Join Script to Screen for a one-day short film workshop in South Auckland. Thanks to the support of Foundation North, anyone – no matter their filmmaking experience, can learn to develop their short film ideas.
Feel empowered with the tools to make your story come to life. This workshop will cover the key fundamentals of creating short films including crafting story ideas, pitching to collaborators and what it takes to be able to go on to make a short film.
This Workshop will be lead by accomplished and award-winning filmmaker and scholar Tavu’i Dr. Marina Alofagia McCartney. The mana of you and your story ideas will be safely held throughout the duration of the day.
The South Auckland Short Film Workshop provides a stepping stone to applying for the Script to Screen South Shorts Mentorship programme as well as other short film initiatives like Day One Shorts. It is also a fantastic opportunity to meet other creatives within the community and be inspired by filmmaking’s possibilities.
We welcome anyone who wants to tell their stories through film. If you’re a new or emerging filmmaker or a local South Auckland creative this workshop is for you.
When and where:
Saturday 7th November 2026
9am – 4pm
Friendship House, 20 Putney Way, Manukau, South Auckland
The venue is wheelchair accessible
Cost: $12.50 (INC BF & GST) Book via Humanitix
Morning tea and afternoon tea provided, BYO lunch
What to bring:
ABOUT PROGRAMME MENTOR
TAVU’I DR. MARINA ALOFAGIA MCCARTNEY
This Workshop will be lead by accomplished and award-winning filmmaker and scholar Tavu’i Dr. Marina Alofagia McCartney. (Sāmoa – Sāmoeleoi, Sālilomaiava; England – Geordie, Romanichal). She is the filmmaker behind Milk & Honey (2012), which depicts the Samoan experience of the Dawn Raids, and wrote and directed the Samoan vignette in Vai (2019), which opened NATIVe at the Berlinale. Her work has screened at Palm Springs, NZIFF, imagineNATIVE, SXSW, Edinburgh, Sydney and Melbourne. She is one of the most credited Pacific women screenwriters in prime-time NZ television (My Life is Murder, Blue Murder Motel, The Brokenwood Mysteries). Her short The Return is on the festival circuit, and she is currently writing her next feature film for a US-NZ co-production.
This workshop is made possible thanks to generous support from Foundation North and Auckland Council Creative Communities Scheme.
Script to Screen with the support of Screenrights present a new script development pathway for Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent (DDN) screen storytellers in Aotearoa
Have a story you want to tell on screen? Want to strengthen your screenwriting craft, develop your ideas and better understand how to take your work forward in the screen industry?
Control + Alt = Script (CAS) is a new development initiative from Script to Screen designed specifically for Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent creatives.
The programme recognises that Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent storytellers bring perspectives, experiences and ways of seeing the world that can enrich the stories we see on screen. At the same time, barriers to accessing training, development opportunities and industry pathways mean these voices remain significantly underrepresented in the Aotearoa screen sector.
A DDN-centred approach to screenwriting
CAS offers an opportunity to explore story and screenwriting craft and develop a short-form screen story with the ambition of seeing it produced. By placing Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent creatives at the centre of the learning environment, the programme approaches disability and neurodivergence as a creative lens, recognising that different experiences, perspectives, modes of communication and ways of processing the world can shape how stories are conceived and told.
Participants will engage with the craft and industry conventions of screenwriting while also creating space to question them:
What does the story need?
What does the writer intend?
How can that intention be communicated effectively to an audience and to the collaborators who may help bring the story to the screen?
The aim is not to prescribe one way of writing, but to give participants greater control over their creative choices, explore alternative approaches where established conventions may not serve the story or the writer, and develop the craft, language and tools to translate their intentions into a script that can move towards the screen.
Join award-winning filmmaker and author Michael Bennett (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Hinerangi) for a practical and engaging workshop that puts your storytelling through its paces.
Whether you’re new to screenwriting or have more experience, Stage One starts with a short-form story at an early stage of development. Drawing on short films, music videos and excerpts from feature films, Michael will explore some of the fundamental elements that make stories work on screen, with opportunities to apply them to your own idea.
You’ll explore:
You don’t need to arrive with a finished screenplay or polished project. The workshop is an opportunity to explore, test and shape an idea you want to see on screen, and consider how different storytelling choices might strengthen it.
