The 2024/25 Industry Development Fund combines the previous Strategic training Fund and the NZFC administered On-the-Job Development programme for internships, mentorships, attachments and professional placements.
It has a focus on devolving support to the sector to deliver industry level training, professional development and mentorship programmes that meet the talent development needs of the sector. It is aimed at above-the-line roles of producers, directors, writers, and actors. Where there is evidence of a lack of diversity, this funding can also be available for below-the-line opportunities.
The funding aims to support programmes that target a mix of emerging, mid-career and/or established talent. The NZFC’s focus is to fund training and professional development programmes that directly meet the needs of the sector, that are available across the country, including regionally, and that actively diversify the NZ filmmaking talent pool. The NZFC is committed to providing opportunities for Tangata Whenua and those from diverse communities and will require all organisations successful with this funding to evidence how they will provide opportunities that will meet this commitment.
What you can apply for
The Industry Development Fund is a contestable fund and is available for programmes that run from July 2024 to June 2025. These programmes should be aimed at producers, directors, writers, actors, or diverse crew.
Applicants may apply for bespoke programmes of skills and professional development that include (but are not limited to):
- Skills development and training programmes;
- Development Labs;
- Mentoring Programmes including:
- One to one mentoring
- Group mentoring
- Production Internships and Attachments
- Company placements
- Industry Event and Labs;
- Essential operational running and delivery costs of the proposed programme(s)
The fund does not cover:
- Core costs of an organisation
- Costs already funded by third party financiers or investors;
- Cost for Capital Expenditure
We encourage applications from across New Zealand that cater for specific regional developmental needs.
Who can apply
To be eligible for Industry Development Funding, applicants must be screen sector organisations, companies and/or collectives that are registered in New Zealand. They may be, but are not limited to, organisations that have a membership; are talent development focused; have a diversity and inclusion focus and/or support the development of Māori talent.
How to apply
Apply using the online application portal at https://funding.nzfilm.co.nz/. It is important you provide as much information as you can to help us make a full and fair assessment. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Early applications are encouraged.
What to include in your application
Applications must include:
Organisational history
- A short history of the organisation, with links to a website if available;
- Track record of the organisation to deliver the highest quality of training and industry development;
- Evidence of the organisation’s work in developing diverse talent.
Programme Detail
- The programme(s) being proposed and evidence of the need for the proposed programme(s);
- Details of how this proposal aligns with the NZFC Statement of Intent;
- A detailed budget including any other investment and income;
- A full schedule of activity and key events;
- Who is the programme targeted at, including:
- Talent level (emerging, mid-career and/or established)
- Above the line roles of producers, directors, writers or actors);
- Māori talent; and
- Talent from diverse communities across above and below the line roles
- Where the programme(s) is based:
- Online;
- In person in Auckland and/or Wellington; or in person in other centres across New Zealand (please specify);
- What are the proposed learning outcomes for the participants, and how many expected participants would benefit from this programme;
- Track record of individuals involved in delivering this programme including biographies.
- If targeting below-the-line roles, how does the programme address the findings of Toi Mai’s Te Wao Nui o Toi report?
The following additional information is required for on-the-job and craft mentorships only
- A breakdown of the types or mentorships you propose, including the planned structure, duration and anticipated outcomes;
- •A list of Individuals and/or Production Companies you are engaged with that you’ll utilise to deliver mentorships (with letters confirming this relationship);
- •How you propose to engage with feature film productions and producers to enable production-based mentorships (if appropriate).
A note on mentorships.
- For this application the term “mentorship” can be applied to multiple situations across the training and development value chain. For eg:
- Attachments on projects for writers, directors, and producers (including writer’s rooms for writers);
- Placements in companies for producers (focused across both business and slate development);
- Craft mentorships with more experienced practitioners;
- Experienced practitioners mentoring above the line roles on debut features;
- Group mentoring across a project.
- Mentoring can be in person or online and may be on NZ productions, international productions or may be an international opportunity.
Details of how your programme supports the development of Māori and/or Diverse Talent
- A summary of how the organisation and its programme(s) supports the development of Māori talent, female filmmakers and/or diverse or underrepresented communities;
- If the programme(s) is focused on supporting the development of Māori talent:
- Demonstration of a proactive commitment to supporting Tangata Whenua including the organisation’s policy, strategy or guiding principles that illustrate this.
In the absence of this, include any partnerships in place to help co-design and co-deliver the programme(s) with written confirmation from the partners and the organisation’s strategy to engage with and support Māori talent going forward;
- If the programme(s) is focused on supporting the development of female filmmakers and/or diverse talent (D&I Strategy ) in the screen sector:
- Demonstration of a proactive commitment to supporting female filmmakers and/or diverse talent including the organisation’s policy, strategy or guiding principles that illustrate this. In the absence of this, include any partnerships in place to co-design and co-deliver the programme(s) with written confirmation from the partners and the organisation’s strategy to engage with diverse talent going forward.
If you have any questions, please contact either Talent Pathways Manager Jude McLaren (jude.mclaren@nzfilm.co.nz) or Head of Talent Development Dale Corlett (dale.corlett@nzfilm.co.nz