New Zealand Film Commission

What New Zealand Film Commission does

The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) is a statutory Crown entity established under the NZ Film Commission Act 1978, headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand. Its core function is to grow the domestic screen sector and attract international productions to New Zealand through three operational pillars: development funding for New Zealand filmmakers, administration of the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate (NZSPR) including the rebate uplift announced in Budget 2026, and international trade promotion of the country as a screen production destination. The NZFC co-ordinates with Weta Workshop, Stone Street Studios, Park Road Post, and other local infrastructure providers to deliver end-to-end production support for both domestic and inbound projects.

NZFC's product surface spans the Tomo Mai audience and industry portal (consolidating funding pathways, development resources, and interactive tools), multiple talent development and script development funds (including the New Zealand Film Production Fund and Show Me Shorts and Fresh Shorts pathways), the 18+ country bilateral co-production treaty network (with Canada newly signed and UK modernised in 2025), and rebate administration backed by approximately NZ$241M of FY25 Crown appropriation to the NZSPR scheme. The organization does not produce films directly but operates a fiscal and policy infrastructure layer that underwrites both domestic cinema and inbound studio productions—from Disney and Amazon MGM tentpoles to New Zealand-led Oscar winners.

Its business model is government appropriation-funded rather than commercial: NZFC receives Crown funding to distribute as rebates, grants, loans, and equity investments to qualifying productions, with the broader NZ screen sector contributing approximately NZ$3.5B annually to the economy. Customer segments include major international studios (Disney, Amazon MGM, Warner Bros, Lionsgate/Spyglass, 20th Century), independent New Zealand filmmakers, and treaty-country co-production partners. The leadership team comprises CEO David Strong, Deputy CEO Chris Payne, and COO Dana Youngman.

Name

New Zealand Film Commission

Legal name

New Zealand Film Commission

Website

https://nzfilm.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The New Zealand Film Commission is a statutory Crown entity that funds domestic screen productions, administers the NZ Screen Production Rebate, and promotes New Zealand as a destination for international film and television productions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Screen Industry Government Funding Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Tax Incentives & Rebate Monetization (MPADAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Co-Production & Treaty Structuring (MPADAAAC)

Keywords

• Screen production funding
• Film commission services
• Co-production certification
• Screen production rebates
• Film industry incentives

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding Allocation: NZFC operates as a Crown entity receiving government funding to support the New Zealand screen industry through grants, equity investment, and production rebates.
2. Screen Production Rebate (NZSPR) Administration: NZFC administers the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate - a government-backed incentive scheme offering cash rebates to qualifying productions. International productions can access the International Rebate, domestic productions access the New Zealand Rebate, and PDV productions may qualify for additional rebates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

New Zealand Film Commission is a Crown entity established under the NZ Film Commission Act 1978 that funds domestic film productions, administers screen production rebates (NZSPR International and Domestic), and certifies co-productions with treaty partner countries to support New Zealand's screen industry. It also operates the Tomo Mai online funding portal for application management.

Product overview

The New Zealand Film Commission operates a multi-layered offering structured around financial incentives, certification services, funding programmes, and a digital application platform. The core incentive products are the NZ Screen Production Rebate (NZSPR) — split into an International Rebate for overseas productions and a Domestic Rebate for New Zealand productions — both accessed through the Commission's regulatory and certification functions. Filmmakers engage with NZFC primarily through the Tomo Mai Film Application Portal (powered by Klevr Apps), which manages funding applications and contracts. Supporting services include Official Co-Production Certification (qualifying productions for multi-territory domestic status), New Zealand Film Certification for tax purposes, Feature Film Production Investment (equity/grants), and the Feature Film Finishing Grant. The Filmography serves as a public catalog of funded productions, while the Resource Library provides guidelines, treaties, and research. Inbound Production Support extends these services internationally, helping overseas productions leverage New Zealand's locations, talent, and infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tomo Mai: NZFC's online application portal for filmmakers to view available funding opportunities and access funding applications.

