'Significant change': NZ Film Commission scraps major source of funding for organisations
The New Zealand Film Commission is ending its annual Core Funding Programme for screen sector organizations by June 2027. The decision follows budget cuts and a strategic shift toward prioritizing higher-impact investments.
Why it matters
This funding shift reflects the broader economic challenges facing public arts institutions and the resulting impact on industry support structures.
A major source of public funding for film and screen sector organisations is set to end after more than two decades of it being offered.
The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) announced on Wednesday that its annual Core Funding Programme would cease when contracts expired on 30 June 2027.
The programme currently provided over $1 million in support to 10 industry groups, including the Screen Producers Guild and the actors' union Equity.
Film Commission chief executive Annie Murray said the commission would be directing public funding towards fewer, but "higher-impact investments".
"We recognise that this is a significant change for the organisations involved, particularly given the programme's long history. Our responsibility is to regularly review our programmes, carefully prioritise public funding and make deliberate choices about where NZFC investment can have the greatest impact for New Zealand film.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in