KEY DATES:
Applications open: Now, Monday 11th August 2025
Applications close: 1 PM, Monday 22nd September 2025
The residential development lab will take place from: Monday 16th – Friday 20th March 2026.
Travel costs for participants who live outside Auckland will be covered as part of the programme.
Shortlist Notified: End of October
Announcement: Early December
Team Zoom Meetings: 1-5 December
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.
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:
- Lead applicant must be a NZ citizen or permanent resident to apply
- It is anticipated all members of your team attending Story Camp will be NZ citizens or permanent residents, unless you are developing a co-production.
(Please contact Script to Screen if you are developing a co-pro prior to applying)
- Copyright ownership. When you apply for Story Camp one of your team will need to own the copyright of the project you apply with. This chain of title may be requested. If you need more information about what chain of title is, please use this NZFC link https://www.filmnz.com/resources/chain-title-information-sheet
- All submissions need to be for feature film or feature documentary projects only
- Participants must agree and be available to attend all dates of Story Camp
Provide the following via this form:
https://form.jotform.com/Script_to_Screen_NZ/story-camp-aotearoa-2026-apply
- Applicant Contact details (the writer and or rights holder must be the lead applicant).
- Project Type:
- Feature Film – Narrative
- Feature Film – Documentary
- What stage is your project at:
- First draft
- Second – Fourth draft
- Advanced draft
- Other (please explain)
- Has the project received any funding or financial investment? If yes, what for?
- Who in your team owns the copyright of the project?
- List of team members and their roles
- A link to your prior work – film or other art form (please choose one link to a piece of work that you think best represents you as an artist)
Upload
Please ensure ALL uploaded attachments are page-numbered and include a header with the applicant’s name and the project title.
- Full script (scriptment/story treatment if documentary)
Please provide one submission PDF document (no more than 10 pages) with the following:
- Film Logline (50 words or less)
- Film Synopsis (500-750 words)
- A statement about why you want to tell this story
- A statement about where the project is in its development journey, including any finance and key team and/or talent secured (if appropriate)
- A statement about what you think that you, your team and the project need from Story Camp
- Short biographies of you and attached key creatives (½ a page per person – not a list of credits)
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 $30. If this is a barrier to you applying, please get in touch with us.
Please make your payment by midnight on Monday 22nd September 2025.
Account Name: Script to Screen Te Tari Kupu A Whakaahua
Account Number: 03 0255 0178775 00
Reference: StoryCamp – Applicant Name
Amount: $30
APPLY HERE:
Please apply via our online form: https://form.jotform.com/Script_to_Screen_NZ/story-camp-aotearoa-2026-apply
*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
📸 Photograph captured by Evie Mackay
