AFCI News Releases

Film New Zealand Reports Strong Offshore & Domestic Interest
For release 19 October 2007

A significant increase in the number of project inquiries received by Film New Zealand is detailed in its 2007 annual report released today.

Despite the growing competition internationally from countries offering incentives, interest in New Zealand, its diversity of locations, its skills base and reputation resulted in Film New Zealand managing a total of 146 project inquiries during the year which ended on June 30, compared with the previous year's total of 118.

Chairman David Madigan says the total shows that overseas interest in filming in New Zealand has returned to levels not achieved since 2004/05.

The majority of project-based inquiries (a total of 97) involved feature film projects. Other inquiries included 16 for television drama series and one for a telefeatures or movie-of-the-week. Ten related to documentaries, six to still photography shoots and two were about reality television shows.

In addition, Film New Zealand handled 959 smaller one-off inquiries from clients seeking information or assistance including 149 requests for contact details for industry professionals, 168 from domestic filmmakers, 107 from international filmmakers, and 73 from people seeking work in the New Zealand screen production industry.

“While most project-based inquiries continue to come from filmmakers in the USA (42%), we are particularly pleased this year that more New Zealand filmmakers are making use of their national film office,” Mr Madigan commented. “Domestic inquiries are now virtually on a par with those from the UK (17% and 18% respectively). Plus we’re handling more from Australia and Asia. This illustrates the value of Film New Zealand’s resources and expertise on a truly global scale.”

There was a wide variance in the range of substitute locations sought by offshore filmmakers said Chief Executive Officer Judith McCann. “The most common were United States locations, then England and Scotland, China and ‘fantasy’. Based on available information, New Zealand over the past year has been competing primarily with Australia, Canada and the USA as the home base option,” she reported. “Every production has its specific needs and so we present what New Zealand can offer in the most convincing case. But ultimately, production decision-making is a complex creative and financial business so results will always vary.”

Film New Zealand’s website as the prime source of information about filming here received a total of 63,107 visits, almost 5,000 more than the previous year. The website’s newly-enhanced locations gallery experienced a more substantial increase in the number of searches - 52,962 searches were made, compared with 29,715 the previous year.

“www.filmnz.com is proving its value both domestically and internationally as the key online resource about New Zealand as a screen destination and link with its production talent, its infrastructure and the country’s locations,” said Ms McCann. “It’s been a significant investment in supporting the industry and is delivering substantial returns.”

Film New Zealand is New Zealand’s national film locations office. Established in 1994 by the screen production film industry, it is an independent charitable trust, led by the Board of Trustees representing the industry and key stakeholders including the regional film offices. It is supported by the Government through the Ministry of Economic Development with additional support from the New Zealand Film Commission and project funding from Investment New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. Film New Zealand also receives significant ‘in kind’ contributions from the industry through advice and other professional assistance.  

Film New Zealand’s 2007 Annual Report is available for downloading on www.filmnz.com under About Film NZ - Trust.


FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

David Madigan, Chairman
Tel        021 741 810

Judith McCann, CEO
Tel 04 385 0766
Tel 021 490 448