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Ngā Aho Shorts Development Lab 2025
Discover the Aho Shorts Development Lab — a unique opportunity for Māori writers, directors, and producers to develop short film projects through mentorship and wānanga. Refine your script, vision, and pitch to unlock funding opportunities. We’re seeking passionate creatives ready to lead and bring authentic Māori stories to life. Open to all experience levels—apply now […]
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Playmarket: Adam Play Award winners 2025
Playmarket is pleased to announce the winner of the ADAM NZ PLAY AWARD for 2025: Alex Medland for We’re Gonna Kill Billy. At just 24 years old, Alex is the youngest recipient of the award in its 18 year history. The Adam NZ Play Award recognises and celebrates the best in unproduced writing for the theatre. Playmarket Director/Tumuaki Murray Lynch announced […]
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‘Distinctively Kiwi’ flatting drama wins top prize
Left to right: Ken Duncum, Alaina Wilks, Alexander Nebesky, Jennifer Wilton. A television drama series tracing a week in the lives of a group of students living on Castle Street in Dunedin has been awarded the 2024 David Carson-Parker Embassy Prize in Scriptwriting at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. Written by Alaina Wilks as […]
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Writers Guild Strike settlement – key wins
WRITERS GUILD STRIKE – USA Key victories include a 5% increase in minimum wages, improved residuals for streaming, and protections against AI exploitation. Writing Rooms Standards – A minimum of three writers for shows up to six episodes and up to six writers for series of 13 episodes or more – standards crucial […]
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NZSA stands with the Writers Guild of America
The Writers Guild of America has called a strike with effect from 2 May, after talks broke down with a group representing major studios and streaming services. The strike action began after the expiration of a Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA) with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). According to the Writers […]
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THE NEW ZEALAND FILM COMMISSION ANNOUNCES NEW CEO
The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Taima Anne (Annie) Murray (Te Arawa) to the position of Chief Executive Officer for a five-year term. NZFC Board Chair Alastair Carruthers, in making the announcement today, said “I am delighted that we have found someone of Annie’s calibre to lead the Commission. […]
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NZ Writers celebrated with New Year Honours 2023
Congratulations to the New Zealand Aotearoa’s writers and those across the arts community who were recognised in this New Years Honours list for 2022. Writers who received recognition include Dr. Haare Williams, Pānia Papa, Beryl Te Haumihiata Mason, Dr. Lana Lopesi, Dr. Paul Maunder, Penelope Jackson and Dr. Gina Cole. We also congratulate Dame Miranda […]
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Cash for Screenwriters
Here’s a two great development funding opportunities for screenwriters! NZ Writers Guild is proud to say that we now administer development funding for screenwriters-only in both feature film and series development, they are: Seed and Seed Advanced for screenwriters looking to write a first draft of a feature film screenplay Seed = $7,500 + $2500 […]
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Congratulations to this round of Seedlings!
New Zealand Writers Guild is pleased to congratulate the recipients of the first round of Seed and Seed Advanced for 2022. Seed is one of the most competitive writer-only grants for draft feature film scripts in New Zealand. We want to take this opportunity to thank the writing community for continuing to write with spirit, originality […]
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Calling all Māori storytellers!
Te Pou Theatre Ka tangi te pīpīwharauroa, ko te karere a Mahuru Kōanga is heralded by the blossoming of the kōwhai and the call of the pīpīwharauroa as it returns to our shores. This is traditionally a time of joining together and combining efforts to prepare the ground and plant for the next harvest. We […]
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International Writing Contest Endorsed By Hollywood Celebrity Looking For Diverse Stories From Cultural Artists And Entertainers
The Page Turner Awards is inviting creative authors, writers, and screenwriters from around the globe to enter their writing projects into their 2022 awards, which has just opened. In particular, the awards judging panel is keen to discover unique voices from diverse cultures. The team at Page Turner Awards passionately believes that talented writers can […]
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