April 30, 2018
New focus on Maori filmmakers
The New Zealand Film Commission Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga says it intends to work with the Maori film industry to champion Maori film and filmmakers.
Launching its Te Rautaki Maori strategy at parliament last night, commission chair Kerry Prendergast said it came from a series of hui with Maori filmmakers, story tellers and other industry and community representatives around the country over the past year.
Backing up the strategy is a one-off $2 million investment for dramatic features in any genre where the director and at least one other key creative is Maori.
The commission also launched He Pounamu, an ongoing fund of up to $2.5 million in investment for dramatic feature films made in te reo Maori by Maori filmmakers.
Other initiatives include a fund to support development of te reo projects; as well as money for internships, mentoring and professional placements for Maori filmmakers, and wananga, workshops and programmes for young Maori creatives.
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