What happens when the process for taking your film to market, securing international sales, attending festivals and ensuring an audience sees your film is disrupted by a pandemic?

Join us to hear from New Zealand feature film producers about how they navigated the new online world of markets and sales for their recent films. They will discuss how they dealt with disruptions to cinematic releases both here and abroad, the unexpected opportunities that arose along the way, and what they think will be helpful for you to know while the world adapts to this pandemic and a new normal.

In Auckland, Alex Behse (co-producer of There’s No I in Threesome), Alex Reed (co-producer of There’s No I in Threesome and The Girl on the Bridge) and Emma Slade (producer of The Justice of Bunny King, Nude Tuesday) will chat to Philippa Campbell about taking their films to the international market and the release of their films during covid. There is No I in Threesome was acquired by WarnerMedia and had its world premiere on HBO Max. A theatrical release in Australia and New Zealand is planned for later this year. The Girl on the Bridge premiered at Whānau Marama (NZIFF) and screened at Cannes Docs – Marché du Film online. The Justice of Bunny King and Nude Tuesday are yet to be released. 

If you’re developing or producing a feature film don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into this evolving process.

Book your ticket in advance to secure your seat. When you book your ticket via Eventbrite, there’ll be an opportunity for you to guide the discussion by submitting a question ahead of time.


Auckland
Wed 5 May 2021
6:30pm – 7:30pm – TALK
7:30 – 8:30pm – Cash bar, socialising, networking and pizza
TAPAC Theatre, 100 Motions Road, Western Springs, Auckland

After the TALK, stay and have pizza on Script to Screen, there will be a cash bar and socialising with fellow filmmakers.

$5.75 (incl. GST) for sales via EventBrite to secure your seat.
$5 cash at the door.


Script to Screen TALKS are made possible thanks to generous support from New Zealand Film CommissionFoundation North and White Studios. A special thanks to our venue sponsor TAPAC.

What happens when the process for taking your film to market, securing international sales, attending festivals and ensuring an audience sees your film is disrupted by a pandemic?

Join us to hear from New Zealand feature film producers about how they navigated the new online world of markets and sales for their recent films. They will discuss how they dealt with disruptions to cinematic releases both here and abroad, the unexpected opportunities that arose along the way, and what they think will be helpful for you to know while the world adapts to this pandemic and a new normal.

Georgina Conder (co-producer of Cousins) and Vicky Pope (producer of Savage) will talk to entertainment lawyer Sarah Cull about their experiences taking Cousins and Savage to audiences in a world seriously impacted by Covid-19. Both films are now in the Top 20 Films at the NZ Box Office having earned more than $1million during their theatrical runs.

If you’re developing or producing a feature film don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into this evolving process.

Book your ticket in advance to secure your seat. When you book your ticket via Eventbrite, there’ll be an opportunity for you to guide the discussion by submitting a question ahead of time.


Wed 19 May 2021
6:30pm – 7:30pm – TALK
7:30 – 8:30pm – Cash Bar, Socialising/Networking and Pizza

Te Auaha, Tapare Iti, Level 1, 65 Dixon St, Te Aro, Wellington

After the TALK, stay and have pizza on Script to Screen, there will be a cash bar and socialising with fellow filmmakers.

$5.75 (incl. GST) for sales via EventBrite to secure your seat.

$5 cash at the door.


Script to Screen TALKS are made possible thanks to generous support from New Zealand Film Commission, a special thanks to our venue sponsors, Te Auaha.

“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)


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:

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: Tues 18 May, 11:59pm

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


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

We’ve made some changes to the roll-out of our high-end intensive development programmes for 2021. So if you are a filmmaker planning to apply to FilmUp, Story Camp or Strength in Numbers in 2021 make sure these dates are on your radar!

All of our high-end, contestable programmes are open nationally and take place in Auckland. Travel will be covered for selected participants from outside of Auckland. Due to COVID-19 and current New Zealand government border restrictions, all applicants must be residing in New Zealand at the time of applying.

All programmes are contingent on funding.

FilmUp
FilmUp is a nine-month professional development programme for practising writers, directors and producers. It supports and empowers up to eight emerging to senior practising filmmakers selected each year to further develop a project and participate in group workshops. Throughout the programme, each participant receives 20 hours of mentorship with an esteemed industry mentor, participates in group work & round tables, and receives wrap-around support.

Applications Open: Early May 2021
Applications Close:  Mid June 2021
Group Workshops Held: from August 2021 – April 2022

READ APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS


Story Camp Aotearoa
Story Camp Aotearoa is a residential feature film lab that fosters craft, voice and vision. Eight selected screenwriters or creative teams workshop their projects with exceptional international and local advisors in a rigorous five-day experience designed specifically to meet the development needs of a feature film.