By the end of the day, Michael’s goal is for you to have a stronger understanding of the storytelling tools available to you and a practical toolkit you can continue applying to your own work. You’ll also have developed your short film idea towards a clear one-paragraph synopsis, giving you the option to apply for the two-day Stage Two development workshop in November.
Wellington: Saturday 26 September 2026, 9am – 4pm
Auckland: Sunday 27 September 2026, 9am – 4pm
The foundation workshop is designed for Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent creatives who:
You do not need a completed screenplay, professional screenwriting credits or a polished pitch to apply.
Your project can be at an early stage. We want to understand the story you are interested in telling, why you want to tell it and where you would like your screenwriting to take you.
Stage One Registrations are closed. Stage Two application dates below
Stage Two is limited to 12 participants, with places selected through an application process designed to help us understand where you and your project are at, what you hope to get from the intensive, and where you would like to take the work next.
You do not need to have attended Stage One to apply. Stage One provides grounding in the screenwriting principles and approaches that underpin the programme; if you haven’t attended, you should have some equivalent grounding in screenwriting craft and be ready to take your project into a deeper development process.
Stage Two is best suited to you if you:
You might be new to screenwriting or have years of experience behind you. What matters is that you have a project you’re ready to dig into, and that you’re open to questioning, testing and developing the work over two focused days.
Applications will be considered in terms of both the readiness of the writer and the project, and what you hope to achieve through Stage Two. In selecting the final group, we will also consider the overall composition of the cohort, with diversity and inclusion at the forefront.
Led by international story developer, Nicole Dade, this intensive will explore premise, theme, storyworld, character, form, conflict, dramatic engine, how to connect with your audience, cinematic storytelling, and rewriting. The intensive recognises that Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent storytelling may explore and expand beyond ‘conventional’ approaches to screenwriting craft.
Auckland: Saturday & Sunday 7-8 November 2026 9:00am – 4:00pm
Applications Open: 2 October 9:00am
Applications Close: 16 October 4:oopm
Apply for Stage Two through the link here:
Following the intensive, Stage Two participants will have time to apply their learnings and work towards a specific development goal. They will then submit relevant material before taking part in a dedicated feedback session with a script advisor, focused on that goal.
This final stage provides an opportunity to receive focused feedback, reflect on how the project has developed, and consider the next steps for moving the work forward.
Michael Bennett
Michael Bennett (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue) is an award-winning screenwriter, filmmaker and author whose work has screened internationally at festivals including Cannes, Toronto, Berlin and Locarno. He is the recipient of the 2020 Te Aupounamu Māori Screen Excellence Award, recognising excellence in Māori filmmaking.
Michael’s recent screen work includes co-creating, writing and executive producing the New Zealand-Irish crime series The Gone, now spanning two seasons. He is currently adapting his acclaimed crime novel Better the Blood for television. His extensive television career includes creating and writing Vegas, and writing and directing Beyond the Veil. His feature drama In Dark Places, based on the wrongful conviction of Teina Pora, received a record 11 NZ Television Awards nominations, winning Best Feature Drama and Best Director.
Nicole Dade
Nicole Dade is a highly regarded story developer, writer and script producer whose work connects stories with global audiences.
Her recent production credits include script producer on Barrumbi Kids (SBS/NITV), and associate producer and script editor on Leah Purcell’s feature film The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson. She is also Development Producer for Oombarra Productions. Through her international consultancy and training company, Dept. of Stories, Nicole designs and delivers talent and story development programmes for filmmakers and storytellers of diverse experiences. She created Elements of Story, her own story methodology to break free of outdated ‘rules’ and jargon.
As a senior funding executive, Nicole developed a significant slate of projects at Screen Australia from early stage to production.
Felicity Hamill
Felicity Hamill is a freelance performer and crew member based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara with over 20 years’ experience crossing multiple departments on both local and international screen productions. Passionate about removing barriers to the arts, in 2023 Felicity was selected as one of three from Aotearoa to complete the Bridge 06 UK Access Coordinator Training programme in Sydney,Australia; with support from the New Zealand Film Commission and Screen Australia.
As an Access Coordinator, Felicity supports productions to implement an access first approach across the entire arc of a project, reflecting real life diversity on our screens, within our crews and in our audiences.
