For the third year running, leading arts crowdfunding platform ‘Boosted’ and documentary initiative ‘Loading Docs,’ have joined forces to help raise the profile and production budgets for a series of local filmmakers.

Funded by NZ On Air, the New Zealand Film Commission and Te Māngai Pāho - Loading Docs selects ten short documentary proposals, which are supported from development through to distribution.

The theme for this year’s documentaries - diversity - addresses identity, culture, community and place, via 3-minute shorts.

Crowdfunding is the final stage of the pre-production process with each documentary maker required to raise $2000 for their films.

Loading Docs says ‘having our filmmakers crowdfund is critical to capability building and sustainability, and helps measure audience engagement toward distribution’.

In order to successfully crowdfund, filmmakers must build a multi-level campaign strategy and develop key skills around digital storytelling, brand positioning, PR, network segmentation and private giving.

As well as acting as an important promotional tool, crowdfunding also means higher production budgets and in the last three years $103,615 has been raised through the Boosted platform across 30 Loading Docs films.

While the average project value is $3,381.36, all 30 Loading Docs projects have exceeded their targets, with ‘The Impeccable Larry Woods’ breaking Boosted records by achieving 449% of their $2K target at $8,957K in 2016.

Boosted GM Simone Hunter says the partnership highlights a perfect collective funding scenario, with seed funding coming from NZ On Air and the New Zealand Film Commission which in turn generates an additional $103,615 of funding through private networks.

‘It’s the perfect model for the arts in New Zealand and showcases funding diversity across industry and both the private and public sectors. It’s full circle - from selection, capability building, financing, investment and distribution via TVNZ On Demand.’