, infrastructure and film friendliness).

Through analysis of these seven areas, the study examines the strategies and policies that have been implemented by established and emerging jurisdictions around the world to maximise Screen production activity and adapt to the changed Screen production landscape.

Olsberg SPI is renowned for its reports on various countries' film industries and has previously produced one for the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC).

Read the full report here

Matt Horrocks, from Screen Auckland, recently discussed the Auckland Screen Taskforce (AST) and its 2024 priorities in an interview with ShowTools. The conversation delved into a very busy Auckland production sector, and the contrasting tales of local and international production. During the interview, Horrocks outlined the three key areas of focus for the taskforce: 1. Film Friendly: Helping make filming in Tāmaki Makaurau easier for production companies, filmmakers and crews. 2. Production Attraction: Aligning our promotional efforts with achievable outcomes to attract productions that best fit our capabilities. 3. VFX & Post Production: Recognising the rapid growth and significance of this sector within the industry. To learn more about these priorities and the AST's initiatives, you can watch the full interview here.

The news of the New Zealand film industry's prominent representation at Cannes this year is truly heartening. We eagerly await the release of a more formalised list from the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) in the coming weeks. As in previous years, NZFC will continue its tradition of supporting the attendance of New Zealand producers and hosting events to foster connections within the market. In addition to these efforts, NZFC is expanding its focus at Cannes this year to showcase New Zealand as a premier destination for film production.

The Big Screen Symposium (BSS) once again delivered an interesting and informative weekend in Auckland this month. Those on the FA board who attended commented that it was great to see New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) CEO Annie Murray being so forthright with information as their new strategic plan is being set. It was also great to see a diverse range of attendees, including students, guild members, and industry veterans, underscoring the event's significance in current times. Their collective presence contributed to an atmosphere of collaboration and support, making the BSS an invaluable gathering for all involved.

The industry working group (IWG) has taken steps by circulating a draft document to all screen guilds over the past month, aiming to garner industry-wide support. The feedback received has proven invaluable, and they are now set to share the document with Tāmaki Iwi. Screen Auckland has also drafted papers, which will be sent to the IWG and Tāmaki Iwi this week for feedback, outlining how the consultation process might function. The timeline is for both draft documents to be formalised and returned to Council by mid-year.