Applications Open: Early July 2021
Applications Close: Mid August 2021
Residential Lab: Five Days in Late November

READ APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS


Strength in Numbers
Strength in Numbers is focused on building sustainable businesses in our screen industry. Selected filmmakers participate in a series of workshops over a 5 to 6 month period. The programme offers a unique opportunity for practitioners in the screen industry to work together on the building blocks of business models that will sustain their future.

Applications Open: Late September 2021
Applications Close: Early November 2021
Group Workshops held: from February 2022 – June 2022

READ APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

 

Image: Story Camp 2020. Credit: Evie Mackay Photography

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.


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.


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

Passion, Persistence, Patience and Intense Ominous Whooshing

Script to Screen is proud to present a one-day directing workshop in Queenstown with David Stubbs (Daffodils, Black Hands, Reservoir Hill). This interactive workshop will give you the tools you need to find the best director within you.

Over one day, David will talk about his experience finding inspiration, choosing the right projects, how to build longevity in your career as a director and give you an in-depth look into the best and the hardest parts of being a director.

David will teach you how to effectively work and communicate with key collaborators and take you through the detailed journey of the director from pre-production to post.


Saturday 20th March 2021
9:00am – 5:00pm
The Stables, Sherwood Queenstown, 554 Frankton Road, Queenstown

Who it is for: This workshop is aimed at beginning and emerging directors, as well as those wanting to transition from other roles in the industry into directing. Producers and writers wanting to learn more about the directing process will also find this workshop valuable and are encouraged to attend. All levels of experience welcome.

Cost: General Admission $23 (incl. GST) via EventBrite

What to Bring: Pen and paper. Snacks, tea and coffee will be provided. Please bring your own lunch, there is a restaurant on-site or Queenstown township is a short drive away.

COVID Alert Level Note: This workshop will go ahead under Alert Level 1. It will be reviewed under Alert Level 2 and will not go ahead if the country is under Alert Level


Travel Grants
Film Otago Southland are generously offering a max of 5 x $100 travel grants to enable participants from outside Queenstown, but who reside within the Otago and Southland region, to attend.

Please email Kahli Scott (kahli@filmotagosouthland.com) to request this support. Confirmation of your workshop registration will be required before the grant will be offered. The first five confirmed applicants will be supported. Any person accepting the grant and failing to attend the workshop in person will be liable to return the grant.


About David Stubbs
David Stubbs is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker with an eye for the uncomfortable truths in everyday life. He has moved between drama, documentary, music videos and digital projects in a 35-year career that’s been eclectic and highly accomplished. Most notably he was the director and co-producer on feature films Daffodils (2019), Belief: The Possession of Janet Moses (2016), TV drama mini-series Black Hands (2020), and series/digital projects Reservoir Hill (2010 – 2011) and Girl versus Boy (2013-2015). David’s films and television have screened internationally on networks, Netflix and at numerous prestigious film festivals. In 2010 David won an International Emmy Award, a Qantas Media Award and in 2017 was judged Best Director Documentary at the New Zealand Film Awards.


This workshop is presented by Script to Screen and made possible thanks to generous support from  Film Otago Southland, Queenstown Lakes District Council Film Office, Queenstown Lakes Council Creative Communities and the New Zealand Film Commission.

            

Six filmmaking teams have been selected for funding through the 2020 round of Fresh Shorts and will each receive a grant of $15,000 to make their short film.

The final six were selected from a pool of 97 applications. 18 teams were shortlisted and given feedback from independent assessors.  Supported by Fresh Shorts facilitator Miriam Smith they submitted a more detailed application to Whiringa Tuarua – Stage Two in January. From the 18 submissions, six were selected.

Script to Screen and the New Zealand Film Commission will partner to support the development of these films with a two-day lab in March and a six-week mentorship process following the lab to get the teams shoot ready.

Chris Payne, Head of International Relations and Fresh Shorts panel member at the New Zealand Film Commission said, “The panel was impressed with the originality, diversity, and strength of the directors’ voices, they all have something important to say, and we’re excited to support their progression.”

Jackie Dennis, Executive Director of Script to Screen who was also part of the selection process said, “This is a fantastic group of filmmakers who have really engaging stories to tell – and it’s a ground shift to see five of the six directors are female! We are now tailoring the two-day workshop and mentorship support to match the needs of each team and their project.”

The 6 selected teams and their projects are:

 

Fresh Shorts is a New Zealand Film Commission initiative run in partnership with Script to Screen.

Update 19 Feb 2021 – Covid-19 Alert Level Update

Auckland has now moved into Alert Level 2. This workshop is going ahead under Alert Level 2 restrictions.

There are some important things to note:

  • Record-keeping for contact tracing is required for all attendees so please scan St Columba Centre’s QR code clearly placed at the entrance of the venue on the COVID-19 tracer app. If you arrive late please, ensure you check in with the Script to Screen staff member.
  • The room will be set up to ensure participants are socially distanced during the workshop, and we encourage you to keep a 1-metre distance from people you don’t know at other times, where practical. We also encourage you to wear a mask.
  • We will no longer be providing food at this workshop. Tea and coffee will be available for self-service, however, please observe social distancing at the tea and coffee stations. We recommend you bring your own water bottles and keep cups. You are welcome to bring snacks with you.
  • As always, practice good hygiene – frequently wash your hands with soap and water and cough and sneeze into your elbow. Use the hand sanitiser provided.