Products and services

• NZ Screen Production Rebate (NZSPR) - International

Quantifiable outcome

• 27 Oscar wins and 70+ nominations for New Zealand filmmakers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial co-production MOU with Australia, one of New Zealand's closest screen industry partners. Enables bilateral film and TV co-productions with shared creative, financial and technical resources.
• CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanada-NZ Audiovisual Co-Production Treaty (signed 2025) enabling official co-productions between the two countries.
• United KingdomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-NZ Film and Television Co-production Treaty from 1993. Governments committed in April 2025 to modernize the treaty, with joint work underway between NZFC, Ministry for Culture and Heritage, UK DCMS, and British Film Institute.
• ChinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComprehensive co-production treaties with China covering both film and television, including agreements in English and Chinese. 'Partnering For Success' guide documents NZ-China screen collaboration.
• FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrance-NZ Co-production MOU and Agreement enabling European co-production partnerships with access to French film industry resources and European market.
• GermanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGermany-NZ Co-production Treaty enabling official co-productions with German partners and access to German funding and market.
• IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndia-NZ Co-production Treaty enabling film collaborations between the two countries' screen industries.
• IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIreland-NZ Co-production Treaty enabling official co-productions with Irish partners.
• IsraelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIsrael-NZ Film Co-production Agreement enabling official co-productions between the two countries.
• ItalycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItaly-NZ Treaty with Annex enabling official co-productions with Italian partners.
• PolandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPoland-NZ Co-production Agreement enabling official co-productions with Polish partners.
• South KoreacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Korea-NZ Co-production Agreement enabling official co-productions with Korean partners.
• SingaporecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSingapore-NZ Co-production Treaty enabling official co-productions with Singapore.
• SpaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpain-NZ Co-production Treaty enabling official co-productions with Spanish partners.
• South AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Africa-NZ Co-production Treaty enabling official co-productions with South African partners.
• DenmarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDenmark-NZ Film Co-production Agreement enabling official co-productions with Danish partners.
• Chinese TaipeicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerANZTEC Chapter 18 Co-production Agreement with Chinese Taipei enabling official co-productions.
• Ministry for Culture and HeritagecoreOthersGovernment ministry providing policy oversight and alignment. NZFC works with MCH on co-production treaty modernization (UK treaty) and domestic rebate policy changes.
• Inland Revenue Department (IRD)coreOthersGovernment department involved in assessing applications for NZSPR, NZ Film Certification for tax purposes, and co-production certification.
• Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)coreOthersGovernment ministry involved in assessing film funding and incentive applications.
• Tourism New ZealandminorOthersGovernment tourism agency that may receive personal information for purposes of promoting New Zealand as a filming and tourism destination.
• Screen Industry Associations and GuildsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with screen industry associations and guilds for stakeholder coordination and industry development.
• Distributors and Sales AgentsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorScreen industry participants including distributors and sales agents who are shared with for application processing purposes.
• Wētā FXcoreTechnology or IntegrationWorld-renowned visual effects studio based in Wellington. Long-standing collaboration with Avatar franchise, delivering groundbreaking VFX. Close iterative relationship between production and VFX house with technology and creative feedback.
• Stone Street StudioscoreTechnology or IntegrationPurpose-built film studio in Wellington where Avatar: Fire and Ash was filmed. Home to advanced performance capture stages.
• Park Road Post ProductioncoreTechnology or IntegrationAward-winning post-production facility previously led by Peter Jackson. Handles sound post-production and digital intermediate services for productions like Heart Eyes.
• Ariki Group / Studio West (Jason Momoa, Taika Waititi, Cliff Curtis)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAriki Group's acquisition of Studio West by Jason Momoa, Taika Waititi and Cliff Curtis, demonstrating commitment to New Zealand stories and infrastructure investment.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Screen Australia: Australia's national screen funding and development agency, administering production incentives and funding for Australian film and television. Closest peer given geographic proximity, similar Crown-equivalent status, shared co-production treaty, and overlapping mandate to fund domestic production and attract inbound international shoots.
• Screen Ireland: Ireland's national development agency for the screen industry, investing in Irish film, television, and animation. Closely comparable in scale and mandate — small-population nation with a global production-attraction strategy and a Section 481-style incentive regime. NZ-Ireland treaty partner.
• Telefilm Canada: Canadian federal cultural agency responsible for funding and promoting Canadian audiovisual content, including feature films, television, and digital media. Directly comparable in function — funding domestic production, administering incentives, and certifying co-productions. Canada is also a recent NZ treaty partner.
• British Film Institute (BFI): UK's lead organisation for film, television, and the moving image, distributing National Lottery funds for film production and supporting the UK screen sector. Directly comparable to NZFC in administering film funding, supporting filmmakers, and coordinating with major studios — and is a co-production treaty partner undergoing treaty modernization with NZ.
• Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA): German Federal Film Board supporting the German film industry through funding programs, incentive administration, and industry promotion. Closely comparable as a national film funding and promotion agency. NZ-Germany co-production treaty partner.
• Korea Film Council (KOFIC): South Korean government agency supporting the Korean film industry through funding, promotion, and policy. Comparable as a national film commission administering funding programs, supporting domestic production, and promoting Korea as a filming destination. NZ-South Korea co-production treaty partner.
• Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA): Singapore government agency responsible for the media sector, including film incentive administration and content development support. Comparable as an Asia-Pacific national film/media commission. NZ-Singapore co-production treaty partner, with NZFC actively engaging Singapore market per its 2026 trade activity.
• Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC): French national agency supporting cinema and the audiovisual industry, administering production funding, tax credits, and co-production frameworks. Directly comparable in administering national film incentives, supporting co-productions, and operating a robust cultural policy mandate. NZ-France treaty partner.

Regional players

• Screen Scotland: Sub-national Scottish screen agency administering production incentives and funding for screen projects in Scotland. Comparable in mandate (regional/national funding and production attraction) but smaller jurisdiction within the UK. Comparable structural archetype to a sub-national film commission within a treaty-partner country.
• Creative BC: British Columbia's provincial Crown agency supporting the creative industries including film, television, and digital media, with a film commission administering provincial production incentives. Comparable as a sub-national film commission operating within a Canadian framework similar in spirit to how NZFC operates within NZ.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/NewZealandFilmCommission
• Facebookfacebook.com/nzfilm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-zealand-film-commission
• Instagraminstagram.com/nzfilm
• Xx.com/nzfilmcommissh

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Zealand Film Commission