“Nōku te whiwhi ki te mahi i runga i tēnei kaupapa whakamīharo. FilmUp was a game-changer for me and my career – the intensives allowed me to work with incredible mentors, peers and form relationships which lead to me directing on a prime-time drama and developing my feature film. I highly recommend this amazing opportunity!”

– Cian Elyse White,
FilmUp 2020 participant (mentor Louise Gough)

“FilmUp is brilliant! It’s the knowledge that someone has your back, and you aren’t doing this filmmaking thing alone. That support is invaluable especially at the beginning of a project when filmmaking often feels very solo.”

– Vanessa Wells,
FilmUp 2020 participant (Mentor Justin Pemberton)

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Want to build momentum in your career and push yourself to your full potential?

The FilmUp Mentorship programme returns for its ninth year to support and empower up to eight tenacious and talented filmmakers to reach the next stage in their creative careers. If you are developing a feature film or documentary this programme could be just what you need to progress your work to the next stage.

A mentor for each filmmaker forms the cornerstone of the programme, along with six FilmUp Hub days when the participants come together for group work.

Applicants must have a feature project in development, and be able to demonstrate that their project and career are at the right stage for mentorship and wrap-around support.

Successful applicants will take part in 20 hours of mentorship with an experienced film practitioner over an eight-month period and six FilmUp hubs spread between August 2021 and February 2022. These hubs are tailored to meet the needs of the selected filmmakers and include workshops, peer discussions and round tables with industry leaders.

Participants are the driving force of a successful mentorship as they take hold of their own learning and development. This autonomy is fostered from the start of the programme when participants are actively involved in the selection of their mentor. Throughout the programme there is wrap-around support from Script to Screen.

Since its inception in 2013, FilmUp has gone from strength to strength, with a growing alumni of talented local filmmakers who have benefitted from the programme including Briar March (The Coffin Club, There Once Was An Island: Te Henua A Nnoho), Chelsea Winstanley (Jojo Rabbit, MERATA: How Mum Decolonised the Screen, What We Do in the Shadows), Florian Habicht (James & Isey, Spookers, Love Story), Gaysorn Thavat (The Justice of Bunny King), Jake Mahaffy (Free in Deed), Nic Gorman (Human Traces), Sophie Henderson (Baby Done, Fantail) and Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa (Take Home Pay, Three Wise Cousins). You can read about other participants and an impressive list of mentors who have helped these filmmakers take a step up in their careers here.

To apply you need to be working on a feature film or documentary. Here’s what’s required for the application:

• A one-paragraph industry-related biography;
• Information on the feature project you will work on during the mentorship (including logline, a one-page synopsis of 500 – 1000 words, stage of project, your role on the project and any key collaborators you might have attached);
• A brief description of where you are at in the process, and what the next steps/hurdles are.
• A list of other projects (feature film or documentary only) you have in development (if applicable);
• A paragraph about why mentorship would be beneficial to you at this stage of your career, and what you would like to get out of the programme;
• The names of up to three preferred mentors.  (We cannot guarantee the availability of these mentors, but Script to Screen will work with you to find someone suitable);
• Up to two links to selected previous work (It is not necessary to include everything. Put your best foot forward).

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: Tues 18 May, 11:59pm

Make sure you read our Top Tips to make your FilmUp application shine while crafting your application.

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FilmUp is made possible thanks to financial support from the New Zealand Film Commission

Script to Screen has partnered with US-based Catalyst Story Institute to give New Zealanders the opportunity to participate in the Storieroad International program. This program is focused on discovering content creators and advancing creative careers within the global episodic marketplace.

Catalyst’s team of industry professionals will select up to 5 finalists and 10 semi-finalists from each participating country including New Zealand. Script to Screen will then present the 5 New Zealand finalists at a local showcase in Auckland in July 2021.  The 5 finalists are also automatically selected to screen at the 2021 Catalyst Content Festival in Duluth, Minnesota. All finalists and semi-finalists will receive at least one meeting with a US-based industry professional/mentor. Applicants must be developing a series, it can be any genre, length or format and they can be at any stage of development.