Do not attend the workshop if you are feeling unwell, are a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19, are waiting for a COVID-19 test result or are self-isolating.


Script to Screen is excited to bring you our first workshop for 2021! Join us this February to jumpstart your feature film idea or revitalise an old one. This interactive and practical two-day workshop will give you the tools you need to propel your feature film project forward.

On day one, writer/director Hamish Bennett (Bellbird) will teach you how to build your screen story around interesting, original and compelling characters. Then producer Emma Slade (The Justice of Bunny King, Come To Daddy, The Changeover) will give you invaluable insight into what’s needed to produce a feature film.

On day two, Hamish Bennett will return to talk about his directing process, then producer Karin Williams will help you devise a dynamic logline that gets your project noticed.

No matter what your experience is, come along. The passion that drives you to create will be invigorated and you’ll come away with new knowledge and ideas to further develop your stories.


Saturday 20th – Sunday 21st February 2021
9:15am – 5:00pm each day
St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby, Auckland
(Free off-street parking available)

Who it is for: Emerging to established filmmakers. However, if you are at the beginning stages of writing a feature film or are interested in writing a film this workshop will be very beneficial.

Cost: General Admission $23 (incl. GST) via EventBrite

What to Bring: Pen and paper. Snacks, tea and coffee will be provided. Please bring your own lunch or there are plenty of cafes in the area if you wish to buy lunch.


Workshop Schedule

Saturday 20th Feb 2021

  • 9:15am Doors open, Welcome
  • 9:30am Writing Craft with Hamish Bennett
  • 10:30am Break
  • 11am Writing Craft with Hamish Bennett continues
  • 12pm Lunch
  • 1pm Writing Craft with Hamish Bennett continues
  • 2:30pm Break
  • 3pm Producing with Emma Slade
  • 5pm End

Sunday 21st Feb 2021

  • 9:15am Doors open
  • 9:30am Directing Craft with Hamish Bennett
  • 10:30am Break
  • 11am Directing Craft with Hamish Bennett
  • 12pm Lunch
  • 1pm Directing Craft with Hamish Bennett continues
  • 2:30pm Break
  • 3pm Writing a great logline with Karin Williams – Interactive session
  • 5pm Finish

This Script to Screen workshop is made possible thanks to generous support from Auckland Council Creative Communities and the New Zealand Film Commission.

The South Shorts Mentorship programme returns in 2021 with ten emerging filmmakers selected to take part. Under the leadership and guidance of renowned screenwriter and director Briar Grace-Smith (Cousins, The Strength of Water), participants will develop their short film projects through a script-focused mentorship.

Now in its sixth year, the programme guides emerging South Auckland affiliated talent to develop their short film scripts. Over a sixth-month period, the participants get individual script notes from Briar Grace-Smith, meet for workshops where they do group script read-throughs, and hear from guest filmmakers about their experience making short films.

“Since its inception in 2015, South Shorts has seen numerous alumni gone on to make films. The programme provides a safe space for aspiring and emerging South Auckland filmmakers to gain confidence in themselves as writers while building a sense of community within the industry,” says Eloise Veber, Script to Screen Programme Manager. “Ultimately we want to see more stories from South Auckland filmmakers produced and seen by audiences. We feel so privileged to continue to do this work thanks to support from our funders.”

The search for South Shorts Mentorship participants begins with our annual two-day South Auckland Short Film Workshop held each year in October.

Congratulations to the filmmakers selected for South Shorts 2021:

 

The South Shorts Mentorship Programme is made possible thanks to generous support from Foundation North with additional support from the New Zealand Film Commission.

               

Script to Screen and the New Zealand Film Commission take great pleasure in announcing the 18 projects and teams who have been shortlisted for Kōpere Hou – Fresh Shorts 2020.

A panel of external film industry assessors shortlisted 18 projects out of a total of 97 applications. These shortlisted teams have been invited to apply for Whiringa Tuarua – Stage Two where they submit a full application. The 18 teams will be supported throughout the Whiringa Tuarua – Stage Two process to help them put their best foot forward.

Six projects from the 18 shortlisted teams will be selected, giving the teams a one in three chance of workshopping their project with industry experts and receiving a grant of $15,000 to make their film.

Script to Screen and the New Zealand Film Commission thank all the filmmakers who applied, there was a wealth of great ideas and some extremely strong filmmaking teams to select from.

Congratulations to the 18 teams shortlisted for Whiringa Tuarua – Stage Two:

 

Script to Screen and New Zealand Film Commission work in partnership to deliver the Kōpere Hou – Fresh Shorts programme.

 

Image: Ways to See dir. Jessica Sanderson. Stills Photography by Jen Raoult

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