Applications are now open for the Aotearoa Short Film Lab, a prestigious hothouse mentoring scheme for screenwriters and aspiring screenwriters to workshop new ideas for short film.
Established in 2010 as a partnership between Show Me Shorts and Script to Screen, the Lab offers six local, and for the first time this year two international, short film makers the opportunity to develop their short film concepts and scripts with the guidance and advice of experienced industry mentors.
The Lab includes a full-day workshop hosted by the University of Auckland’s Screen Production Department in March 2017. The mentors in previous years have included Jackie van Beek (The Inland Road, Uphill, Go the Dogs), Jake Mahaffy (Free in Deed, Wellness,A.D. 1363, The End of Chivalry) and Shuchi Kothari (Firaaq, Apron Strings, Coffee and Allah).
Previous Short Film Lab participants have described the interactive workshop as “inspiring” and “invaluable”, and many have gone on to make the shortlist for NZFC Fresh Shorts funding. In 2013, the first film developed with the assistance of the Short Film Lab – Lauren Jackson’s I’m Going to Mum’s – premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won Best Short Film Script at the SWANZ Awards.
The Lab is free to attend for all selected applicants, but there is a NZ$20 application fee. Those selected can come on their own or bring up to two key creative collaborators with them.
To apply to the 2016 Aotearoa Short Film Lab complete the online application form. This will ask you to provide:
APPLY NOW
If you have any queries please contact Sjionel Timu on sjionel@script-to-screen.co.nz.
Applications close on Wednesday 14 December 2016, 5pm.
Image: I’m Going to Mums, Dir. Lauren Jackson, Photo: Tania Jackson
Script to Screen is proud to announce the eight filmmaker mentors who join FilmUp 2016.
The securing of legendary NZ writer/director Andrew Adamson and Australian producer Rosemary Blight (CLEVERMAN) completes the stella line-up.
The mentorship pairings for the 2016 FilmUp Programme are:
Director Ray Lawrence (LANTANA) mentors Gaysorn Thavat
Producer Rachel Gardner (SLOW WEST) mentors Georgina Conder
Writer/direcor Gerard Johnstone (HOUSEBOUND) mentors Joe Lonie
Writer/director Dana Rotberg (ANGEL DE FUEGO) mentors writer Josephine Stewart-Tewhiu
Writer/director Jake Mahaffy (FREE IN DEED) mentors Max Currie
Prouducer Rosemary Blight (CLEVERMAN) mentors Nadia Maxwell
Writer/director Andrew Adamson (SHREK) mentors Tim Van Dammen
Writer/director Rolf De Heer (CHARLIE’S COUNTRY) mentors Yamin Tun
See their biographies here.
The generosity and spirit of our distinguished mentors is an integral part of what makes Script to Screen’s FilmUp Programme so successful, and a heartfelt thank you goes to each of them for joining us.
FilmUp is our high-end development programme for writers, directors and producers who have already shown considerable talent and tenacity in their work.
Over the year, each film-up participant has 20 hours of time from their mentor, and attends a series of hub days that include round tables, workshops, and group work as part of the programme, which is tailored to participants’ individual needs.
We are excited about the time ahead for these filmmakers and look forward to seeing what each mentorship brings.
FilmUp is made possible with financial support from the New Zealand Film Commission.
Script to Screen is proud to award eight filmmakers with places on the FilmUp Programme for 2016.
FilmUp is our high-end development programme for writers, directors and producers who have already shown considerable talent and tenacity in their work.
We are also delighted to award a senior mentorship for the first time to writer/director Jake Mahaffy (FREE IN DEED). Mahaffy is a critically acclaimed feature film maker and will be paired with an international mentor in the coming weeks.
The participants of the 2016 FilmUp Mentorship Programme are:
Gaysorn Thavat – Director
Georgina Conder – Producer
Joe Lonie – Writer/director
Josephine Stewart-Tewhiu – Writer
Max Currie – Writer/director
Nadia Maxwell – Producer
Tim Van Dammen – Writer/director
Yamin Tun – Writer/director
See a full list of their biographies here.
Each participant will be matched with a filmmaker mentor from NZ or Australia over the coming weeks, and will attend a series of hub days that include round tables, workshops, and group work as part of the eight-month programme that is tailored to participants individual needs.
We would like to thank all the filmmakers who applied.
FilmUp is made possible with support from the New Zealand Film Commission.
“The insights and inspiration I have received have been exponentially more beneficial than I ever imagined.” – Producer Julia Parnell (FilmUp 2015)
Calling screenwriters, directors and producers!
