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
He Pounamu Te Reo Māori Feature Film Production Investment
Run by Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga, New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC)
A dedicated production lane for dramatic features told in te reo Māori and led by Māori filmmakers, on the same money terms and calendar as the commission's general feature investment. Guidelines are published in both English and te reo Māori. Ka Whawhai Tonu, released in 2024, is the model the page shows.
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 dramatic feature in te reo Māori led by Māori creatives, with significant New Zealand content, a citizen or permanent resident lead producer, a confirmed schedule and a viable finance plan.
- Stages
- Production
- Formats
- Feature
- Language of the application
- Māori, English
When to apply
The next closing date is Nov 9, 2026. The dates below are the current cycle's, as the funder states them. The page says deadlines and board dates follow the Feature Film Production Investment calendar
| 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.