Initiatives

Development

We run script & project development incubators for local filmmakers to enhance and grow their craft; and to help move their script towards the next stage of production.

​We observed a gap in the regional screen sector of access and availability of development programmes for Canterbury regional filmmakers (Writers, Directors, Producers) in the longform space. So now, TPM has run successful screen development programmes and wānanga in Canterbury for the last 2+ years previously in partnership with Script-to-Screen with funding support from both New Zealand On Air and the New Zealand Film Commission, and additional support from Screen CanterburyNZ.
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• The first (2023) was a Symposium-style wānanga and development mentorships for 6x Canterbury-related teams working in long form, this was the first of its kind in Canterbury and cast a wide net to include Canterbury-related projects and general mentorship of projects.
• ​The second (2025) was focussed on 6x creative long-form projects based in Canterbury with specific mentorship and project development culminating in a pitch session to industry as the Big Screen Symposium 2025. 
• The third (2027) will focus on 1:1 mentorship support of 4x Canterbury-based emerging/mid-career screenwriters to hone their craft and to enable them to take their scripts to the next stage of development. 

Director David Stubbs mentoring incubator participants 2025

Speakers and attendees from the TPM Wānanga sessions, 2023. L-R: Helen Castelow, Alexander Swords, Kim Georgine, Jeni-Leigh Walker, Gillian Ashurst, Anna Canton, John Chrisstoffels

Mentors and Participants at Incubator 2025. L-R: David Stubbs, Pip Hall, Ian Sweeney, Emma Newborn, Kyan Krumdieck, Nadia Maxwell, Sonja Pegg, Steve Barr, Amanda Jenkins, Rob Malloch, Rouzie Hassanova, Andrew Gunn

'Kickstarting Your Screenwriting Career' session by Script-to-Screen with Pip Hall, Briar Grace-Smith, Michael Bennett supported by TPM 2023

images courtesy of Script-to-Screen, TPM