Aotearoa Short Film Lab New Zealand’s most prestigious hothouse mentoring scheme for screenwriters and aspiring screenwriters to workshop new ideas for short film. Established in 2010 as a partnership between Show Me Shorts and Script to Screen, the Lab offers seven local short film makers the opportunity to develop their short film concepts and scripts with the guidance and advice of experienced industry mentors during a full-day workshop.
The seven screenwriters who will participate in the 2017 Aotearoa Short Film Lab are:
For the first time this year one international short film maker has also been selected to participate. Marisa Brown is an Australian-based filmmaker who will be attending the Lab to workshop two story ideas, along with her director Chris Tomkins.
There were more than 50 applications for the 2017 Lab. Festival Director of Show Me Shorts, Gina Dellabarca, who was among the selection panel commented: “I was impressed with the diversity in the types of stories in this year’s applications. There were scripts for comedy, drama, fantasy, sci-fi, thriller, animation and more. It is heartening for the industry that our screenwriters and aspiring screenwriters are working on such a variety of projects. I only wish we could include more of them in our Lab.
The mentors guiding participants will include experienced short film and feature film screenwriters: Michael Bennett (MATARIKI, CONFESSIONS OF PRISONER T), Zia Mandviwalla (NIGHT SHIFT, AMADI) Dianne Taylor (BEYOND THE KNOWN WORLD, APRON STRINGS), Michelle Savill (ELAINE RIDES AGAIN, ELLEN IS LEAVING) and Yamin Tun (WAIT, JOY).
Previous Short Film Lab participants have described the interactive workshop as “inspiring” and “invaluable”, and many have gone on to make the shortlist for NZFC Fresh Shorts funding. In 2013, the first film developed with the assistance of the Lab – Lauren Jackson’s I’m Going to Mum’s – premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won Best Short Film Script at the SWANZ Awards.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Monday 6th March 2017, 5pm
“Thank you for connecting me with the industry both here and in Australia. I have a greater understanding of the business of writing having met with Alice (Bell) every week and the importance of having ‘product’ as a writer. I’m delighted to have made new long-term creative relationships. What you have made is so important, this year has been transformative.” – Sophie Henderson, 2014 FilmUp participant
If you are a writer, director, or producer with proven talent and feature film projects in development, you could be one of the eight filmmakers to participate in this year’s FilmUp Mentorship Programme.
A tailored mentorship for each filmmaker forms the cornerstone of the programme, which also includes story workshops, facilitated group work and round table discussions with esteemed film industry practitioners.
The driving force of successful mentorship is that participants actively take hold of their own learning and development. This autonomy will be fostered from the start of the programme, as we once again invite you to play a part in choosing your mentor.
Although the mentorship is for the filmmaker rather than for individual projects, applicants need to have projects in development. Preference will be given to those filmmakers highly likely to get a feature film off the ground in the near future.
Applicants will need to demonstrate how mentoring at this stage in their career will be valuable and be in a position to reflect on and advance their work during the programme which runs from April to December.
The programme will offer the following to successful applicants:
Who can apply?
Filmmakers who are have feature films in development as writer, director or producer, and can demonstrate tenacity, originality, and competence in their field. You will need to demonstrate you have proven talent in short film, television, documentary or feature film. Your track record could be in a different role, for example editing, cinematography, or acting.
Senior Mentorship: established feature film writers, directors and producers.
Key Dates
Applications open Thursday 9th February 2017 and close on Monday 6th March 2017 at 5pm.
A selection panel will choose the successful applicants and all applicants will be advised of the results in late March.
Successful applicants must be available for a one-day intensive on Friday 7th April, 2017 and for 4 full-day hubs throughout the year – Thursday 4th May, Thursday 20th July, Monday 2nd October and the closing hub day on Friday 8th December.
Application Requirements
Applicants will need to submit:
DOWNLOAD THE FILMUP APPLICATION FORM HERE
DOWNLOAD THE SENIOR MENTORSHIP APPLICATION FORM HERE
Please email your application in a single .pdf file to sjionel@script-to-screen.co.nz (Learn how to combine .pdfs here)
Applications close at 5pm on Monday 6th March, 2017.
Any questions can be directed to sjionel@script-to-screen.co.nz, or you can call the office on 09 360 5400.
FilmUp is made possible with financial assistance from the NZ Film Commission.
The FilmUp Mentorship Programme is an eight-month professional development programme of mentorships, group-work, and wrap-around support for writers, directors, producers and script editors. It supports and empowers up to eight practicing filmmakers each year to reach the next stage in their creative careers.
FilmUp provides tailored support to up-skill writers, directors and producers in their craft, career and creative process. Throughout the programme each participant receives 20 hours with an esteemed industry mentor, participates in group work & round tables, and receives wrap-around support.
Previous participants have included producer Chelsea Winstanley (WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS) with NZ/Australian prolific producer Tim White, and writer Sophie Henderson (FANTAIL) with Australian film and high-end TV writer Alice Bell (THE SLAP). A full list of participants and their mentors can be found here.
FilmUp is made possible with financial assistance from the NZ Film Commission.
