New Zealand Film Commission Annual Report
The New Zealand Film Commission is pleased to release its Annual Report for the year ended 30th June 2012.
This year has seen a fantastic range of NZFC financed films hit the silver screen – both here and on the international
stage.
This year we invested in 11 features including two documentaries and four low-budget projects and 22 shorts.
Highlights include the highly acclaimed The Orator (O Le Tulafale), the first Samoan language film, becoming New
Zealand’s first ever submission for the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 2012 Academy Awards®.
Sione’s 2:Unfinished Business (pictured) was the most successful domestic theatrical release earning it the number 10
spot on the all-time New Zealand box office list of NZFC supported films.
When a City Falls was Gerard Smyth’s moving documentary account of life in Christchurch during and following the
earthquakes. The significant film was well received in theatres and due to its topicality was shown on television within
the same year, where it rated very strongly.
And the short film Night Shift, directed by Zia Mandviwalla, was one of 10 international films selected for the main
competition in Cannes.
These films are among the variety we support at a wide range of budget levels - all with the aim of growing a strong New
Zealand film industry and helping films get made for audiences to enjoy.
We allocate money to career and script development, short films, low-budget films, production funding, post production
and film finishing grants. We also administer both the Screen Production Incentive Fund (on behalf of the Ministry for
Culture and Heritage), and the Large Budget Screen Production Grant (on behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation
and Employment) at the top end.
We celebrate those films, here and overseas, in competitions, screenings, and markets and do so with a particular focus
on the invaluable training and networking opportunities these festivals and events provide. This attendance builds
bilateral ties and celebrates New Zealand film and filmmakers worldwide.
ends