Following the Sundance Film Festival screenings of Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant, producer Alix Whittaker and directors THUNDERLIPS bring an insider’s perspective on navigating one of cinema’s most artistically influential festivals. Together, they unpack the realities of strategic preparation, selection, and on-the-ground participation at Sundance. Umbrella Entertainment joins the conversation from a distributor’s viewpoint, offering insight into how films are positioned, discovered, and sustained beyond their premiere. Collectively, the panel examines the evolving role of festivals in an era shaped by streaming platforms, fragmented audiences, algorithmic discovery, and emerging storytelling forms.
Garnering a 100% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes thus far, Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant marks an astonishing debut from a New Zealand team with clear global talent. This session offers a rare, candid look at how bold creative work cuts through internationally, making it essential for filmmakers, producers, and screen practitioners seeking to understand how festivals can still launch careers, shape conversations, and open doors in a rapidly changing screen landscape.
“On its surface, Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant plays like an outrageous midnight movie, rich in wild jokes, gross-out gags, and racy sci-fi spectacle. But beneath that, THUNDERLIPS has built a compelling mother-daughter tale that empathetically probes the choice to be child-free. So, if you see this for the unapologetically unhinged comedy, you won’t be disappointed. But you might walk away with some refreshing representation and weirdly prepared food for thought as well.”
– Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor, Mashable
Tuesday 24 February 2024
6:00 – Arrivals
6:30-7:30pm – Kōrero
7:30-8:30pm – Refreshments and socialising
$6.50 + GST + Booking Fee. Sales via Humanitix to secure your seat
Where: St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Ponsonby, Auckland
After the talk, stay and have pizza on Script to Screen. There will be socialising with fellow filmmakers.
This Script to Screen KŌRERO is made possible thanks to New Zealand Film Commission, NZ On Air, White Studios and Images and Sound.
ABOUT ALIX WHITTAKER
Alix Whittaker is an Auckland-based film producer and founder of Candlelit Pictures, with over a decade of experience across feature films, short films and music videos. She has produced award-winning music videos and supported emerging directors through a strong focus on story-driven, director-led work. Her feature credits include Mega Time Squad and Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant, which premiered at Sundance to positive reviews. Alix is an alumna of the NZ Film Commission’s A-Z Producing Course and is known for championing distinctive voices and ambitious independent filmmaking in Aotearoa.
ABOUT THUNDERLIPS
THUNDERLIPS is born of image-crazed uber-men Sean Wallace and Jordan Mark Windsor, a multi-award-winning image-making duo based in Auckland, New Zealand. Genre chameleons by nature, they’ve created work spanning 90s sitcom pastiche, GIF-only teen romance, queer cinéma vérité, 80s teen horror, and animated digital fever dreams, shooting across formats from 35mm to Hi-8 and favouring practical in-camera effects. Their commercial work for brands including Lotto, Samsung, Meridian Energy and 2Degrees showcases sharp narrative instincts and comic flair. Their films include acclaimed shorts Think We Might Have to Do Something (48HFP Grand Finals, 2013) and Lord Echo – Molten Lava. Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant is their feature film debut.
ABOUT UMBRELLA ENTERTAINMENT
Umbrella Entertainment is an independent Australian film distributor specialising in bold, distinctive, and culturally significant cinema. With a catalogue spanning contemporary features, cult classics, restorations, and genre-defying work, Umbrella has built a reputation for championing filmmaker-driven stories that resonate with passionate audiences. Operating across theatrical, home entertainment, and digital platforms, the company is known for its strong curatorial voice, creative marketing strategies, and commitment to giving films a long life beyond their initial release. Umbrella plays a key role in connecting ambitious local and international films with audiences in Australia, New Zealand, and beyond.
This year marks the twelfth addition of the FilmUp mentorship programme, Script to Screen would like to thank the NZFC who have continued to support this kaupapa to continue strengthening and developing Aotearoa’s feature film writers, directors and producers.
Script to Screen is delighted to announce the 2026 participants who will join this growing community of advancing Feature Film practitioners.
The selected participants listed below will be matched with industry mentors to help develop their feature film project. During the six-month programme the group will also participate in a series of development hubs that include round tables, group workshops, and guest speakers sharing their experiences and perspectives, helping to strengthen industry connections.
