Premiere Shorts funding round for 2011 open

Kia ora Film Makers,

The NZFC is pleased to announce that applications for the Premiere Shorts funding round for 2011 are now open!

Six films will be funded to a maximum of $90,000 through three Executive Producer groups. The NZFC has invited the three groups from last year – Tauihu Shorts, Tom Thumb Shorts and A Collective Intake of Breath – to participate again and are very pleased that they all accepted.

The application criteria and process specific to each EP group are attached and here are the relevant dates

The call for applications opens today - Thursday June 9th

Applications Close - Wednesday August 31st

Short lists announced - Friday September 30th

Green lights announced - Monday December 5th

We have pulled the application dates forward this year to enable projects to film the summer they are funded - rather than having to wait a year to go into production. This will not suit all films but will hopefully allow more flexibility to film makers and also better enable delivery of finished films within a year of getting the green light.

Other changes this year include:

· Directors who have had NZFC production or post production financing for a low budget film ($500,000 or less) will now be eligible to apply to the Premiere Shorts scheme.

· Directors are eligible to be funded through Premiere Shorts a maximum of two times.

· With Fresh Shorts available as a funding option the NZFC has a clearer focus on the Premiere Shorts funding being allocated to directors with a proven directing track record and with a feature film career in active progress. This means investment preference will be given to directors and teams who already have a feature film script in development (whether privately or with the NZFC) and can discuss their career aspirations and intentions in practical terms.

· At a Premiere Shorts level the NZFC expects film makers to be using their professional judgement to decide which projects are appropriate for a $90,000 investment vs the $30,000 or $10,000 investment available at Fresh Shorts level. While it is possible to apply for both levels of funding the applications would need to reflect considerable changes in approach at both a directing and producing level. 

SO – if you yourself aren’t planning to submit this year please pass this along to someone who might! New Zealand short films have a very proud history and we are excited to see the applications this year that will continue that tradition.