Catalyst Story Institute runs the Catalyst Content Festival early October each year in Duluth, Minnesota. New Zealand 5 finalists receive 4 VIP passes to the festival but because of COVID-19 it is unlikely the finalists will be able to attend this year. However there will be a virtual festival. COVID-19 also means the meeting with a US based industry professional/mentor will be virtual. Semi-finalists meetings are always virtual.

The 5 finalists living outside of Auckland will have travel costs covered by Script to Screen to attend the local showcase. In the unlikely event it is possible to fly to Duluth, Minnesota for the Catalyst Content Festival in October, finalists will need to pay for their own travel and accommodation. Script to Screen has not sought funding for this because of the global pandemic.

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Registrations Open Now: Registration is Free
Registrations Close: 15 April 2021 EST which is 16 April 2021 NZDT
Notification of Finalist: early June 2021

Who Can Register

• Writers, directors, actors & producers ages 16+ and of any experience level
• Each person must register individually​

Types of Content Accepted

• Narrative/episodic/serialised content of any genre, length, style, and type: comedy, drama, thriller, scripted, unscripted, documentary, limited series, social media, influencer, short form, “half-hour,” “hour-long,” radio, podcast, reality, talk show, game show, animation, kids, gaming, VR, mobile, etc.​​
• Projects can be in any stage of development: pitch, script, in-production, post-production, or completed

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About Storieroad International
Storieroad includes an international showcase aimed at advancing new voices & storytellers from 10 countries on 6 continents. Thanks to our partnership with Catalyst Story Institute this opportunity now extends to New Zealanders who will be represented in the showcase. Participants have gained jobs, signed with agents, sold projects, and made career partnerships through the Storieroad program.
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About Catalyst Story Institute
The Catalyst Story Institute is an arts organisation and an annual festival gathering of artists and executives from around the world to celebrate outstanding independent narrative production. It is a step-by-step pathway of meetings, workshops, seminars, festivals, and social events designed to showcase your stories to the industry, advance your career opportunities, and grow your trusted professional network.

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This is a Catalyst Story Institute initiative run in partnership with Script to Screen and in collaboration with “The Innovation Station” at the U.S. Department of State and Careers in Entertainment founded by the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation.

Script to Screen is excited to bring you a late-night TALK with award-winning director Jessica Hobbs, in conversation with moderator Rob Sarkies. Jessica started her career in New Zealand and has risen to work on some of our favourite series made in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Jessica has directed episodes of The Split, Apple Tree Yard, Broadchurch and most recently multi-award-winning show The Crown. She directed two episodes of Season 3, including the finale starring Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham Carter which was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series. She has gone on to direct three episodes of Season 4 including the finale.

Before moving to the UK Jessica was the lead director on the award-winning series The Slap, directed episodes of Rake and Love My Way, and won an Australian Directors Guild Award for her work on Devil’s Dust. She was also awarded the Australian Film Institute Award for ABC mini-series, Answered by Fire.

In this Script to Screen TALK, Jessica will join us live from London to talk to director Rob Sarkies (The Gulf, Consent, Jean, Two Little Boys, Wanted, Out of the Blue, Scarfies). They will discuss what it is like working on a series drama in the UK right now, her approach to directing, and her ambitions for the future.

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ABOUT THE PANEL

JESSICA HOBBS
Jessica Hobbs began directing short films in her 20s, during an eight-year stint as an assistant director. After helming Cliff Curtis TV drama Overnight in 1995, she got her break on Australia’s Heartbreak High. Hobbs went on to build up an impressive — and award-winning — Australian resume, including hit show Love My Way, East Timor mini-series Answered by Fire, winning the Australian Film Institute Directing Award for both, and the first two episodes of BAFTA-nominated ensemble drama The Slap, which she also set up.  After relocating to England, she directed Emily Watson in the high profile mini-series Apple Tree Yard, based on the Louise Doughty bestseller about a married woman who has an affair. Other directing credits include Broadchurch, River, BBC mini-series The Split, written by Abi Morgan, and most recently seasons 3 and 4 of The Crown for Netflix.