An insight into the application process:
113 applications were received which proved a challenge for our selectors to make the final decision. 3 independent industry selectors with experience across writing, directing and producing assessed the applications. Successful applicants had both a very strong track record of creating innovative work with unique and authentic perspectives. They were also able to articulate clearly what their current project development requirements were, and how a mentorship will help in their progression.
From the large number of very strong applications, it is clear that mentorships like FilmUp are of a very high value to emerging and mid-career professionals.
We thank each and every applicant who submitted to be considered for FilmUp. We are sorry we can’t support more. We acknowledge how disappointing it is when applications are unsuccessful and encourage you to continue to apply for development kaupapa that aligns with the type of support you are looking for. From our perspective, we see every year how beneficial it is for filmmakers and their projects to continue to apply for all the development opportunities they can.
FilmUp is made possible thanks to funding from The New Zealand Film Commission
A beginner’s guide to mobile filmmaking is an action packed one-day workshop for Eastern Bay community youth ages 14-18. Learn about the fundamentals of filmmaking and work in teams to create short films on mobile phones.
You don’t have to have a phone to attend – this a free workshop where all equipment is provided. If you have an interest in telling stories, screenwriting, acting, filmmaking or if you want to investigate if filmmaking is right for you, this workshop will provide you with the first steps to making your own work.
At the conclusion of the workshops, we invite friends and whānau for a screening of the day’s work. This is an exciting moment for everyone involved to celebrate the possibilities of what can be created in a day.
The Workshop is presented by Script to Screen, Aotearoa’s leading screen training and professional development organisation. A not-for-profit charity, Script to Screen has been at the forefront of screen industry training since 2007. Since that time, we have run successful workshops in centres across the motu, including Hokianga, Kerikeri, Kaikohe, Whangārei, Auckland, South Auckland, Rotorua, Invercargill, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown.
We are excited to bring this kaupapa to Kawerau and support the aspiring storytellers in the region.
When and where:
Saturday 29th November 2025
9am – 5pm
4:30pm – Screening: Friends, whanāu and locals are welcome to view the films made
Concert Chamber, Ranfurly Court, Kawerau
The venue is wheelchair accessible
Cost: The workshop is free, please register via Humanitix as spaces are limited
What’s provided:
What to bring:
ABOUT PROGRAMME MENTOR
JAMIE IRVINE
Jamie Irvine has worked in film, television and theatre since 1998. After leaving New Zealand to study in 2003, Jamie spent several years in both Sydney and Los Angeles, where he worked as an actor and voice artist as well as teaching at NIDA, Actors Centre Australia, Theatre of Arts Hollywood and various other organisations.
Since returning to New Zealand in 2017, Jamie has performed in various productions including Tinā, The Brokenwood Mysteries, Black Hands, Sweet Tooth, Centrepoint, Power Rangers, Duckrockers, Mystic, N00b, Literally Dead, My Life is Murder, M3gan 2.0 and Shortland Street. On stage, he in the PopUp Globes productions of Richard III and Taming of the Shrew. He directed the NZ on Air Funded webseries Here if you Need. He has also taught acting at South Seas Film and Television School and worked as programme manager at Script to Screen.
Whether in front of or behind the camera, Jamie is passionate about storytelling and helping others reach their potential.
This workshop is made possible thanks to Script to Screen’s partnership with Film Bay of Plenty and the generous support from Kawerau Council Creative Communities Scheme.
Join Script to Screen for a one-day short film workshop in South Auckland. Thanks to the support of Foundation North, anyone – no matter their filmmaking experience, can learn to develop their short film ideas.
Feel empowered with the tools to make your story come to life. This workshop will cover the key fundamentals of creating short films including crafting story ideas, pitching to collaborators and what it takes to be able to go on to make a short film.
This workshop is led by award-winning actor, writer, director Nikki Si’ulepa, who tells bold, heartfelt stories that champion underrepresented voices and communities —stories with grit, soul, and the occasional cheeky wink. The mana of you and your story ideas will be safely held throughout the duration of the day.
The South Auckland Short Film Workshop provides a stepping stone to applying for the Script to Screen South Shorts Mentorship programme as well as other short film initiatives like Day One Shorts. It is also a fantastic opportunity to meet other creatives within the community and be inspired by filmmaking’s possibilities.
