New Zealand Film Collaborators is a charitable community production house that uses a community theatre-style model to make films with people. We are building an inclusive filmmaking village where people from different cultures, communities, backgrounds and levels of experience can learn, contribute, connect and create together.

Our model is guided by Radical Accessibility, Manaakitanga, Kotahitanga and Whanaungatanga. We work to remove the financial, educational, physical, geographic and industry-network barriers that can prevent passionate people from participating in filmmaking.

Skills can be developed, experience can be accumulated and equipment can be shared. We want to nurture the passion that brings people to filmmaking and create meaningful ways for them to contribute.

Rather than waiting for traditional screen-industry pathways to let people in, our community brings together the cast, crew, knowledge, resources and practical capabilities needed to build films collectively.

What we do

Our film projects are called Waka. Like a physical waka, a film cannot simply be launched without preparation — it must be carefully developed, designed, resourced, built, crewed and made ready for the journey ahead. Our Te Waka model provides a collaborative framework that helps a community filmmaking project move from its initial idea through development, preparation, production, post-production, release and reflection.

New Zealand Film Collaborators also provides:

• Collaborative filmmaking frameworks and production support
• Access to shared professional filmmaking equipment for approved projects, subject to availability, readiness and safety requirements — our equipment includes Sony FX6 and FS7 cameras, Dedo lighting kits and GFM dollies
• Digital infrastructure that helps volunteers, members and project teams work together
• Community meetups and opportunities for filmmakers to connect
• Educational wānanga and practical capability-development activities
• Collaborative teams for filmmaking opportunities such as the 48Hours film competition
• Opportunities for people to develop practical experience and demonstrate their capabilities through completed community films

Our community is open to people with different identities, cultures, abilities, creative interests and levels of experience. Radical accessibility means actively addressing barriers where they exist; it does not mean restricting participation to one particular community or group.