Cinema of New Zealand - Defining New Zealand Film

Defining New Zealand Film

In October 1978 the New Zealand Film Commission was formalised by Parliament under the National Party. The functions of the Commission under Article 17 New Zealand Film Commission Act (1978) were to;

• Encourage and assist in the making, promotion, distribution and exhibition of films
• Encourage and promote cohesion with NZ film industry
• Encourage and promote maintenance of films in archives

With this Act the New Zealand Film industry became more stabilised. Article 18 "Content of Films" New Zealand Film Commission Act (1978) would serve to define which aspects a film had to have in order for it to be labelled as a New Zealand Film. To qualify as a New Zealand film all the aspects listed below must be of New Zealand in origin;

• The subject of the film
• The locations at which the film was made
• The nationalities or places of residence of: The authors, scriptwriters, composers, producers, directors, actors, technicians, editors, etc.
• The sources from which the money is derived
• The ownership and whereabouts of the equipment and technical facilities

These defining aspects have in recent years caused debate on whether films like The Frighteners and the Lord of the Rings qualify as New Zealand Films. The impact of the New Zealand Film Commission on the industry was in getting films made, coming to a definition of NZ Film, and helping establish a Screen Industry in New Zealand.

Most New Zealand films are made by independent filmmakers, often on a low budget and with sponsorship from public funds. Relatively few New Zealand-made films have been specifically commissioned for the international market by international film distributors.

Recently, international film companies have become more aware of the skills of New Zealand filmmakers, and have increasingly used the New Zealand film industry as a base to shoot and also sometimes finish their feature films.

Private funding for New Zealand films has often been in short supply, although for a period in the early eighties tax-breaks resulted in a rush of money and a production boom. Although the trend seems to be changing for the better, some New Zealand directors and actors have been ignored in large part by their own country, despite success overseas, and often had to work in the USA, Australia, and the UK as a result.