We welcome anyone who wants to tell their stories through film. If you’re a new or emerging filmmaker or a local South Auckland creative this workshop is for you.
When and where:
Saturday 1st November 2025
9am – 5pm
Friendship House, 20 Putney Way, Manukau, South Auckland
The venue is wheelchair accessible
Cost: $12.50 (INC BF & GST) Book via Humanitix
Morning tea and afternoon tea provided, BYO lunch
What to bring:
ABOUT PROGRAMME MENTOR
NIKKI SI’ULEPA
Nikki Si’ulepa (she/her) is an award-winning actor, writer, and director whose work spans film, television, and digital platforms. She’s lit up screens in Bookworm, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Tangata Pai, Creamerie, Housebound, Same But Different, and Pot Luck—and her films have screened (and won stuff!) at Berlinale, Tribeca, Sydney, Melbourne, FIFO, and NZIFF.
A proud Sāmoan, queer creative, Nikki tells bold, heartfelt stories that champion underrepresented voices and communities—stories with grit, soul, and the occasional cheeky wink. She is a co-founder of PISA – PACIFIC ISLANDS SCREEN ARTISTS – a global Pasifika screen collective. She also runs ACTING UP! FOR SCREEN and SCREENFIT—fast-paced, no-fluff workshops where actors, writers, and directors flex their creative muscles and get real-time feedback (with less sweat, more script).
Whether she’s behind the camera or holding space as a kaihautū for emerging storytellers, Nikki’s all about inclusive, collaborative, fun spaces—with purpose, passion, and a healthy amount of laughs along the way.
This workshop is made possible thanks to generous support from Foundation North and Auckland Council Creative Communities Scheme.
Te Tari Tuhi Kupu a Whakaahua Script to Screen invite applications for two different roles within our organisation.
Opportunities available to work with us include the Programme & Events Manager (Parental Leave Cover) and Programme Facilitator (Contract)
Script to Screen is Aotearoa’s leading organisation dedicated to developing screen culture and NZ’s storytelling talent. We deliver world-class development programmes, labs, and workshops that support emerging and established filmmakers to tell bold and authentic stories.
Programme & Events Manager
PARENTAL LEAVE COVER
October 2025 – December 2026
Fulltime
This role is based in Auckland
The PROGRAMME and EVENT MANAGER is a senior role within STS and BSS. The main focus of the role is the exceptional management of all our programmes and events.
Key responsibilities include co-designing programmes and events with the Script to Screen Executive Director, managing the logistics of all development programmes and events and applying for funding.
The Programme and Events Manager will take a lead across all the STS development programmes and events for STS and BSS.
For role requirements, please refer to the job description pdf below.
PDF Programme & Events Manager Job Description: https://script-to-screen.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Programme-Events-Manager-Parental-Leave_updated.pdf
Apply for Programme & Events Manager Role: https://form.jotform.com/Script_to_Screen_NZ/job-application-pro-events-manager
Deadline: End of Day – Monday 6th October 2025
As this is parental leave position, we are flexible with the start and end dates.
We are very keen to hear from anyone with the relevant skills and experience for this role. Although there is a deadline (Monday 6th October), we will undertake meetings and interviews as and when people get in touch, so the role may be filled prior to the closing date. We therefore encourage early contact.
Please email info@script-to-screen.co.nz to have an initial conversation or use this link to submit an application.
Programme Facilitator
This role may be based outside of Auckland. EOI is open nation wide.
The STS Programme Facilitators are FIXED TERM CONTRACTOR ROLES responsible for hosting and facilitating STS development programmes, workshops and hubs. They will work closely with the STS Executive Director and Programme and Events Manager to ensure all programmes are delivered to the highest standards, meeting the needs of the participants, leaders, STS and our funders.
STS is seeking Expressions of Interest from Screen industry professionals who are interested in contract work.
For role requirements, please refer to the job description pdf below.
PDF Programme Facilitator Job Description: https://script-to-screen.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/STS-Programme-Facilitator-Role.pdf
Submit your EOI: https://form.jotform.com/Script_to_Screen_NZ/EOI-programme-facilitator
Deadline: End of Day – Monday 20th October 2025
About Te Tari Tuhi Kupu a Whakaahua Script to Screen
As the leading screen sector talent development and training organisation in Aotearoa for nearly 20 years, Te Tari Tuhi Kupu a Whakaahua Script to Screen (STS) is dedicated to supporting Aotearoa’s screen storytellers and growing a diverse, inclusive screen industry that reflects our communities.