ROB SARKIES
Rob Sarkies works across feature films, series television and commercials as a creator and director. His work includes Out of the Blue about the Aramoana shootings, Consent based on Louise Nicholas’s fight for justice, Jean about aviator Jean Batten, black-buddy-comedy Two Little Boys, Wanted, The Gulf and NZ classic Scarfies.

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Tues 23 March
9:00pm – 10:00pm NZDT – TALK

Thanks for being with us on the ride that was 2020! There have been setbacks and wins for the industry as a whole and it’s been heart-warming to see all the mahi you have collectively achieved.

In 2020, we adapted our programmes to run online during lockdowns and (finally) managed to run the Big Screen Symposium 2020! We launched a new programme and devised another (more news on that coming!); have had more than 60 filmmakers go through our development programmes and were lucky enough to see more than 1300 of you at our TALKS,  Workshops (online and in-person) throughout the year and at the Big Screen Symposium!

Thank you to all of our funders, supporters, mentors, speakers, advisors, collaborators, industry partners, contractors, friends and to all of you who’ve made this year special! We hope you and your whānau enjoy a warm, safe, well-deserved summer break!

The Script to Screen office will be closed from 19 Dec 2020 – 11 Jan 2021. Come January, look out for more information on our new programme, Paerangi and for information on FilmUp 2021.

To keep up to date, make sure you’re on our mailing list!

The Big Screen Symposium presents an annual snapshot of our screen culture framed by the guiding principles that filmmaking is both a creative and practical endeavour. Delegates are immersed in two-days of conversations, masterclasses, workshops, panel discussions and case studies with a stellar line-up of local and international filmmaker speakers.

After being postponed TWICE due to COVID-19, Script to Screen and janda productions are thrilled that the Big Screen Symposium is going ahead in Auckland on 4 – 5 December at the ASB Waterfront Theatre.  With support from BSS’s fantastic sponsors, we have kept tickets at early bird prices as we know the pandemic has negatively impacted many filmmakers finances.

Now in its 8th year, the Big Screen Symposium will once again present inspiring and accomplished speakers to the New Zealand film and television community.

Hear from Academy Award-winning Chilean director Sebastián Lelio (A Fantastic Woman, Gloria, Disobedience), Cowboy Bebop showrunner André Nemec, renowned producer Finola Dwyer (Brooklyn, An Education), Australian writer/actor Scott Ryan (Mr Inbetween), two-time Emmy winning filmmaker Arielle Kilker (Cheer, Last Chance U), writer/actor Sophie Henderson (Fantail, Baby Done, Justice of Bunny King) and the makers of box office hit Savage director Sam Kelly and producer Vicky Pope. Sneak previews from five up-and-coming New Zealand films will be shown on Friday before everybody closes the day with Networking Drinks. Sebastián Lelio, Arielle Kilker and Scott Ryan will be live-streamed.

You heard it here first – Hon. Carmel Sepuloni, Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage will join the $50M Premium Production For International Audiences Fund session. Pre-recorded interviews from Jonathan Frank, Senior Vice President Current Programming, FX Networks and Nathaniel Grouille, Director Nonfiction Series, Netflix were recorded especially for the event and will not be seen outside of Big Screen Symposium 2020.

This year’s programme is crafted around the theme of Transforming Culture and explores the transformative power of story and the transformation of the film industry through technological and sociological advances. Six mini keynote addresses will speak to this theme.

You really do need to be there.

Join the conversation: bigscreensymposium.com/stay-connected/

The full 2020 programme is available now on bigscreensymposium.com/2020-programme/

“South Shorts not only opened the door for me to discover my skills as a writer but also gave me the confidence to know that I can actually do this, anyone can. I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity”

– 2019 South Shorts Participant

South Shorts is an intensive development programme that supports up to nine new and emerging screenwriters from the South Auckland community to develop a short film script. Under the guidance of renowned screenwriter Briar Grace-Smith, participants are lead through focused script development over a six-month period. The programme will start in early 2021 and participants will attend a series of one-day hubs between March and September.

During these full-day ‘hubs’ participants will get together to workshop and discuss their short film scripts. At the hubs, writers will take part in script read-throughs, get individual script notes from a mentor, do writing exercises, and hear from filmmakers about their experiences making short films. Each participant will also have individual script sessions with their mentor between hub days.