FilmUp returns in 2016, providing talented and tenacious filmmakers an individually tailored development programme to hone their creative practice, and take a step up in their careers.
Now in its fourth year, Script to Screen’s FilmUp offers up to eight writers, directors and producers a place on the eight-month programme. Participants receive 20 hours of one-on-one mentorship with an established filmmaker, regular hub days including workshops and round tables with guest speakers, and tailored additional support from Script to Screen.
FilmUp has gone from strength to strength, thanks to the generosity of our previous mentors: producer Jan Chapman (THE PIANO), director Ray Lawrence (LANTANA), writer/show-runner Neil Cross (SPOOKS), directing coach Brita McVeigh, producer Tim White (SON OF A GUN), writer/showrunner Alice Bell (THE BEAUTIFUL LIE), director Garth Davis (TOP OF THE LAKE), producer Helen Bowden (THE SLAP), director Leanne Pooley (BEYOND THE EDGE), screenwriter/script editor Keith Thompson (THE SAPPHIRES), producer Tim Sanders (LOTR), screenwriter James Griffin (800 WORDS), writer/director Rolf de Heer (CHARLIE’S COUNTRY), writer/director Jackie van Beek (THE INLAND ROAD), distributor Michael Eldred (BOY), and producer Vicky Pope (TWO LITTLE BOYS).
We’re excited to consider applicants with a strong track record for another year in this rewarding programme.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Monday 14th March 2016, 5pm
Read about our previous FilmUp mentorship pairings here.
Note: FilmUp Script Development will not run in 2016.
FilmUp is made possible with the financial assistance of the New Zealand Film Commission.
In addition to the South Auckland Short Film Workshop, Script to Screen is proud to reintroduce the South Shorts Mentoring Programme.
Six participants of the South Auckland Short Film Workshop will be chosen to participate in a 6 month programme, which offers up to 30 hours of mentoring on a short film project.
The programme will guide emerging writers and producers through the process of developing a short film, whether the filmmakers aim to make the film on their own, or getting a script ready to apply for the New Zealand Film Commission Fresh Shorts scheme. We are looking for distinctive new voices with a passion for storytelling. Participants may have some, little or no prior knowledge of filmmaking.
How do I apply?
The participants will be chosen based on a combination of their pitch during the 2016 South Auckland Short Film Workshop, and a written statement submitted to Script to Screen after the workshop outlining why the mentoring programme is for them.
Programme Outline
The South Shorts Mentoring Programme will start in early 2017, and participants will need to be available to attend the following days. Dates have not yet been set and will be discussed with the 6 participants in December 2016.
Kick-off Lab (7 hours) – All mentors and participants attend a one day intensive lab to launch the programme.
Hubs (6 hours) – The participants come together for two 3 hour hub meetings during the six month period. This is a chance for the writers to discuss their experiences, what they are learning and hear from a guest speaker about a particular topic.
Ongoing Mentoring (10 hours over a 6 month period) – Participants are each offered 10 hours of one-on-one sessions with their mentor over the course of 6 months. The content of these sessions will be tailored to suit the needs of each team, but centre around developing the story and script, ready for either shooting the film or applying for funding.
Wrap-up Lab (7 hours) – A day together again completes the six-month journey. Teams will chart progress, discuss challenges they encountered and plan the way forward for their film.
This initiative is made possible with assistance from Foundation North.
Last month saw the kick-off of our first South Shorts Mentorship Programme, where the talented up-and-coming writers came together to workshop their short film ideas under the guidance of Michael Bennett (MATARIKI), Oscar Kightley (SIONE’S WEDDING), Zia Mandviwalla (NIGHT SHIFT) and Jake Mahaffy (FREE IN DEED).
We are now able to announce the exciting mentorship pairings that will nourish the creativity of these writers for the next six months and hopefully see some great short films get made!
Lene Aiono with writer/director Michael Bennett (MATARIKI)
Vela Manusaute with writer/director Zia Mandviwalla (NIGHT SHIFT)
Levi Matautia-Morgan with writer/director Oscar Kightley (SIONE’S WEDDING)
Louise Tu’u with producer Ainsley Gardiner (BOY)
Writing team Mary Campbell and Maria Walker with writer/director Zia Mandviwalla (NIGHT SHIFT)
Isaac Weeks with writer/director Jake Mahaffy (FREE IN DEED)
This exciting new programme is made possible with the continued support of the ASB Community Trust.
A similar mentorship will be made available to Northland filmmakers this year, where up to 6 filmmaking teams will have guidance on progressing a film project. To be considered for this mentorship, filmmakers should attend our May workshop in the Hokianga, Storytelling for the Screen.