Our commitment to Te tiriti o Waitangi and Tangata Whenua underpins our kaupapa and organisational mahi. We are guided by teachings and learning within te Ao Māori, incorporating a tikanga Māori lens across our work, while being led by the principles of Manakitanga, Kotahitanga, Tika and Pono.
STS is a not-for-profit charity whose core business is the professional development of screen storytellers (writers, directors, producers). We provide bespoke talent development programmes, mentorships, and professional training programmes that help develop skills and champion voices from across the country.
STS also runs Big Screen Symposium (BSS). Our largest event, this two-day immersive event is focused on bringing the NZ screen industry together to connect, learn and be inspired. A mix of panel discussions, masterclasses, workshops, keynote speeches and industry meetings, this high-level industry conference attracts 400-500 people each year and is funded by all of the key major industry funders and organisations.
Photography by Evie Mackay
SCRIPT TO SCREEN presents
Script Development Workshops for DDN Creatives
Te Tari Tuhi Kupu a Whakaahua Script to Screen, is proud to be piloting a new community programme of Script Development Workshops.
In partnership with the Screenrights Cultural Fund, this bespoke programme of workshops will upskill Deaf, Disabled and Neuro Diverse (DDN) creatives in Aotearoa, NZ, to create innovative and compelling screen stories for TV, Film and online platforms.
This programme places creatives unique perspectives at the heart of their story development, helping them to create and develop authentic work that resonates with audiences.
These workshops have been designed to support this underserved and underrepresented group of creative talent, helping to uplift them and their stories, and creating pathways for progression in the screen sector in Aotearoa, NZ.
Script to Screen looks forward to working with the community on the final planning and design of the programme before inviting applications from participants.
A huge mihi (thanks) to the Screenrights Cultural Fund for supporting this important work, we can’t wait to get started.
Register your interest for the DDN Workshops here: https://form.jotform.com/Script_to_Screen_NZ/register-your-interest-DDN-workshop
Script Development Workshops for DDN Creatives
Activity: A programme designed to upskill Deaf, Disabled, and Neuro Diverse (DDN) creatives in innovative screen storytelling. Co-created with DDN artists and organisations, the programme supports participants in utilising their unique perspectives in story development, aiming to break down barriers for their progression in the New Zealand screen sector. The programme will feature script development workshops for emerging DDN creatives held in various centres across NZ.
These workshops will cover fundamentals of screen storytelling, including character development, conflict creation, scripting, dialogue writing, and genre exploration, and are open to those developing short films, TV, digital series, and feature films (excluding documentaries).
A key objective is to reduce barriers to progression, with a final online pitch session, for those participants who want to, with invited New Zealand screen industry decision-makers. As Script to Screen alumni, participants also receive ongoing support through the STS awhi programme as well support to attend STS events likes Big Screen Symposium.
Location: Various centres (tbc) across New Zealand.
Check out the other initiatives supported by Screenrights here: https://www.screenrights.org/screenrights-announces-300k-funding-for-six-initiatives-supported-by-2025-cultural-fund/
Script Development Workshops for Deaf, Disabled and Neuro Diverse creatives is made possible through our partnership with the Screenrights Cultural Fund.
KEY DATES:
Applications open: Wednesday 12th August 2026
Applications close: 1 PM, Monday 21st September 2026
The residential development lab will take place from: Monday 15th – Friday 19th March 2027.
Travel costs for participants who live outside Auckland will be covered as part of the programme.
Script to Screen reserves the right to amend these dates should it be necessary.
Shortlist Notified: End of October
Announcement: Early December
Team Zoom Meetings: 1-7 December TBC
ABOUT STORY CAMP:
Story Camp Aotearoa is an intensive residential feature film development lab that fosters craft, voice and vision. Selected screenwriters and creative teams deepen their understanding of the needs of their script and project through one-to-one bespoke sessions with exceptional international and local advisors. A rigorous five-day lab it is designed to specifically meet the development needs of their feature film project.
