Changes to the Screen Innovation Production Fund

Sunday, 19 October 2008

Creative New Zealand and the New Zealand Film Commission are pleased to announce a new fund for filmmakers called the Independent Filmmakers Fund (IFF).

There will be a final round of the Screen Innovation Production Fund with a closing date of 13 February 2009. Statistical information from previous funding rounds and feedback from the sector prompted us to examine the barriers and opportunities within the industry. This also presented an opportunity to align the fund with Creative New Zealand's new Project Funding model and the New Zealand Film Commission's investment in filmmaking in New Zealand.

The new criteria and assessment process for the Independent Filmmakers Fund will be implemented in June 2009.

Independent Filmmakers Fund (IFF)

The purpose of the fund is to invest in exceptional, innovative, high quality, non commercial projects by experienced film and moving image makers striving to engage audiences throughout New Zealand and beyond. The New Zealand Film Commission and Creative New Zealand will contribute a total of $540,000 towards grants for the June 2009 funding round. Annually this fund will award grants for production and/or post-production proposals in two categories and in the following filmmaking genre:

• Experimental film
• short film (Short Film proposals intended for the Short Film Fund Executive Producer Scheme may not apply to Category One)
• feature film
• documentary film
• dance film
• animation
• moving image art projects
  (Moving image encompasses visual arts projects which draw upon filmmaking practice. This may include fine art video projects, installations and experimental multi-disciplinary projects which are intended for presentation/exhibition within a visual arts context)

Category One

Category One applications must demonstrate that they have achieved a high degree of success in their field to be eligible for a grant of up to $70,000 :

• International and national distribution/exhibition of previous film and moving image projects (e.g. to have exhibited work at film festivals/exhibitions, to have work presented at recognised commercial and/or non-commercial venues)
• International and national recognition (e.g. reviews, awards, references)
• A substantial professional body of film and moving image work

Each project may have:

• A senior adviser (e.g. executive producer, kai whakahaere, curator, gallery director, senior mentor) who will be responsible for ensuring the project is delivered on time, on budget and is of high quality.
• Key recognised head of departments attached (if relevant)

Category Two

Category Two applicants are eligible to grants of up to $30,000 per project for film and moving image makers, who must demonstrate that they have a significant track record and that they have achieved:

• National distribution/exhibition of previous film and moving image projects (e.g. to have exhibited work at film festivals/exhibitions, to have work presented at recognised commercial and/or non-commercial venues)
• National recognition (e.g. reviews, references)
• A body of work
• Achieved success in their field independent of a training institution

Each project must have:

• A senior adviser/mentor attached to the project

All applications for Category One and Category Two must have significant New Zealand content, as defined by Section 18 of the New Zealand Film Commission Act 1978.

Funding is not available for:

• music videos
• educational videos
• commercial and/or made-for-television programmes
• work or projects to be assessed as part of the course work for tertiary study

Assessment process

There will be one funding round per year. The closing date for the 2009 funding round is Friday 12 June 2009, with applicants informed of funding decisions by 11 September 2009. Recommendations for funding will be made on the basis of providing support for projects assessed as being artistically strong and which exhibit the strongest potential to realise the purpose of the Fund.

The Independent Filmmakers Fund has its own set of guidelines and budget information.

These will be available to download from this the Screen Innovation Production Fund website from November.

For further information on this new fund please contact emma.ward@creativenz.govt.nz