Story Camp Aotearoa 2016 is a rigorous five-day residential lab designed to develop New Zealand feature film projects. The lab, which takes place in Port Waikato, is tailored specifically to meet the development needs of the selected writers or writing teams and their project. This year’s mentors include Sundance Institute’s creative advisor Joan Tewkesbury, Sundance Institute’s artistic director Gyula Gazdag and sought-after NZ story consultant Brita McVeigh. More mentors to be announced soon.
We would like to give a warm thanks to everyone who applied this year. Submissions were read blind by four independent readers, who created a competitive shortlist of 13 feature film projects. From this shortlist, eight successful projects were chosen to attend the 2016 lab.
The eight projects and talented local writers/writing teams selected to workshop their feature film scripts this summer at Story Camp Aotearoa are:
BURMA STORY – Yamin Tun
LIFE IN SUBTITLES – Max Currie
LUCKY – Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu
MAGMA – Armagan Ballantyne & Jackie Van Beek
THE SURROGATE – Alyx Duncan & Lani-rain Feltham
UNDER A FULL MOON – Florian Habicht
ABBY GOES TO SPACE – Michelle Savill & Sophie Henderson
WILSON DIXON THE COWBOY PHILOSOPHER – Jesse Griffin
Applications are now open for the Aotearoa Short Film Lab, a prestigious hothouse mentoring scheme for screenwriters and aspiring screenwriters to workshop new ideas for short film.
Established in 2010 as a partnership between Show Me Shorts and Script to Screen, the Lab offers six local, and for the first time this year two international, short film makers the opportunity to develop their short film concepts and scripts with the guidance and advice of experienced industry mentors.
The Lab includes a full-day workshop hosted by the University of Auckland’s Screen Production Department in March 2017. The mentors in previous years have included Jackie van Beek (The Inland Road, Uphill, Go the Dogs), Jake Mahaffy (Free in Deed, Wellness,A.D. 1363, The End of Chivalry) and Shuchi Kothari (Firaaq, Apron Strings, Coffee and Allah).
Previous Short Film Lab participants have described the interactive workshop as “inspiring” and “invaluable”, and many have gone on to make the shortlist for NZFC Fresh Shorts funding. In 2013, the first film developed with the assistance of the Short Film Lab – Lauren Jackson’s I’m Going to Mum’s – premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won Best Short Film Script at the SWANZ Awards.
The Lab is free to attend for all selected applicants, but there is a NZ$20 application fee. Those selected can come on their own or bring up to two key creative collaborators with them.
To apply to the 2016 Aotearoa Short Film Lab complete the online application form. This will ask you to provide:
APPLY NOW
If you have any queries please contact Sjionel Timu on sjionel@script-to-screen.co.nz.
Applications close on Wednesday 14 December 2016, 5pm.
Image: I’m Going to Mums, Dir. Lauren Jackson, Photo: Tania Jackson
We are honoured to announce that legendary US writer, director, producer and choreographer Joan Tewkesbury will be joining acclaimed and iconoclastic Hungarian writer/director Gyula Gazdag in the line up of mentors at Script to Screen’s Story Camp this summer.
What is Story Camp?
Story Camp evolves from our 2014 and 2015 writing labs, which have seen talented local writers workshop their feature film scripts with exceptional international and local mentors.
This year each selected writer or writing team will have a rigorous five-day residential experience tailored specifically to meet the development needs of their feature film project. At the heart of the programme remains exceptional and experienced practitioners working with NZ’s exciting writers and filmmakers to foster voice and vision.
The process for each participant will be made up of some or all of the following development techniques: one-on-one script sessions, project-based group workshops, read-throughs, and workshopping with actors. The writers’ key collaborators will be invited in to parts of the process in instances where that will be of additional benefit to the process and project.
Applications Close: 5pm, Monday 29 August 2016
Story Camp Dates: November 28 – December 3 2016
Script to Screen is proud to announce the eight filmmaker mentors who join FilmUp 2016.
The securing of legendary NZ writer/director Andrew Adamson and Australian producer Rosemary Blight (CLEVERMAN) completes the stella line-up.
The mentorship pairings for the 2016 FilmUp Programme are:
Director Ray Lawrence (LANTANA) mentors Gaysorn Thavat
Producer Rachel Gardner (SLOW WEST) mentors Georgina Conder
Writer/direcor Gerard Johnstone (HOUSEBOUND) mentors Joe Lonie
Writer/director Dana Rotberg (ANGEL DE FUEGO) mentors writer Josephine Stewart-Tewhiu
Writer/director Jake Mahaffy (FREE IN DEED) mentors Max Currie
Prouducer Rosemary Blight (CLEVERMAN) mentors Nadia Maxwell
Writer/director Andrew Adamson (SHREK) mentors Tim Van Dammen
Writer/director Rolf De Heer (CHARLIE’S COUNTRY) mentors Yamin Tun
See their biographies here.
The generosity and spirit of our distinguished mentors is an integral part of what makes Script to Screen’s FilmUp Programme so successful, and a heartfelt thank you goes to each of them for joining us.
FilmUp is our high-end development programme for writers, directors and producers who have already shown considerable talent and tenacity in their work.
