Two short film teams with queer writers and directors will receive development support and funding to make their short films in 2026-2027

Proud Voices On Screen is proud to launch a brand new initiative to make two short films by queer writers and directors that will shine on the big screen internationally. 

We’re looking to hear from teams with a short film idea they want to make in 2026-2027 and are keen to be part of a supported development process with access to EPs throughout the development, production and post-production phases.

The Rainbow Shorts programme is queer-led and supports queer writers and directors to progress in their filmmaking craft. Producers do not have to be queer. Stories do not have to be ‘queer’ but they can be!

• Key Dates

  • Applications close 23 April 2026, 5pm

  • Applicants notified of outcome by 5 June 2026

• Overview

  Two teams will be selected to make their short film.

  The teams will receive: 

  • a production budget of NZ$40,000

  • Executive Producers to support them through development, production and post-production, focusing on areas each team has less experience with. EPs will be engaged by Proud Voices On Screen and approached after conversations with the selected film teams.

• Eligibility

  • The story doesn’t need to be ‘queer’, but the writer and director do

  • The writer and director will need to disclose that they identify as queer

  • The producer does not need to be queer

  • Your team must remain available to develop, make and deliver the short film within the 2026-2027 time frame

  • This initiative is funded by the New Zealand Film Commission and key team members must be New Zealand Citizens or New Zealand Permanent Residents. If you would like to discuss further please email Eloise eloise@proudvoicesonscreen.org.

• Experience Level

  We are interested in supporting emerging filmmakers to progress their craft and career through making this short film.

  For this reason, at least one of the team members needs to be emerging.  The table below expresses what ‘emerging’ means to us in the context of this initiative. In terms of the lower end of the experience - we are looking for a proven craft level in each team member in the application. So for the ‘emerging’ team members - it’s beneficial to have made at least something like a student film, music video, 48 Hours etc that demonstrates a level of craft.

  If you’re totally brand new to filmmaking, this initiative probably isn’t right for you unless your team members are very experienced or you are sharing the role with someone experienced.

  If all of your team are in the emerging category - you’re eligible. We will be assessing your level of craft so make sure you can show us something of your previous work that expresses your craft level even if it’s a self-funded project.

  EMERGING

  • Can have made one funded short at a level lower than $40,000 e.g. Can have made one Fresh Short, Day One, 48 Hours etc

  • Has not received funding to make a premium scripted short (E.g. Catalyst He Kauahi, A Wave in the Ocean)

  • Does not have key credit as writer, director or producer of a produced scripted feature film

  • Does not have a screen credit as a lead writer / director or producer on a produced scripted web series or series

  EXPERIENCED

  • Has received funding to make a premium scripted short (E.g Catalyst He Kauahi, A Wave in the Ocean)

  • A key credit as writer, director or producer of a produced scripted feature film

  • A screen credit as a lead writer / director or producer on a produced scripted web series or series

  E.g. If a team member has received Catalyst He Kauahi funding, they would be considered one of the experienced team members and at least one of their team would need to be emerging.

  If you are unsure if your team meets these eligibility requirements please contact Eloise directly eloise@proudvoicesonscreen.org.

• Application Requirements

  You must submit the following:

  Short Film Project Details

  • A logline (up to 30 words)*

  • Synopsis (100 - 500 words)*

  • Original or Adaptation?*

  • If this is an adaptation, please answer the following:

  Writers must hold the rights to adapt an original work. Please tell us the title and author of the original work you are adapting and if you currently hold the rights.

  • Attach the script (.pdf)* Please upload your latest draft in .pdf format with a completed title page including the writer's name/s and date of draft. The script must be written in an industry standard format.

  • What stage are you at with this script?* First Draft / Second Draft / More than two drafts

  • Is this short film idea brand new or have you been developing it for a while?* (This question is purely to give us context - there is no right answer) (100 words max)

  • Directors Vision:* Attach a document prepared by the director/s including 5 images that represent your vision for the film. These do not need to be a chronological retelling of the story - they’re more an expression of the world and visual language you are trying to create. Include a statement of up to 300 words describing your vision for the film (this could include; tone, mood, approach to cinematography, lighting, performance, costume, production design etc). If you have a co-director, this can be a joint statement. (One .pdf including all images and statement)

  • Producer's Statement: Short Film Risks - Choose 2-3 aspects of the script that pose challenges as a producer and describe the challenge. What would your strategies be to solve them? e.g. How you would use relationships, past experiences and creative solutions to help you overcome these challenges. Please be specific to the script you are applying with e.g. budget constraints is too vague to be a suitable challenge to discuss (350 words max) If you have a co-producer, please write this together / combine your answer

  • (Optional) Do you have any cast or crew attached? Please list their names and roles

  • Is your team a new partnership? If not, how long have you been working together?

