DOCNZ Goethe Institut Documentary Scholarship

The DOCNZ Goethe Institut Documentary Scholarship

The Documentary New Zealand Trust and the Goethe-Institut are proud to announce the establishment of a DOCNZ Goethe Scholarship at the DOCNZ Summit 2009 held 22-25th February 2009 which precedes the DOCNZ International Documentary Film Festival 2009 season.

The DOCNZ Goethe Scholarship is a key initiative of the DOCNZ Goethe-Institut Partnership. Recognizing the long tradition of German documentary film-making and the desire of both countries to forge stronger collaborations, the two organizations have designed a scholarship aimed at selecting a New Zealand documentary film-maker to visit Germany and develop and premiere a documentary film project which at both the DOCNZ International Documentary Film Festival and a major German film festival.

The scholarship is aimed at film-makers aged 30 years seeking to etch a mark as a documentary film-maker. Applicants are required to submit and realise a project to be pitched to a jury. The selected recipient will travel to Germany, undertake an intensive German language course and participate in a tailored programme which will include meetings with German officials, industry and festivals. The recipient of the 1st scholarship will be announced at DOCNZ Awards on February 25th 2009.

Christoph Mücher , the New Zealand Director of the Goethe-Institut says ”This partnership is important in furthering New Zealand-German film collaboration. Germany is in the cutting edge of European documentary film-making and our partnership with the Documentary New Zealand Trust will enable Germany to work closely with and to share our knowledge with local New Zealand documentary film-makers.”

“The Documentary New Zealand Trust works hard to promote our documentary makers and this scholarship represents an amazing opportunity for a mid-career film-maker to launch his or her documentary career internationally. The DOCNZ Goethe Partnership will benefit New Zealand as a whole.” Alex Lee, Co-director of the Documentary New Zealand Trust said.

Both organizations will be releasing more details shortly about the DOCNZ Goethe Partnership for 2009 which will include a specially curated programme of German films and a visit by a German delegation of film-makers, festival officials and industry.

Details as to application process and requirements will be available on www.docnz.org.nz and www.goethe.de/Wellington from 1 December 2008. For more details contact:

ENDS

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