This development camp, which has tikanga and Māoritanga embed in its kaupapa, enables screenwriters and their teams to shut out the noise from their usual working environment and life, embarking on a five-day journey of deep story development. The unique location of the camp both informs and protects the wairua of our participants and their stories.
The tailored developmental approach of Story Camp Aotearoa also includes project-based group workshops; workshopping with actors; industry panel discussions and guest advisors from other artforms.
Each film and team are matched with advisors who are chosen specifically for the needs of the project, and where it is at in its developmental journey.
Post-camp, all teams will:
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
Stage of Development
Although we recognise the development process for feature films is as individual as the stories they are telling, Story Camp is designed to deep dive into the development process. Therefore, scripts or projects that are early in their journey may not benefit as much as others from this process. So, although we are not prescriptive about what draft your project should be at, we highlight that it is unlikely a first or early draft script or project would be selected.
We are keen to hear from writers, writer/directors, and filmmaking teams who have a feature film in development that they are ready to go deeper into their development process. These could be in the story development phase, the structural re-drafting phase or even at an advanced stage and getting close to production ready. We are happy to discuss the stage you are at and whether this is an appropriate route for you and your project prior to applying.
Please contact info@script-to-screen.co.nz to arrange a time to have a kōrero.
Your voice
Story Camp Aotearoa is all about supporting unique screen stories from Aotearoa. We are open to all genres. We are passionate about supporting stories that reflect who we are and the rich diversity of our communities and country. We encourage applications with scripts in Te Reo Māori, and those from our Pacific Island, Asian and other culturally diverse communities. We also encourage applications from other underrepresented communities like, but not limited to, those who identify as LGBTQi, *gender diverse, *disabled or neurodivergent.
If you have any access support needs to help you apply, please get in touch as soon as possible so we can help. info@script-to-screen.co.nz
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility:
(Please contact Script to Screen if you are developing a co-pro prior to applying)
Provide the following:
Upload
Please ensure ALL uploaded attachments are page-numbered and include a header with the applicant’s name and the project title.
Please provide one submission PDF document (no more than 10 pages) with the following:
If you are applying with a feature documentary, please also provide (if you have it) a link to some footage from/about the documentary you are applying with.
Application Fee
We have a nominal application fee of $35. If this is a barrier to you applying, please get in touch with us.
Please make your payment by midnight on Monday 21st September 2026.
Account Name: Script to Screen Te Tari Kupu A Whakaahua
Account Number: 03 0255 0178775 00
Reference: StoryCamp – Applicant Name
Amount: $35
APPLICATIONS CLOSED
*Gender diverse is the umbrella term for the variation of gender identities in the gender spectrum (i.e. it encompasses gender identities such as transgender, agender and non-binary).
*A disability is defined as a long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which in interaction with various barriers may hinder full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.
This definition comes from Article 1 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Story Camp 2027 is a Script to Screen initiative made possible by funding from The New Zealand Film Commission.
Script to Screen is a not-for-profit charity based in Tāmaki Makarau, and we wouldn’t be here without the support from the Auckland Council Albert Eden Accommodation Grant.
We want to take the time to acknowledge the extreme value that this grant provides to a small organisation like us, and share with you some of the things we get to do because of it!
Although following COVID Script to Screen took a flexible approach to our working arrangements, and our staff still have the option when needed to work remotely, the majority of the time we are together working as a team onsite at our offices in Morningside. We really value the collaboration, ideas and opportunities that arise from working together to provide talent development for the screen industry in Aotearoa. This physical space allows us to expand the possibilities for filmmakers throughout New Zealand, both in person and online.
At our office we also have a bookable board room that has the potential to be used for more than just Script to Screen meetings, we’re open to alumni to use the space after hours for readthroughs, project meetings or writers rooms.
We run all of our operations out of this space, so we’re a physical hub of information where you are more than welcome to come and visit us if you prefer to have a kōrero in person.
We have a legacy of alumni spanning 300+, with more if we include workshop and TALK attendees, so on behalf of everyone who has been impacted by the work that we do, we would like to mihi to Auckland Council Albert-Eden Local Board for enabling us to have this lasting legacy within the screen industry in Aotearoa.
Thank you to the Auckland Council Albert-Eden Local Board – Accommodation Grant.
Pictured: Audience attendees clapping during a presentation at the Big Screen Symposium 2024 run by Script to Screen.