Over the year, each film-up participant has 20 hours of time from their mentor, and attends a series of hub days that include round tables, workshops, and group work as part of the programme, which is tailored to participants’ individual needs.
We are excited about the time ahead for these filmmakers and look forward to seeing what each mentorship brings.
FilmUp is made possible with financial support from the New Zealand Film Commission.
Script to Screen is proud to award eight filmmakers with places on the FilmUp Programme for 2016.
FilmUp is our high-end development programme for writers, directors and producers who have already shown considerable talent and tenacity in their work.
We are also delighted to award a senior mentorship for the first time to writer/director Jake Mahaffy (FREE IN DEED). Mahaffy is a critically acclaimed feature film maker and will be paired with an international mentor in the coming weeks.
The participants of the 2016 FilmUp Mentorship Programme are:
Gaysorn Thavat – Director
Georgina Conder – Producer
Joe Lonie – Writer/director
Josephine Stewart-Tewhiu – Writer
Max Currie – Writer/director
Nadia Maxwell – Producer
Tim Van Dammen – Writer/director
Yamin Tun – Writer/director
See a full list of their biographies here.
Each participant will be matched with a filmmaker mentor from NZ or Australia over the coming weeks, and will attend a series of hub days that include round tables, workshops, and group work as part of the eight-month programme that is tailored to participants individual needs.
We would like to thank all the filmmakers who applied.
FilmUp is made possible with support from the New Zealand Film Commission.
“The insights and inspiration I have received have been exponentially more beneficial than I ever imagined.” – Producer Julia Parnell (FilmUp 2015)
Calling screenwriters, directors and producers!
FilmUp returns in 2016, providing talented and tenacious filmmakers an individually tailored development programme to hone their creative practice, and take a step up in their careers.
Now in its fourth year, Script to Screen’s FilmUp offers up to eight writers, directors and producers a place on the eight-month programme. Participants receive 20 hours of one-on-one mentorship with an established filmmaker, regular hub days including workshops and round tables with guest speakers, and tailored additional support from Script to Screen.
FilmUp has gone from strength to strength, thanks to the generosity of our previous mentors: producer Jan Chapman (THE PIANO), director Ray Lawrence (LANTANA), writer/show-runner Neil Cross (SPOOKS), directing coach Brita McVeigh, producer Tim White (SON OF A GUN), writer/showrunner Alice Bell (THE BEAUTIFUL LIE), director Garth Davis (TOP OF THE LAKE), producer Helen Bowden (THE SLAP), director Leanne Pooley (BEYOND THE EDGE), screenwriter/script editor Keith Thompson (THE SAPPHIRES), producer Tim Sanders (LOTR), screenwriter James Griffin (800 WORDS), writer/director Rolf de Heer (CHARLIE’S COUNTRY), writer/director Jackie van Beek (THE INLAND ROAD), distributor Michael Eldred (BOY), and producer Vicky Pope (TWO LITTLE BOYS).
We’re excited to consider applicants with a strong track record for another year in this rewarding programme.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Monday 14th March 2016, 5pm
Read about our previous FilmUp mentorship pairings here.
Note: FilmUp Script Development will not run in 2016.
FilmUp is made possible with the financial assistance of the New Zealand Film Commission.
On the weekend of 28/29th November, 25 emerging filmmakers gathered at MIT’s Faculty of Creative Arts for the South Auckland Short Film Workshop, a two-day workshop designed to give you all the basic tools you need to make your own short film. Participants heard from industry mentors who shared their insights into each part of the filmmaking process.
The aim of the weekend is to bring to life more stories from South Auckland, and the participants came from a diverse set of backgrounds including those working in TV and production, as well as students and graduates of various creative disciplines.
On the Sunday afternoon, participants were encouraged to pitch a short film idea. The judges were extremely impressed with the ideas pitched – many of which were developed during the weekend. The stories were rich and personal, and the passionate pitches made it very difficult for the judges to choose a winner.
The winners of the pitching competition were Vea Mafileo and Jeremiah Tauamiti with their documentary idea MALAGA. The judges also gave special mentions to three short drama ideas, Chris Molloy with WHITE SUNDAY AND THE MAORI BOY, Piata Gardiner-Hoskins with THE HANGING TREE, and Hanelle Harris with BASIC TRAINGING.
This workshop was presented by Script to Screen and Ngā Aho Whakaari.
2016 South Shorts Mentoring Programme
To follow on from the workshop, Script to Screen is running the 2016 South Shorts Mentorship Programme, where 6 aspiring writers and 3 aspiring producers will be matched with filmmaking mentors to help them develop their projects further. Participants of the workshop were all eligible to apply for a place on the mentorship programme to develop their projects. Those chosen were:
6 Writers
Jaemen Busby – LANCE
Hanelle Harris – BASIC TRAINING
Vea Mafileo (and co-director Jeremiah Tauamiti) – MALAGA
Chris Molloy – WHITE SUNDAY AND THE MAORI BOY
Skye Stirling (and writer Chris Molloy) – GANGSTA LOVE
Jeremiah Tauamiti – LILIU
3 Producers
Henry Cheng
Hans Masoe
Louisa Tipene Opetaia