The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC, Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga in Maori) is a New Zealand government agency formed to assist with creating and promoting New Zealand films. It was established under the New Zealand Film Commission Act 1978 (as amended in 1981, 1985, 1988, 1994 and 1999.

Functions and responsibilities

The functions of the Commission are to encourage and participate in the making, promotion, distribution, and exhibition of films and generally to encourage the development of the New Zealand film industry. A special direction to the Commission is that it shall not make financial assistance available for any film project unless the Commission is satisfied that the film has or is to have significant New Zealand content. The Commission handles worldwide sales of a range of New Zealand feature and short films.

Structure

The Commission is appointed by the Minister of Culture and Heritage and comprises a Chairman and seven other board members. It meets formally every two months. Day to day activities are carried out by a staff of 19 from a Wellington office.

Records

The main classes of records held include:

• Applications for financial assistance for development, production, distribution and promotion of New Zealand films;
• Contracts in respect of investments made by the Commission; and
• Contracts in respect of sales of a New Zealand film represented by the Commission.

Film financing

The NZFC provides financial assistance for New Zealand feature film projects and New Zealand filmmakers, by way of loan or equity financing. They commit up to 8% of their annual budget to feature film development financing, and up to 60% to feature film production financing. Development decisions are made by either the senior staff group (generally up to $40,000 per project) or the Development Committee (up to $110,000 cumulative per projects). The Film Commission Board makes decisions involving financing beyond $110,000 for either advanced project development or for production financing.

Films funded by the Commission

The page List of New Zealand Feature Films shows which were funded by the commission.

External links

• New Zealand Film Commission website
• Information about the New Zealand Film Commission from the New Zealand Ministry of Justice (note: information from this website has been directly incorporated into this article, fair use copyright applies).