Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Criteria finalised for NZ Screen Production Grant
Steven Joyce, Christopher Finlayson
1 APRIL, 2014
Criteria finalised for NZ Screen Production Grant
The Government has released the criteria for the New Zealand Screen Production Grant (NZSPG) that comes into effect from today.
The NZSPG combines the Large Budget Screen Production Grant and Screen Production Incentive Fund into a new grant agreed by Cabinet in December 2013.
The new arrangements introduce a 20 per cent grant for international productions, increasing to 25 per cent in limited circumstances. A 40 per cent grant is being made available for New Zealand productions, and the range of these that will qualify has been increased. For New Zealand grants above $6 million the Crown will benefit from a share of any profits which will be reinvested in the screen sector.
There are a number of criteria that need to be met in order to get the additional 5 per cent for international productions – in particular the wider economic benefits to New Zealand. That includes the marketing, promotion and showcasing of New Zealand and New Zealand expertise as we have seen with The Hobbit films and has been agreed with the makers of the Avatar trilogy.
"The marketing benefits for New Zealand from these sorts of high profile productions underline the New Zealand story of creativity and innovation that benefits our exporters more generally.
The new criteria follows consultation with 150 representatives from the New Zealand and overseas screen industries.
“These changes have been designed to encourage more mid-sized locally-driven productions and attract more international productions while our own local industry develops and becomes more sustainable,” Mr Joyce says.
“Supporting our local screen industry is vital so longer term more New Zealand-made stories can be successful on the world stage,” Mr Finlayson says.
The criteria on the NZSPG is available at: http://www.nzfilm.co.nz/funding/feature-films/production-funding/new-zealand-screen-production-grant
| Pre April 2014 – New Zealand’s screen production incentives | Post April 2014 – New Zealand’s screen production incentives |
| International Productions | |
| Large Budget
Screen Production Grant (LBSPG) Vote Economic Development Annual appropriation Uncapped | New Zealand Screen
Production Grant – International Vote Economic Development Five year multi-year appropriation Uncapped |
| QNZPE
qualifying thresholds Film $15m TV $4m PDV $1 | QNZPE qualifying thresholds
Film $15m TV $4m PDV $1 |
| Grant rebate rate
15% | Grant rebate rate
20% 25% in certain circumstances – subject to meeting significant economic benefits points test |
| Additional grant for productions over $200m | Discontinued |
| Eligible
format Film TV and other non-TV formats – see criteria | Eligible format
Remains the same |
| Initial verification process
Recommended and encouraged for non-film formats only | Initial verification process
Recommended and encouraged for non-film formats Required for all applicants wishing to apply for the additional 5% grant |
| Eligibility
(no points test) Format, expenditure threshold, relevant entity and special purpose vehicle, residency status – baseline 15% grant No access to other NZ government incentives | Eligibility–
introduced new significant economic benefit points test
Same as previous Large Budget Screen Grant criteria for baseline 20% grant or Productions wishing to apply for additional 5% grant (25%) must then meet requirements of the significant economic benefits points test – either by reaching 20 points or through fast-track qualification – subject to also delivering wider economic benefits |
| Bundling
Available for 2 or more productions where each has a minimum qualifying New Zealand production expenditure of $3m or more and together bundled to a total qualifying New Zealand production expenditure of $30m or more | Bundling Remains the same |
| New Zealand Productions | |
| Screen
Production Incentive Fund (SPIF) Vote: Arts, Culture and Heritage Multi-year appropriation Capped | New Zealand Screen
Production Grant for New Zealand Productions
Vote: Arts, Culture and Heritage Five year multi-year appropriation Uncapped |
| Grant
rebate rate 40% Film 20% TV and other | Grant rebate rate 40% Film 40% TV and other |
| Provisional application
process Recommended | Provisional
application process
Recommended |
| Eligibility for New Zealand Productions | |
| QNZPE
qualifying thresholds Film $2.5m total TV and other $250k-$1m total & $250k/hour-$800k/hour – see criteria Short form animation $250k total & no less than $400k/hour | QNZPE qualifying thresholds
Film $2.5m total TV and other $250k-$1m total & $250k/hour-$800k/hour – see criteria Short form animation $250k total & no less than $400k/hour |
| Eligible format
(including evidence of commercial distribution)
Film TV and other non-TV formats | Eligible format (including evidence
of commercial distribution) Amended to align with New Zealand Screen Production Grant – International Productions Requirement for NZ theatrical distribution amended to remove reference to 20 screens |
| Significant NZ
content Via points test (15 points TV and other, 20 points film with minimum mandatory points in section A and C) or official co-production | Significant NZ
content Via points test (15 points TV and other, 20 points film with minimum mandatory points in section A and C) – more flexibility in A3 (creative material) and new B4 or official co-production |
| Other eligibility
criteria Relevant entity and special purpose vehicle Residency status Recoupment position Access to other government incentives Non-NZ government funding thresholds | Other eligibility criteria
Relevant entity and special purpose vehicle Residency status – revised and tightened Recoupment position – revised and tightened Access to other government incentives Non-NZ government funding thresholds Two new criteria for productions with qualifying New Zealand production expenditure of $15m or more – producer’s track record and export potential |
| Grant
arrangements Grant capped at $15m qualifying New Zealand production expenditure per production – i.e. $6m (film), $3m TV. | Grant arrangements
Grant capped at $50 million qualifying New Zealand production expenditure Productions with qualifying New Zealand production expenditure of $15m or more: must satisfy additional eligibility criteria otherwise grant is capped at $15m qualifying New Zealand production expenditure must share 50 per cent of the net income and profit deriving from the grant on qualifying New Zealand production expenditure between $15 million and $50 million with the NZ Film Commission to reinvest in the sector |
Related Documents
• Cabinet paper (pdf
566.14
KB)
•
•
Gordon Campbell: On bird flu, AUKUS entry fees and Cindy Lee
Susan Botting - Local Democracy Reporter: Ruawai Leader Slams Kaipara Council In Battle Over $400k Property
Te Pati Maori: Another ‘Stolen Generation’ Enabled By Court Ruling On Waitangi Tribunal Summons
Peace Action Wellington: Die In for Palestine Marks ANZAC day
Labour Party: Penny Drops – But What About Seymour And Peters?
Government: PM Announces Changes To Portfolios
Family First: Just 1 In 6 Oppose ‘Three Strikes’ - Poll