Dates for the South Shorts Mentorship Programme will be set in December 2020. The hub days usually take place on Saturdays, 9 am-5 pm.

This initiative is intended for people who either live in South Auckland or who feel connected to South Auckland (maybe you grew up there, have whānau there, have worked there for years, feel connected to the community in someway, etc.) and is made possible with assistance from Foundation North.

Applications open: Tues 27^th October
Applications close: Tuesday 24^th November, 5pm
Applicants notified of outcome: Friday 18^th December

Calling all aspiring filmmakers, storytellers and creatives! Want to learn how to use the power of cinema to tell your stories?

 

The 2020 South Auckland Short Film Workshop is a two-day workshop to learn the art of making short films. Whether you’re new to filmmaking or have some experience, we are calling everyone who aspires to tell their stories on screen to come and learn what it takes to bring your film to life.

This workshop is intended for people who either live in South Auckland or have a connection with the area.

Over one weekend you will be guided by experienced filmmakers about the principles of how to write a short film, the role of the director, what it takes to get your short film off the ground, and pitching to funders and collaborators. Speakers include Marina McCartney (Milk & Honey, Vai), Todd Karehana (Ahikāroa, My Brother Mitchell) and Nikki Si’ulepa (Same But Different, Mā, Snow in Paradise)

Who it is for: New and emerging creatives from any industry or background with a connection to the South Auckland community who have an interest in short filmmaking.

When: Saturday 31 Oct – Sunday 1 Nov 2020, 9am – 5pm each day

Where: Te Haa o Manukau – Ground Floor, 2 Osterley Way, Manukau.
$5 all-day parking is available at 50 Manukau Station Road – an Auckland Transport carpark next to the bus station which is a short walk to the venue.

Cost: General Admission $5.75 (incl GST). Tickets via Eventbrite.

What to Bring: Pen and paper. Morning and afternoon tea will be provided. Please bring lunch with you or there are plenty of cafes in the area to buy lunch and there is space available to eat your lunch if you bring it with you.

Participants from this workshop will be eligible to apply for Script to Screen’s South Shorts 2021 Mentorship Programme. Read more about South Shorts 2021.

Image: Money Honey written and directed by Isaac Knights-Washbourn. Winner of NZIFF Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts Best Film Award and Show Me Shorts 2020 Best Director Award.

BUY TICKETS

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ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS

 

MARINA MCCARTNEY
Marina was born and raised in Manukau City, New Zealand. From a Geordie Father, Samoan Mother and Cook Islands step-Mother, she is interested in how cultural heritage effects the way we are viewed and how we view others. She holds an MA in Screen Production (First Class Honours) and is an award-winning filmmaker and academic. Her areas of expertise are Pacific Studies, Pacific filmmaking, Pacific representation on screen and of the Pacific woman. She is a PhD candidate and Vice Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholar exploring Pacific filmmaking and is developing a range of projects including her next feature film, The Return.

TODD KAREHANA
Todd Karehana (Ngai Te Rangi, Ngāti Awa, Ngati Ruapani) is an experimental storyteller with a passion for creating new images of minorities. He has five years’ experience in the New Zealand film and television industry with companies such as Kura Productions, Pango Productions, and Piki Films. Alumni of the Masters in Screen Production programme at The University of Auckland, Karehana was the writer and director on several short films such as The Kweenz of Kelston, and My Brother Mitchell – which screened at numerous international film festivals. His recent credits include; storyliner, writer, script editor and Social Media Manager on drama series Ahikāroa, storyliner and writer on children’s animated series The Exceptional Squad, Social Media Manager on animated series Aroha Bridge, and, writing support on feature film Ngā Pouwhenua.