  • Why would Rainbow Shorts be a good fit for your project and your team? (150 words max)

  • Has this short film idea had any pūtea, development funding or development support of any kind before? Y/N - If yes, please explain

  Team Details

  To be eligible you need a team - either:

  - writer/director and producer

  OR

  - writer, director and producer

  - you may also have a co-writer, co-director or co-producer

  Writer

  • Name, Email Address, Phone Number*

  • Do you identify as queer/rainbow/lgbtqia+ in terms of sexuality / gender Y/N*

  • Attach your CV* (.pdf) Include any achievements in writing including projects you have written that have been produced, or writing that has been published

  • Writer Statement:* Filmmaking Journey - Where are you at in your filmmaking journey and what are your ambitions for the kind of work you want to make? (150 words max)

  • Writers Statement*: Short Film - Tell us about your connection to the story / themes and why you want to make the film (150 words max)

  • Rainbow Shorts provides Executive Producers to support your team in areas you need help with including writing, directing and producing. What area/s of writing craft would you most look forward to having support with?* (50 words max)

  • Are you a writer/director* Y/N (If so, answer the link to prior work question in the director section)

  • Do you have a co-writer* Y/N

    (If yes, co-writer to answer the same questions)
    

  Director

  • Name, Email Address, Phone Number*

  • Do you identify as queer/rainbow/lgbtqia+ in terms of sexuality / gender Y/N*

  • Director - Link to Prior Work* Demonstrate your level of craft in directing by giving us a link to a produced work that you have directed. Writer/directors should also answer this question - Link / password if applicable

  • Director Statement:* Tell us about the link you have provided - Why did you attach this project? What are you most proud of and is there anything you would do differently? (200 words max)

  • Attach your CV* (.pdf) Include any achievements in filmmaking and directing including listing projects you have directed that have been produced/completed

  • Director's Statement:* Filmmaking Journey - Where are you at in your filmmaking journey and what are your ambitions for what kind of work you want to make? (150 words max)*

  • Director's Statement:* Short Film - Tell us about your connection to the story / themes and why you want to make the film (150 words max)

  • Rainbow Shorts provides Executive Producers to support your team in areas you need help with including writing, directing and producing. What area/s of directing craft would you most look forward to having support with?* (50 words max)

  • Do you have a co-director* Y/N

    (If yes, co-director to answer the same questions)

  Producer

  • Name, Email Address, Phone Number*

  • Do you identify as queer/rainbow/lgbtqia+ in terms of sexuality / gender Y/N*

  • Attach your CV* (.pdf) Include any achievements in filmmaking and producing including listing projects you have produced and any production roles

  • Producer's Statement:* Filmmaking Journey - Where are you at in your filmmaking journey and what are your ambitions for what kind of work you want to make? (150 words max)

  • Producer's Statement:* Experience level - Have you completed and delivered a screen project before? If so, tell us the names of the project/s including who the team were, the budget level (if it's confidential you can be vague), where the funding came from, whether you managed the budget and if you had any producing partners. If there's too many to name - pick some highlights. If this information is in your CV - you can say 'see CV' (150 words max)

  • Producer's Statement:* Short Film - Tell us about your connection to the story / themes and why you want to make the film (150 words max)

  • Rainbow Shorts provides Executive Producers to support your team in areas you need help with including writing, directing and producing. What area/s of producing craft would you most look forward to having support with?* (50 words max)

  • Do you have a co-producer *Y/N

    (If yes, co-producer to answer the same questions)

• Selection Criteria

  Here is an overview of the selection criteria

  VOICE

  • A strong vision that will move audiences both locally and globally

  WHY

  • Teams who convey a connection to the story they want to tell / know what they want to say and why

  CRAFT

  • Teams who convey a level of craft in each of their areas of filmmaking (writing, directing and producing)

    We need to feel confident that the team have the skills to execute their vision

  NEED

  • Teams who convey that a queer-led supportive environment with EPs would be valuable to them and their journey making this film

  • As we are set up to support queer filmmakers, teams with more than one queer key creative will be looked on favourably

• Download Application Info

  .pdf for download - Rainbow Shorts Application Info

• FAQs

  Does our story need to have queer characters and themes?

  • To be eligible, your writer and director or writer/director need to be queer. Your story doesn’t have to be... but it can be!

  Do we have to be based in Tāmaki Makaurau?

  • Teams can be based anywhere in Aotearoa, as long as they plan to shoot in Aotearoa when the time comes

  Am I eligible if I am a NZ Citizen but currently based overseas?

  • Yes you are eligible, however you will be expected to shoot the film in Aotearoa and be available to engage with Proud Voices On Screen and the EP/s on the development process

  If our writer, director and producer are NZ Citizens but another team member e.g. co-writer is not - is our team still eligible?

  • Yes your team is still eligible

  What is a standard industry format for a script?

  • Your script should be written in an industry standard script software like Final Draft, Celtx, Highland 2, Beat or similar. It is distracting to the reader when a script format has been emulated in a word processing software, as the text is formatted differently. Yes - we can tell! A watermark from a free version of software would be preferable to a script formatted incorrectly.

This initiative is made possible with generous support from the New Zealand Film Commission Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga