Seed & Seed Advanced Grants
Writer-only feature film script development grants, proudly funded by NZ Film Commission..Seed Grants represent an opportunity for writers to be innovative, to be brilliant, and to be excited to create something they own. Seed grants are the home of new and original stories. No constraints on genre, content, characters, location or even the space-time continuum.
Seed 2024
Seed is for emerging and unproduced writers and Seed Advanced is for writers with more than 90 minutes of credited and produced scripted work.
Eligibility
SEED Eligibility:
Applicants must have written at least one of the following:
- Unproduced: Film, Short Film, Television, New Media, Literary Works, or Theatre where the applicant is the primary creator, or:
- Produced: Under 90 cumulative minutes of Film, Short Film, Television, New Media, or Theatre with a "Written By" credit.
SEED ADVANCED Eligibility:
Applicants must have a "Written By" credit for:
- Produced: Over 90 cumulative minutes of Film, Television, or Theatre by a recognised production company or platform, or theatrically performed.
TWO OR MORE WRITERS:
For joint applications, eligibility is based on the writer with the most experience. If one writer meets Seed Advanced criteria or if combined credits exceed Seed criteria, the application may be considered for Seed Advanced at the NZWG Executive Director's discretion.
Seed & Seed Advanced Grants
Seed Grants represent an opportunity for writers to be innovative, to be brilliant, and to be excited to create something they own. Seed grants are the home of new and original stories. No constraints on genre, content, characters, location or even the space-time continuum.
Seed is for emerging and unproduced writers and Seed Advanced is for writers with more than 90 minutes of credited and produced scripted work.
The industry needs strong and new ideas. We need stories that resonate. NZWG believes that our primary storytellers need to be unleashed and offered diverse pathways for developing these stories. Allowing writers space to find their voices will produce new and fresh perspectives to enrich the industry and the country.
The goal of these New Zealand Film Commission funded grants is to create an opportunity for writers to create the feature film scripts they believe in. Seed and Seed Advanced provides unencumbered development funding specifically for writers only.
About Seed & Seed Advanced
Seed
NZWG Seed Grants offer 6 grants of $10,000 (+ GST if applicable) per year for the development of a first draft of a feature film script. Seed is open to emerging writers who haven’t yet written and had produced a feature film. Included in each grant is $2,500 (+ GST if applicable) to put toward script consultation.
Seed Advanced
Seed Advanced acknowledges experienced writers by offering a higher grant level and greater flexibility around development costs.
NZWG Seed Advanced Grants offer 2 grants of $12,500 (+ GST if applicable) per year for the development of feature film scripts. Seed Advanced is open to established writers who have more than 90 minutes of scripted broadcast credits. Included in each grant is $2,500 (+ GST if applicable) for further development of the feature film script. This can include (but is not limited to) workshops, table reads, research and multiple script consultants.
Judging
Seed & Seed Advanced applications are judged through a blind-read process. Meaning, the application materials do not show the writers name or identifying details and the judges are kept confidential until after judgement is made.
The judges assess each application on three key criteria:
- Idea – is it compelling/engaging? Does it have an audience?
- Craft – is the writer able to execute the screenplay on a high enough level to deliver on the promise of the idea?
- Voice – is the writer’s voice original and clear?
Seed Application Guides
Our Seed Grants program provides financial support and resources to talented screenwriters who are just starting their journey. We believe in nurturing the next generation of storytellers and helping them bring their visions to life.
Eligibility Criteria
Learn if you meet the following criteria to be eligible for our Seed Grants.
Application Process
Explore the application process for a Seed and Seed Advanced Grants.
Selection Process
Learn more about the selection process for Seed and Seed Advanced Grants.
Grant Recipients
Explore all upcoming and past Seed and Seed Advanced Grants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to commonly asked questions about our Seed and Seed Advanced Grants.
If a producer has been attached and you have signed the rights to them in your contract. No, you cannot enter that project.
No. Applicants must have the following Written by Credit to be eligible to apply for Seed Advanced:
- Produced - Over 90 cumulative minutes of; Film, Television, and Theatre where the applicant has a Written By credit produced by a recognised production company, platform, or authority or has been theatrically performed.
Yes, as long as you (the writer/s) still hold the rights to the screenplay, you can enter that project.
Six weeks between opening the Round and the closing date for entries.
No. The Treatment is a written summary of your script described in prose, including the beginning, the middle and the end. If there is imagery you feel is important to portray, this must be done within the prose.
Yes. You (the writer) must hold the rights to the project in order to be eligible for Seed Funding. The fund is not intended to cover the cost of optioning the rights.
No. Seed funding is for scripted feature films only.
Yes. The 5 page treatment is a maximum length. If you feel confident you have outlined your story (beginning, middle and end) in fewer pages, you can submit.
Yes. You may be able to work with two approved assessors. This can be discussed and agreed in the first meeting with NZWG after you have been awarded the grant.
Yes. This is preferred as both of these key judging materials need to be the same to ensure fair and equitable length of content across all entries. Need help with formatting? Check out the How To Guides underneath the entry checklist HERE.
Yes, all attachments must be PDF files. There are four attachments - Bio, Budget, Treatment, and Script Pages. All four should be PDF files.
Yes. You can enter with the same project up to three times.
No. They do not have to be consecutive; you may use scenes from different parts in your script as long as they are clearly delineated. As per the Full Guidelines above the script sample must contain some dialogue.
Yes, NZWG selects a different diverse and experience range of judges every round.
Did you know, in 2018 NZWG made a commitment to support diverse screenwriters and stories through the Seed and Seed Advanced programme. The blind-read process is the foundation of the Seed programme, so diversity and inclusion outcomes in blind-read scenarios were researched and confirmed that the best way to achieve this was through the judges themselves! Since then, NZWG have continued that commitment to diversity of judges and support positive outcomes with the following evolutions:
- 2018 At least 50% female or at least 50% Māori judges in all rounds of Seed & Seed Advanced
- 2019 At least 50% female or at least 50% Māori, Pacific Island, Asian and non-Pakeha judges in all rounds of Seed & Seed Advanced.
- 2021 At Least 50% female or at least 50% Māori, Pacific Island, Asian and non-Pakeha judges, and at least 1 LGBTQIA+ judge in all rounds of Seed & Seed Advanced.
For Seed, your budget can be as simple as you like. The $7,500 can be your 'writers fee', with the remaining as a 'consultant fee'. Unless you have specific costs to cover such as research and travel for example. In particular it is important to make clear that you understand how much of the Grant goes directly to the writer, and how much of it is for consultancy services and will be paid directly to a consultant or development process.
Some writers may be considering using AI programmes such as ChatGPT, WordTune, and ChatSonic, to assist them in the writing of their Seed applications. It is important to note that there has been no establishment of copyright for any works written by an AI programme. Which means you may be putting your 'Rights / Chain of Title' at risk when you use material generated by AI. As you will be aware, there is a declaration you must tick on your Seed Application stating you hold these rights - please make sure that you do continue to hold these rights when creating your application, or your application may be denied.
Still have questions?
Feel free to reach out to us for any further assistance.
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