NIKKI SI’ULEPA
Nikki Si’ulepa is an award winning actor, writer, director and camera operator of Samoan heritage from the villages of Sātalo and Solaūa. Nikki’s short films have screened at international film festivals including Berlinale, Tribeca, Sydney, NZIFF, and imagineNATIVE. Her debut NZFC funded short film, Snow in Paradise was shot entirely on location in Aitutaki, Cook Islands and was selected for the Berlinale in 2011 and again for the NATIVe program in 2019. Nikki was one of 250 participants and the only Kiwi/Pacific Islander selected from over 7,000 applicants for the Berlinale Talents program in 2017. Nikki’s self funded her next short film, Ma, and Aroha was one of ten short films in the K’Rd Stories collection. Nikki next short, Counting Cars (post production), was an experiment to test her working relationship with her wife, Rachel Aneta Wills, in anticipation of their romantic comedy feature film Same But Different: A True NZ Love Story. Nikki is currently in post production with short film, This is Your Half Hour Call and is developing a television series and two feature films. Nikki likes vegan Magnum ice-cream.

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WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

Saturday 31st October

• 9am   Doors open, Intro (tea and coffee available)
• 9:30am  Introduction to Screenwriting with Marina Alofagia McCartney  (Vai,Milk & Honey)
• 12pm  Lunch
• 1pm How to pitch your story with Marina Alofagia McCartney
• 2pm  Afternoon tea
• 2:30  Introduction to Directing with Todd Karehana (Ahikāroa, My Brother Mitchell)
• 4:30pm End of Day One

Sunday 1st November

• 9:15am Doors open, tea and coffee available
• 9:30am Self-funded filmmaking – Get out and make it! with Nikki Si’ulepa (Same But Different, Ma)
• 11am Break
• 11:30am Pitching Session
• 1pm Lunch
• 1:45pm Pitching Session continued
• 5pm End of Day Two

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• This workshop is presented in partnership with Ngā Aho Whakaari and PISA – Pacific Islands Screen Artists.
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• This workshop is made possible thanks to generous support from New Zealand Film Commission, Creative Communities Auckland and Foundation North.
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The 2020 Kōpere Hou Fresh Shorts round is now open.

This year the application process for Kōpere Hou – Fresh Shorts has been changed making it simpler for teams to apply. It is now a two-stage application process.

Whiringa Tuatahi – Stage One you will continue to need a writer, director and producer, and a written script. Read the Whiringa Tuatahi – Stage One Application Pointers to find out what else is required. Applications are made via the Kōpere Hou – Fresh Shorts Funding Portal, you will need to register a User Account.

A shortlist of 18 teams will be invited to submit a Whiringa Tuarua – Stage Two application. This detailed application is the same as previous years to ensure all bases are covered and the team have all the support they require to make the film.

The full criteria and requirements for the assessment of both Stage One and Stage Two are in the Guidelines.

From the shortlist, six projects will receive $15,000 grants. The teams behind each of these projects will attend a two-day development workshop in March 2021 and then be matched with an experienced industry practitioner and receive six weeks’ mentoring to get their project ‘shoot ready’.

KEY DATES

WHIRINGA TUATAHI – STAGE ONE
APPLICATIONS OPEN NOW (Apply via Kōpere Hou – Fresh Shorts Portal)
APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 1pm, Monday 19 October 2020
ANNOUNCEMENT OF SHORTLISTED TEAMS: Week commencing 16 November 2020

WHIRINGA TUARUA – STAGE TWO
APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 1pm, Monday 11 January 2021
ANNOUNCEMENT OF FUNDED TEAMS: Week commencing 8 February 2021
DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP DATES: 6-7 March 2021

READ GUIDELINES

READ APPLICATION POINTERS

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KŌPERE HOU – FRESH SHORTS WEBINAR

Wondering about the new application process for Kōpere Hou – Fresh Shorts?

Watch these webinars with Miriam Smith (Fresh Shorts Facilitator), Jude McLaren (Talent Pathways Manager, NZFC) and Jackie Dennis (ED, Script to Screen) to hear about what’s needed for Whiringa Tauatahi – Stage One and how to put your best foot forward in your 2020 Kōpere Hou – Fresh Shorts application.

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WEBINAR #1

An overview on the new application process to guide you through the selection criteria.

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WEBINAR #2

An in-depth look into the application portal, the director’s visual inspiration and how to think from a reader’s perspective when writing your application.