FilmUp LITERALLY changed my life. It gave me some real perspective on storytelling and helped me figure out what I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it.
– Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, writer and FilmUp participant 2016

The insights and inspiration I have received have been exponentially more beneficial than I ever imagined.
– Julia Parnell, producer and FilmUp participant 2015

Over the 8 months of FilmUp I had an incredibly transformative experience. From beginning the year an island dreaming ways to express and share my filmmaking voice, I end the year full of resolution.
– Yamin Tun, writer/director and FilmUp participant 2016

Now in its fifth year, Script to Screen’s FilmUp awards up to eight writers, directors and producers a place on the sought after eight-month programme.

In addition to the eight places, FilmUp 2016 saw writer/director and Venice award-winner Jake Mahaffy (FREE IN DEED) awarded a senior mentorship with US writer Jon Raymond (WENDY AND LUCY, MEEKS CUTOFF).

Thanks to demand, and generous financial assistance from the NZ Film Commission, this year we are able to award two senior mentorships and are seeking applications from established feature film practitioners.

Participants receive 20-hours of one-on-one mentorship with an established filmmaker, Hub Days that include group work, intensive story workshops and round tables with guest speakers, and tailored additional support from Script to Screen.

FilmUp has gone from strength to strength, with a growing alumni of talented local filmmakers having benefited from the programme.

Thank you to the generosity of all our previous mentors: producer Rosemary Blight (CLEVERMAN), director Ray Lawrence (LANTANA), writer/show-runner Neil Cross (SPOOKS), producer Jan Chapman (THE PIANO), directing coach Brita McVeigh, producer Tim White (SON OF A GUN), director Andrew Adamson (SHREK), writer/director Dana Rotberg (WHITE LIES), writer/showrunner Alice Bell (THE BEAUTIFUL LIE), producer Rachel Gardner (SLOW WEST), director Garth Davis (TOP OF THE LAKE), producer Helen Bowden (THE SLAP), director Leanne Pooley (BEYOND THE EDGE), screenwriter/script editor Keith Thompson (THE SAPPHIRES), writer/director Gerard Johnstone (HOUSEBOUND), producer Tim Sanders (LOTR), writer/director Rolf de Heer (CHARLIE’S COUNTRY), writer/director Jackie van Beek (THE INLAND ROAD), writer Jon Raymond (WENDY AND LUCY), distributor Michael Eldred (BOY), writer/director Jake Mahaffy (FREE IN DEED), and producer Vicky Pope (TWO LITTLE BOYS).

FilmUp 2017 is made possible with financial assistance from the New Zealand Film Commission.