Film researcher Stephen Follows’ latest piece of work examines the endings of films to see if the ‘Hollywood Ending’ still rules the day. What he found is that there are three types of ending: Happy, Sad and Bittersweet.
It got me thinking about the current New Zealand Film Commission review of core funding for guilds and associations.
But before I go any further, let’s look at who receives core funding and what their current financial position is, as stated in their latest financial accounts:
| GUILDS | CORE FUND. | FIN. POS. | LEGAL STATUS |
| 1 | DEGANZ | $100,000 | $72,174, EoY 25 | Incorporated Society/Union |
| 2 | Equity NZ | $100,000 | $119,562, EoY 25 | Incorporated Society/Union |
| 3 | NZWG | $100,000 | $20,332, EoY 24 | Incorporated Society/Union |
| 4 | SIGANZ | $100,000 | $166,224, EoY 25 | Incorporated Society |
| | | | |
| ASSOCIATIONS | | | |
| 5 | NAW | $120,000 | $124,868, EoY 24 | Incorporated Society |
| 6 | PASC | $100,000 | ($6,183), EoY 25 | Incorporated Society |
| 7 | PISA | $100,000 | $35,771, EoY 24 | Incorporated Society |
| 8 | Script to Screen | $100,000 | $120,043, EoY 25 | Registered Charity |
| 9 | SPADA | $100,000 | $575,410, EoY 25 | Incorporated Society |
| 10 | WIFT | $100,000 | $140,170, EoY 24 | Incorporated Society |
Notes:
The financial position simply means that once all liabilities/debts are cleared on the final date of the fiscal year reported on, that is how much would be left in the bank.
The above numbers are a simplistic representation of each guild and association’s finances. They have other revenues streams as well outside NZFC core funding, and have different costs associated with their operations and activities.
As incorporated societies or charities, they essentially operate as non-profits.
The big question for NZFC is: Is core funding for guilds and associations the best and or most efficient use of their funds for industry support, at just over $1 million a year? The corrolary is: if core funding is good use of funding, who should get it and how much?
The big question for the guilds and associations is: Will we receive all, some or none of the funding after the review is complete and a decision is made? And the corrollary for the guilds and associations is: if we don’t get it, how will we survive and what will we do or not do if we can’t make up the difference?
Every guild and association can make its case that the work they do is vital to a healthy, functioning New Zealand screen industry.
For NZFC—and for NZ On Air and TMP as well—they need to figure out what makes a healthy, functioning New Zealand screen industry, and if guilds and associations fit within that. And if they do, what if any support, financial or non-financial, direct or in-direct, might they provide?
The answer is going to be happy, sad, or bittersweet, not just for each one of us guilds and associations, but also for the individuals who make up the screen industry as well. We expect to find out at the end of this year.
Tui Ruwhiu
Executive Director
Last updated on 10 September 2026
