"The film and video industry in New Zealand is burgeoning and the Screen Innovation Production Fund is designed to support risk-taking, innovation and experimentation. These elements need to be fostered so that the industry can continue to grow and move in new directions". Judith Fyfe made these comments following the November 2002 Screen Innovation Production Fund (SIPF) funding meeting which she chaired in her role as a Creative New Zealand Arts Board member. "The film and video industry in New Zealand is burgeoning and the Screen Innovation Production Fund is designed to support risk-taking, innovation and experimentation. These elements need to be fostered so that the industry can continue to grow and move in new directions". Judith Fyfe made these comments following the November 2002 Screen Innovation Production Fund (SIPF) funding meeting which she chaired in her role as a Creative New Zealand Arts Board member.Image: Woodenhead
The SIPF is a partnership between Creative New Zealand (CNZ) and the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC), and is administered through the Creative New Zealand Wellington office. Both organisations contribute an equal level of funding, and the partnership has been in place since 1984. The purpose of the Fund is to provide grants to emerging or experienced moving image makers for innovative moving image productions.

There are two funding rounds each year, one in February and the other in July, and there is approximately $230,000 available to offer to projects in each round, with 32-38 projects funded annually. The funding level has not increased in recent years, and although it would be wonderful to have more money to offer to more projects, both CNZ and the NZFC are unable to contribute further funds at this stage. However, there is regular dialogue between the two organisations regarding the SIPF and the positive developments that can be made in the future. The assessment panel, which make the funding decisions, are a panel of industry professionals with a variety of sector experience and knowledge. The panel assess the applications against the Fund's criteria (as laid out in the SIPF guidelines) and they are looking for fresh, original, creative and innovative ideas from both emerging and established moving image makers. The Fund is open to a range of different projects, including documentary, animation, experimental, dance film, shorts, features and moving image based installation work.

The SIPF is a low-budget Fund, and the grants offered can vary from $1,000 up to $30,000. Emerging film and video-makers are encouraged to propose low-budget projects requesting around $15,000 or less. Over recent rounds, there has been an increase in the number of digital feature film applications. This, along with a steady increase in the total number of applications, has put pressure on the available funds, so a funding maximum of $25,000 has been established for feature film projects.

Applicants need to present well developed, well planned and carefully budgeted proposals, including basic project information, a script (or detailed description if not a script-based project), director's notes, budget, key personnel information, letters of reference/support and support material. The needs of different projects may vary quite a lot and if an applicant is unsure of the kind of information they need to include in their application, they can contact the SIPF Administrator to discuss this. It is also important to explain how you see your project as fulfilling the criteria of the Screen Innovation Production Fund and also what your distribution and screening plans are for the finished work. If the project is script based, the script must be included with the application. A couple of projects have been funded in the past on the basis of a detailed treatment (as well as additional project information), but these projects have been based around a structured method of improvisation with the key actors and the applicant had already worked successfully with this method. The SIPF is a fund which focuses on production and post-production applications, and does not accept applications for script or project development.

When a project receives a grant, and once production and budget details have been confirmed and the Conditions of Grant document signed, the SIPF Administrator does not actively manage the project, but monitors progress and is a point of contact for the grant recipient should there be any problems or concerns during the production and/or post-production of their film.

The SIPF assists in a limited capacity with the promotion and distribution of funded projects. SIPF funded projects are regularly profiled in CNZ publications such as On Arts and Celebrating the Arts, and the Administrator also sends out information concerning SIPF funded projects as well as independent projects and the wider screen sector in the Screen Innovation Network Digest, an email newsletter which is usually sent out fortnightly. We are often contacted by individuals and organisations putting together film festivals or short film compilations, as well as media looking for moving image stories - and these are all opportunities to promote the work of the Fund and assist the filmmakers in getting their work seen. Tape copying grants can also be applied for, to enable filmmakers to make copies of their project for festival entry purposes, but not for commercial sale. Many of the filmmakers find it difficult to secure screenings for their work and this is obviously also a very time consuming activity, and means that sometimes a project may only have one or two screenings once it is finished. The filmmaker is then usually more than ready to move on to their next project. One of the selection criteria for the Screen Innovation Production Fund is the project's 'potential to support the emergence of new creative talent in the moving image arts in New Zealand'. The projects that are supported are not commercially focused, but are more about the development of filmmaking talent and the development of the moving image artform. Although it would be ideal for more projects to have more screenings and distribution options, and it is vital that New Zealand work is seen by New Zealand audiences, it is also important that emerging and established filmmakers have the opportunity to experiment and innovate without commercial imperatives - and this is where the Screen Innovation Production Fund plays a unique role.

For further information about the Screen Innovation Production Fund
www.creativenz.govt.nz