Aotearoa Scripted Series Initiative
NZ On Air with Sky and Dynamic Television
A new co-development fund, announced October 29, 2026, for up to three one-hour New Zealand drama series with international legs.
up toNZ$75kGrantcloses in 32 days
National fund New Zealand, Wellington
Feature Film Production Investment
Run by Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga, New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC)
The commission's main production money for features with significant New Zealand content, as equity up to NZD 2.5 million or a grant up to NZD 500,000, decided by the board five times a year. Writers reach it through a producer; the next deadline is November 9, 2026.
Grant or repayable, up to NZ$2,500,000Open to writers in New ZealandA production company
Next deadline Nov 9, 2026 (closes in 8 days)
That closing date has passed. We check the funder's page every day and add the next dates once they are published.
The money
- Amount
- Up to NZ$2,500,000Equity investment of up to NZD 2.5 million, or grants of up to NZD 500,000
- What it is
- Grant or repayable
- To apply
- Free
Who can apply
- Applicant
- A production company
- Where you write
- In New Zealand
- Rules
- Experienced New Zealand producers with a production-ready film: significant New Zealand content, a lead producer holding New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency, a confirmed schedule and a viable finance plan. A pre-application meeting with the production team is required.
- Stages
- Production and completion
- Formats
- Feature, Documentary, Animation
- Language of the application
- English, Māori
When to apply
The next closing date is Nov 9, 2026. The dates below are the current cycle's, as the funder states them. Deadlines at 1pm New Zealand time, each followed by a board meeting six to ten weeks later; fully financed urgent projects may be considered at any time
| Round | Closes |
|---|---|
| Deadline | Nov 9, 2026 |
| Deadline | Feb 9, 2027 |
| Deadline | Apr 12, 2027 |
| Deadline | Jul 26, 2027 |
| Deadline | Sep 20, 2027 |
Dates are as the funder states them. Check the time of day and the time zone on the official page.
Also open to writers in New Zealand
Diverse Content funding rounds (Ngahau, Whāngai, Kura Pounamu, Mōhiohio, Reo Māori Content Co-Fund)
Te Māngai Pāho (Māori Broadcasting Funding Agency)
The Māori broadcasting agency funds te reo Māori content by language level rather than platform, through themed rounds: Ngahau for entertainment, Whāngai for learners, Mōhiohio for factual…
VariesGrantcloses in 32 days
Feature Film Development Fund
Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga, New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC)
The commission's single development door, folded from the old Early and Advanced schemes, and one a writer can walk through alone.
up toNZ$35kGrantany time
Feature Film Finishing Grant
Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga, New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC)
Finishing money for low-budget New Zealand features made outside the commission's production funding: grading, sound, effects polish and festival costs, once a festival has said yes.
up toNZ$60kGrantany time
More production funding elsewhere
AFS Grant
Austin Film Society
Texas filmmakers have their own state fund: cash for features and shorts in production or post, with camera and finishing packages on top.
up to$20kGrantbetween rounds
Minnesota Film Production Grant
Jerome Foundation
The Minnesota twin of Jerome's New York City grant: up to USD 30,000 of production money for early career directors who take creative risks, applied for in two steps each fall.
up to$30kGrantcloses in 23 days
New York City Film Production Grant
Jerome Foundation
A production grant for New York City directors near the start of their careers, in any moving-image form from animation to documentary.
up to$30kGrantcloses in 23 days
BPM Open Call
Black Public Media
Public television's fund for Black nonfiction stories runs one call a year: five projects get USD 20,000 and a place at PitchBLACK, where one leaves with up to USD 150,000 of production…
range$150kInvestmentbetween rounds
Also useful
Fellowships and labsPrograms that pick a few writers and work with them for months, on the events pages.Where Creative Europe's development money goesEvery MEDIA development grant since 2014, by country, company and year.How to write a treatmentThe document a development application is built on, step by step.Screenwriting eventsContests, labs, festivals and conferences, with their deadlines.