“An excellent and mandatory program for Aotearoa’s new wave of storytellers, writers and filmmakers. Opportunities like this to develop, learn, un-learn and grow are very rare in the world. And to share this space with other high-level creatives and mentors/industry experts only elevates our professional standards and work. Big thank you to Script to screen!”
Danny Aumua
FilmUp 2023/24 participant (mentor Catherine Fitzgerald)
The FilmUp Mentorship is professional development programme for filmmakers making feature films. In 2026 it will continue to support and empower eight tenacious and talented feature filmmakers to reach the next stage in their creative careers.
As this is a one-to-one mentorship, it is open to individual filmmakers rather than writing partnerships and/or teams.
Applications are now open for filmmakers who are writers, directors or producers with a feature project in development and who can demonstrate that their project and career are at the right stage for mentorship.
FilmUp will run from April to November 2026.
Each successful filmmaker will receive:
- 20 hours of one-to-one mentorship
- Attend five group development hubs (a mix of in-person and online)
- Funding of up to $2,000 each to be used for additional support while attending the programme
- Travel and accommodation support for those outside of Auckland to attend in-person hubs
- Wrap around support from Script to Screen across the duration of the programme
Mentorship forms the cornerstone of the FilmUp programme, successful applicants can clearly identify and hold their learning and development needs. Autonomy is fostered from the start of the programme with participants actively involved in the selection of their mentor and additional support.
Since its inception in 2013, FilmUp has gone from strength to strength, with a growing number of alumni who have benefitted and progressed from the programme, including 22 debut feature films being made by alumni following their FilmUp mentorship.
Alumni include Briar March (Dame Valerie Adams: MORE THAN GOLD, Mothers of the Revolution), Chelsea Winstanley (TOITU:Visual Sovereignty,Ka Po, Night Raiders), Desray Armstrong (Kōkā, The Mountain, Bad Behaviour), Florian Habicht (James & Isey, Spookers), Gaysorn Thavat (The Justice of Bunny King), Jake Mahaffy (Reunion, Free in Deed), Nic Gorman (Human Traces), Paula Whetu-Jones (Whina, Waru), Sophie Henderson (Workmates, Baby Done) and Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa (Three Wise Cousins, Take Home Pay).
KEY DATES:
APPLICATIONS OPEN: Monday 29th September 2025
APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 1:00 pm, Monday 10th November 2025
NOTIFICATION OF OUTCOME: Early December
HUB DATES: (Dates subject to change)
HUB 1: Auckland (2 days) – Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st April 2026
HUB 2: Online – Friday 22nd May 2026
HUB 3: Auckland (1 day) TBC – proposed late June/ early July
HUB 4: Online – Friday 28th August 2026
HUB 5: Auckland (2 days) – Thursday 5th and Friday 6th November 2026
APPLY FOR FILMUP:
https://form.jotform.com/Script_to_Screen_NZ/2026-filmup-mentorship-application-
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
FilmUp is a one-to-one mentorship for individual filmmakers who are working on a feature film or feature documentary. You must be a NZ citizen or permanent resident to apply.
- Contact information: Name, Email, Phone Number, Town/City
- According to NZFC criteria definitions, what stage in your career are you at?
- https://www.nzfilm.co.nz/sites/default/files/2018-12/NZFC_Talent_Eligibility_Criteria_Definition_2021.pdf
- A one-paragraph industry-related biography
- (optional – this helps us give a picture of your other work) One page C.V relevant to your filmmaking
- Information on the feature project you will work on during the mentorship
- Project title
- What type of project is it? Feature Film or Feature Documentary
- Stage of project (Treatment, First Draft, Second – Fourth Drafts, Developed Ready For Financing, Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production)
- Your role on the project
- One-page synopsis of 500 – 1000 words
- Any key collaborators you might have attached. Please list the names and roles of other key creatives roles – e.g. If you are the writer, list your director and producer, or note if you do not yet have them attached
- Have you received any funding or support for this project?
- A brief description of what stage you are at in the process, and what the next steps/hurdles are
- (optional – this helps us give a picture of your other work) A list of other projects you have in development (if applicable) please include project name, project type, your role, stage of development, key collaborators, and/or any funding/investment received
- A paragraph about why mentorship would be beneficial to you at this stage of your career
- A statement about the additional support you would seek with the $2,000 grant
- What you would like to get out of the programme
- Up to two links to previous work (It is not necessary to include everything. Put your best foot forward)
Make sure you read our Top Tips to make your FilmUp application shine while crafting your application. FilmUp top tips to apply 2026
Selection Criteria:
The selection criteria is used by the selection panel to help assess your application and guide their discussion. Listed below in no specific order.
- Evidence that prior work is of a high quality
- Evidence that work demonstrates a unique voice
- Current feature film synopsis is strong
- Goals are specific and achievable
- Filmmaker/project are at right stage to benefit from mentorship
- Assessors’ overall instinct of applicant
FilmUp is made possible thanks to financial support from the New Zealand Film Commission.
