MAP Screen Development: New & Emerging Storytellers has named 12 grant recipients who will receive $4000 to help progress their projects to the next stage. We are thrilled for DEGNZ members Louise Foster (Tommy and the Blue Man), Jack Woon (War on Tradition), Becky Kuek (Soul Heist), Matasila Freshwater (Kastom) and DEGNZ Incubator alumna Asuka Sylvie (Rebuilding Julia).

This development initiative for Māori, Asian and Pacific (MAP) screen creatives is jointly administered by Ngā Aho Whakaari (NAW), Pacific Islands Screen Artists (PISA) and Pan-Asian Screen Collective (PASC) with funding from NZ On Air and the NZ Film Commission.

Each industry organisation independently assessed members’ applications. The grant could be used for writing time, to gain mentoring or sharpen proposals for further development. In the applications’ process the candidates had to show a strong plan for how the grant would be used.