Aho Shorts Production Funding Application Guidelines

What We’re Looking For

Weare seeking creative teams who demonstrate readiness for creative leadership,alongside distinct, self-aware voices that reflect the richness of Māoriworldviews and the depth of Aotearoa storytelling. This opportunity is open tofilmmakers at all levels, but applicants should be clear in their long-termintent to pursue storytelling as a career.

Tobe competitive for production funding, applicants will need to demonstratethey:

• Have proven capacity as Storytellers: Evidenced through a cohesive, wellthought out proposal with appropriate supporting material and strong CVs. Foremerging applicants, the emphasis is on storytelling craft rather thanfilmmaking experience, and applicants are welcome to draw on any skills,practice, or experience that have helped shape their storytelling voice and vision.
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• Show strong vision and voice: Evidenced through a well developedscript with a highly focused central idea, a curious or urgent opening, a clearprotagonist and an impactful ending. The broader theme, meaning or intentshould be clearly articulated in the Writer's Statement.
  
  Strong vision and voice will also beevidenced through a compelling director’s proof of concept, track record and/orstrong supporting creative materials. We want to understand how the directorsees the film in detail - not only the overall tone, style or theme, but thepractical filmmaking choices that will bring it to life on screen. Applicantsshould aim to be specific about elements such as visual style, camera approach,framing, movement, performance tone, pacing, sound, music, production design andthe use of location or atmosphere. Specials such as stunts, VFX or the likeshould also be addressed. Strong comparables can help where they clearlyilluminate the proposed approach.
  
  The producer should demonstrate a strongunderstanding of both the writer’s script and intention, and the director’svision and voice, and an ability to maintain cohesion across the key creativeteam

• Establish that this is the right team totell this story, at this time: Including clear roles, capability and kaupapa alignment
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• Committo the Aho Shorts filmmaker community: Participate in our Aho Shorts community of filmmakers so that we can build a resilient and connected Māori filmmaking community

Who Can Apply

Applicants must:

• Be of Māori descent - this includes the Writer, Director and Producer.
• Be based in Aotearoa and a NZ citizen orpermanent resident.
• Be 18 years or older at the time of submission.
• Be available to participate fully in all scheduled activities (See key dates section below)
• Be a member of Ngā Aho Whakaari: Māori in screen (if you’re not, it’s free. Join HERE)

Applications must come from a fully formed team (e.g. writer / director / producer).

Where appropriate and with proper oversight and governance, the panel may choose to deviate from the proposed number of films funded including the amounts funded.

Key Dates

• ‍Applications Open: Monday, 16 March at 9am NZST
• Applications Close: Friday, 24 April at 5pm NZST
• Successful Applicants Notified By: Sunday, 31 May
• In-Person Wānanga: 13-14 June in Auckland
• Additional Commitments:
  
  • Commitment to complete the film by December 2026
  • De-brief wānanga in early 2027 Dates TBC

How to Submit

Applicants may apply as individuals or as part of a team (Writer, Director, Producer). Each person must submit an individual application.

To apply:

• Complete the Cover Sheet via this LINK‍
• And email the following to shorts@ngaahowhakaari.org with subject line:
  Aho Shorts Production Fund 2026 – [Your Project Title]:
  
  • ‍Advanced Script (a treatment may be accepted in some cases but your application will be stronger with a script)
  • Proposal
  • CVs incl. short bio, filmography, festivals your work has screened at and/or awards you've won.

Applicants may only apply as a fully-formed team(Writer, Director, Producer).

Your proposal should include (In this order)

Your proposal should be one PDF (max 12 pages) that includes the following (in this order):

• Project Title
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• Logline (max 2 sentences)
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• Short Synopsis (max 150 words)
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• Writer’s Statement (max300 words) – Outline the genesis of the story, why this story and why now? Touch on the broader key theme/s underlying your story.
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•  Director Statement (max 150 words) – Your motivation as a storyteller and what type of stories you want to tell.
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• Director’s Vision (Max 5 pages) - Outline your approach to telling the emotional, visual and wider thematic story. Pleasecover: tone and look, art design, working with cast, music and, where relevant,specials incl. stunts and vfx. Make sure to include comparables and ensure thisis a strongly visual section.
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• A link to the director’s previous work (Choose 1-2 of your best works) - if you don't have a completed work then provide a commentary on what actions orexperience you have gained that will prepare you for this significant step.
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• Producer Statement (max 300 words) - Outline thefollowing:
  
  • How the team formed.
  • Each team member’s role and agency inthe creative process (including the producer, the producer is more than admin,paperwork and budget, please be clear what parts of the creative process youwill be part of).
  • Why do you want to tell this story(Please limit this to 1-2 sentences).
  • What you’re not confident about andwhere you need support.
  • What will be tricky and your plan tomanage it.
  • Your approach to budget, including howyou will secure reduced-rate crew and equipment (and why you are uniquelyplaced to do this).
• Pou Tiaki Reo me ngā Tikanga statement (max 300 words)
  
  • Does your film include te reo Māori? Ifyes, what percentage?
  • Include a brief summary of any key Māorielements, themes, mātauranga or tikanga within the story.
  • Outline what support you have to ensure that the reo Māori and Māori elements are handled in a way that is tika and pono.
  • We aim to support a range of projects,so be clear about where reo & tikanga sits in the work.
• Ambition for the film (max 300 words) – Describe your ambition for thefilm. Frame this ambition in terms of critical response, audience appeal and/or innovation of technique, subject or vision. Strong applications will includespecific, actionable steps you will take to pursue these outcomes.

Selection Process

Allapplications will be reviewed by a panel made up of representatives from Ngā Aho Whakaari, Caravan Carpark Films, New Zealand Film Commission and at least one independent assessor.

Shortlistedapplicants may be contacted for additional information or a brief interview.

✔ Submit your application by email to:
📩 shorts@ngaahowhakaari.org
Subject line:Aho Shorts Production Fund 2026 Application – [Your Project Title]
Deadline: Sunday, 29 June at 5pm NZSTFriday, 24 April at 5pm NZST

Participant Benefits

Participants selected for the Aho Shorts Production Fund 2026 will receive:

• Creative guidance to solidify yourscript for immediate production.
• Wrap-around guidance to help maintain momentum and support you to complete your short film in 2026.
• Two wānanga led by experienced industryprofessionals
  
• Opportunities to expand yourprofessional network and strengthen your pathway to production
• $40,000.00 NZD to create and deliver a short film and market package

• Completed Digital Cover Sheet
• Advanced Script (a treatment may be accepted insome cases but your application will be stronger with a script)
• Proposal
• CVs incl. short bio, filmography, festivals your work hasscreened at and/or awards you've won

Applicants Checklist

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Any changes to the deadline will be announced via Ngā Aho Whakaari and Caravan Carpark Films platforms.

Questions?

For more information or pātai (questions), get in touch:
📧 shorts@ngaahowhakaari.org
🌐 www.ngaahowhakaari.org | www.caravancarparkfilms.com

Terms & Conditions

Can be found at:
🌐 www.ngaahowhakaari.org | www.caravancarparkfilms.com

Read Terms & Conditions