Applications for Day One Shorts 2025 have now CLOSED. Thank you to all who applied. Applications for Day One Shorts 2025 have now CLOSED. Thank you to all who applied.

Shorts

Day One Shorts is a series of short films by rangatahi emerging filmmakers from across Aotearoa. These shorts explore cultural, social and political issues by taking story risks, pushing the envelope, and looking to the future.

Overview

This immersive talent development program offers workshops, mentoring and funding for filmmakers, and provides a pathway for young voices to break into the screen industry and forge sustainable careers.

Day One Shorts holds space for diverse creatives to get a foot in the door by restricting the initiative to new and emerging directors who haven’t received film or series production funding in the past.

Get into it!

Our next round of Shorts applications is now open. Day One Shorts 2025 is generously supported by NZ On Air.


Key Dates

Applications for Day One Shorts 2025 have now closed. Thank you to all who applied. Successful applicants will be announced in February 2025.


Eligibility

The contracted production teams will include;

a Director

a Producer

There may be variations on the above (e.g Writer-Director or Co-Producers) but the team must include a producer who is separate to the director.

Applications are invited only from teams whose Director:

  • Is aged between 18 - 29 when they shoot their film between Feb - July 2025.
  • Is currently a New Zealand citizen or resident
  • Has not previously received production funding from NZ On Air, Te Māngai Pāho or the New Zealand Film Commission

NEW: 30+ Sub-Category

This year we are opening up a sub-category for applicants that can illustrate they are still new and emerging directors who are older than 30 years. We will commission up to two films by filmmakers who fit this description. To apply for this category each director/writer or director must provide a brief description of their filmmaking journey and how/why they are a new filmmaker upon applying.



Awarded Funding + Support

The selected filmmaking teams will receive;

  • A contracted production budget of $15,000 for doco or $20,000 for scripted drama
  • A two-day talent development workshop
  • A production mentor from the New Zealand film industry
  • A professional development consultant
  • A post production package for their film including grading and audio mixing

Selection Criteria

The idea is that Day One Shorts are innovative, imaginative, relevant or thought-provoking, intended to spark ideas, stimulate debate and convey important information. Day One Shorts is an opportunity for filmmakers to convey what change and impact they want for future communities.

Any genre is welcome. Previous films have covered societal issues, culture, body image, health, gender identity, human rights, mental health, the environment, climate change, cultural issues including preservation as well as integration into NZ society, and more.

We especially want to hear from members of any underrepresented community in Aotearoa.

For Day One Shorts 2025, we will be aiming to commission at least two films that convey te ao Māori and ideally have at least 50% te reo Māori content. Up-to two films will be selected as part of the new 30+ sub-category.

Application Process

The full info with everything you’ll need to know about and apply for Day One Shorts is in our Application Toolkit.

But basically, to apply you’ll need;

  • A completed application google form
  • A production budget
  • A full script or a credible scripting plan
  • A proposal (PDF preferred) of no more than 10 pages

Got a question? Check out our Frequently Answered Questions , and if it’s not there flick us an email to proposals@dofilm.co.nz

Application Forms

Click here to be taken to the Day One Shorts Application Google Form. Deadline is: 11.59pm Oct 18 2024, has now closed.

Click here to be taken to the New Filmmaker Placement Application Google Form. Deadline is: 11.59pm Oct 25 2024

Download Toolkit