Important Deadline Extended – Waitaha Screen Development Incubator

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 1PM, FRIDAY 21ST MARCH 2025 

It has just come to our attention that some of our posts and promotional information regarding Waitaha Screen Development Incubator did not include all the eligibility criteria.

We are very sorry for this and any additional work this may have caused you. As a result, we are extending our deadline until Friday, 21 March, to allow all applicants more time to refine their applications if they want to. Again, we apologise for this technical error.

If you feel you no longer meet the criteria or you are concerned about whether you do, we are available to have a conversation with anyone that wants to. Please contact us on info@script-to-screen.co.nz

Eligibility & Selection Criteria? 

• Teams, made up of writers, directors, producers, with a project in development who are able to demonstrate that their project is ready and would benefit from this type of development support.   

• All selected projects must be intending to be made/ produced in Canterbury. The selection process will consider the commitment the team have to making their productions in Canterbury. 

• Applicants must have a strong connection with Waitaha Canterbury. 

• At least one key team member must be permanently based in Canterbury. Anyone based outside the region must have the ability to travel themselves to Christchurch for the wananga on the 3rd and 4th of May. 
• All applicants must be permanent New Zealand residents or New Zealand citizens currently residing in Aotearoa. 
  

This unique development incubator is now open for TV series (scripted or stand-alone documentary) and Feature Film (scripted or documentary) projects in development that are planning to be filmed and produced in Waitaha Canterbury. The purpose of this programme is to support the development of original IP in the region and support creators to progress their project to be equipped for funding and production.

This is an accelerated development programme where up to six projects will be selected to attend a two-day workshop held in Christchurch this May. Teams will then receive mentorship online from experienced industry practitioners to develop their projects. The culmination of this programme is an in-person pitch to an invited audience of project relevant guests in Auckland at the Big Screen Symposium (BSS) 2025. A representative of each team will attend BSS to pitch, further increasing their connections with other creators in the industry by attending all of BSS as a part of this programme.

This collaboration between Script to Screen and Te Puna Matarau will continue to bring attention to the talent and potential within Waitaha and create development opportunities, to strengthen and support screen storytellers, their projects and the future of screen in the region.

Applications open: Thursday 20th February
Applications close: 1pm, Monday 17th March
Application Deadline Extended: 1pm, Friday 21st March

Key Dates

This development programme has been designed with momentum and progression in mind. It has been structured in a way to help support teams to gain new information that can be implemented into their work, developed through an online mentorship, and utilized in a unique opportunity to pitch to decision makers within the industry within 2 months.

All teams chosen will need to commit to the dates below and the speed in which this programme will be run.

Programme dates:  

• Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th May- Christchurch Wananga.
• 4th May – 3rd July- Online Mentorship period
• Fri and Sat 4th and 5th July – Big Screen Symposium

Note: All workshop expenses are covered other than any travel for those attending from outside Waitaha.

Submission Requirements:

Feature Film (Scripted or Documentary):

• A PDF document of up to 10 pages, with the following information:

1. 1. Logline
   2. Synopsis
   3. Genre, Style, Tone
   4. Statement of, how this project will be shot/produced in the region?
   5. Statement of, why you want to tell this story? what’s your connection to it?
   6. What stage is the project at? Why do you want to do this programme?
   7. Team members short screen biography/s
   8. Any images that help us understand the tone and style of your project

• Projects must submit a full draft (The first 10-20 pages of your script will be assessed)
• A link for each of your team member’s prior work

TV Series (Scripted or stand-alone Documentary):

• A PDF document of up to 10 pages, with the following information:

1. 1. Logline/Plot summary
   2. Synopsis
   3. Genre, Style, Tone
   4. Statement of, how this project will be shot/produced in the region?
   5. Statement of, why you want to tell this story? what’s your connection to it?
   6. What stage is the project at? Why do you want to do this programme?
   7. Team members short screen biography/s
   8. Any images that help us understand the tone and style of your project

• Projects must submit a full draft (The first 10-20 pages of your script will be assessed)
• A link for each of your team member’s prior work

The Waitaha Screen Development Incubator is made possible thanks to funding from the
New Zealand Film Commission, and NZ on Air.

A Script to Screen Programme presented in partnership with Te Puna Matarau.

Image Building: Lincoln Mechanics cnr West Belt and Gerald Street – Image from The Lincoln Project by Kelly Shakespere