Steven Joyce, Christopher Finlayson
1 APRIL, 2014
Criteria finalised for NZ Screen Production Grant
The Government has released the criteria for the New Zealand Screen Production Grant (NZSPG) that comes into effect from
today.
The NZSPG combines the Large Budget Screen Production Grant and Screen Production Incentive Fund into a new grant agreed
by Cabinet in December 2013.
The new arrangements introduce a 20 per cent grant for international productions, increasing to 25 per cent in limited
circumstances. A 40 per cent grant is being made available for New Zealand productions, and the range of these that will
qualify has been increased. For New Zealand grants above $6 million the Crown will benefit from a share of any profits
which will be reinvested in the screen sector.
There are a number of criteria that need to be met in order to get the additional 5 per cent for international
productions – in particular the wider economic benefits to New Zealand. That includes the marketing, promotion and
showcasing of New Zealand and New Zealand expertise as we have seen with The Hobbit films and has been agreed with the
makers of the Avatar trilogy.
"The marketing benefits for New Zealand from these sorts of high profile productions underline the New Zealand story of
creativity and innovation that benefits our exporters more generally.
The new criteria follows consultation with 150 representatives from the New Zealand and overseas screen industries.
“These changes have been designed to encourage more mid-sized locally-driven productions and attract more international
productions while our own local industry develops and becomes more sustainable,” Mr Joyce says.
“Supporting our local screen industry is vital so longer term more New Zealand-made stories can be successful on the
world stage,” Mr Finlayson says.
The criteria on the NZSPG is available at: http://www.nzfilm.co.nz/funding/feature-films/production-funding/new-zealand-screen-production-grantPre April 2014 – New Zealand’s screen production incentivesPost April 2014 – New Zealand’s screen production incentivesInternational ProductionsLarge Budget Screen Production Grant (LBSPG)
Vote Economic Development
Annual appropriation
UncappedNew Zealand Screen Production Grant – International
Vote Economic Development
Five year multi-year appropriation
UncappedQNZPE qualifying thresholds
Film $15m
TV $4m
PDV $1QNZPE qualifying thresholds
Film $15m
TV $4m
PDV $1Grant rebate rate
15%Grant rebate rate
20%
25% in certain circumstances – subject to meeting significant economic benefits points testAdditional grant for productions over $200mDiscontinuedEligible format
Film
TV and other non-TV formats – see criteriaEligible format
Remains the sameInitial verification process
Recommended and encouraged for non-film formats onlyInitial verification process
Recommended and encouraged for non-film formats
Required for all applicants wishing to apply for the additional 5% grantEligibility (no points test)
Format, expenditure threshold, relevant entity and special purpose vehicle, residency status – baseline 15% grant
No access to other NZ government incentivesEligibility– introduced new significant economic benefit points test
Same as previous Large Budget Screen Grant criteria for baseline 20% grant or
Productions wishing to apply for additional 5% grant (25%) must then meet requirements of the significant economic
benefits points test – either by reaching 20 points or through fast-track qualification – subject to also delivering
wider economic benefitsBundling
Available for 2 or more productions where each has a minimum qualifying New Zealand production expenditure of $3m or
more and together bundled to a total qualifying New Zealand production expenditure of $30m or moreBundling
Remains the sameNew Zealand ProductionsScreen Production Incentive Fund (SPIF)
Vote: Arts, Culture and Heritage
Multi-year appropriation
CappedNew Zealand Screen Production Grant for New Zealand Productions
Vote: Arts, Culture and Heritage
Five year multi-year appropriation
UncappedGrant rebate rate
40% Film
20% TV and otherGrant rebate rate
40% Film
40% TV and otherProvisional application process
RecommendedProvisional application process
RecommendedEligibility for New Zealand ProductionsQNZPE qualifying thresholds
Film $2.5m total
TV and other $250k-$1m total & $250k/hour-$800k/hour – see criteria
Short form animation $250k total & no less than $400k/hourQNZPE qualifying thresholds
Film $2.5m total
TV and other $250k-$1m total & $250k/hour-$800k/hour – see criteria
Short form animation $250k total & no less than $400k/hourEligible format (including evidence of commercial distribution)
Film
TV and other non-TV formatsEligible format (including evidence of commercial distribution)
Amended to align with New Zealand Screen Production Grant – International Productions
Requirement for NZ theatrical distribution amended to remove reference to 20 screensSignificant NZ content
Via points test (15 points TV and other, 20 points film with minimum mandatory points in section A and C)
or
official co-productionSignificant NZ content
Via points test (15 points TV and other, 20 points film with minimum mandatory points in section A and C) – more
flexibility in A3 (creative material) and new B4
or
official co-productionOther eligibility criteria
Relevant entity and special purpose vehicle
Residency status
Recoupment position
Access to other government incentives
Non-NZ government funding thresholdsOther eligibility criteria
Relevant entity and special purpose vehicle
Residency status – revised and tightened
Recoupment position – revised and tightened
Access to other government incentives
Non-NZ government funding thresholds
Two new criteria for productions with qualifying New Zealand production expenditure of $15m or more – producer’s track
record and export potentialGrant arrangements
Grant capped at $15m qualifying New Zealand production expenditure per production – i.e. $6m (film), $3m TV.Grant arrangements
Grant capped at $50 million qualifying New Zealand production expenditure
Productions with qualifying New Zealand production expenditure of $15m or more:
must satisfy additional eligibility criteria otherwise grant is capped at $15m qualifying New Zealand production
expenditure
must share 50 per cent of the net income and profit deriving from the grant on qualifying New Zealand production
expenditure between $15 million and $50 million with the NZ Film Commission to reinvest in the sector
Related Documents
•Cabinet paper (pdf 566.14 KB)
•
•