Aho Shorts Production Fund 2026

The Aho Shorts production fund is an initiative that was created and is managed by the indigenous New Zealand Māori Film Guild, Ngā Aho Whakaari. The 2026 iteration is executive produced by Angela Cudd of Caravan Carpark Films and administered with support from Caravan Carpark Films.

A Ngā Aho Whakaari initiative

Former Aho Shorts by: Miro Productions ("Rapido") and Caravan Carpark Films ("Raupā", "Hokia" and "The Difference Between Pipi & Pūpū").

2026 Fund Information

The Aho Shorts Production Fund 2026 provides production funding for five (5) short films by Māori creative teams. Each project will be awarded $40,000 NZD to create a narrative scripted short film that delivers on at least one of the following pou:

Champions te reo Māori
Enables a distinctly Māori story to be told
Supports a Māori creative to tell a story with strong potential to resonate with global audiences
Empowers an experienced voice to explore a new filmmaking technique or complex subject

This year’s fund combines production funding with wrap-around delivery support, including wānanga and mentorship designed to maintain momentum toward completion within the agreed timeline and strengthen cohesion across the cohort.

Selected creative teams will participate in mentorship and wānanga to finalise their scripts and confirm the production pathway for their film. Each team will then be supported through a six-month delivery period to complete pre-production, principal photography and post-production.

Applicants must be ready and able to complete filming and post-production in the second half of 2026.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

Be of Māori descent - this includes the Writer, Director and Producer.
Be based in Aotearoa and a NZ citizen or permanent resident.
Be 18 years or older at the time of submission.
Be available to participate fully in all scheduled activities (See key dates section below).
Be a member of Ngā Aho Whakaari: Māori in screen (If you’re not, it’s free to join. You can do so at the Ngā Aho Whakaari website).

Applications must come from a fully formed team (e.g. writer / director / producer).

Where appropriate and with proper oversight and governance, the panel may choose to deviate from the proposed number of films funded including the amounts funded.

What are we looking for?

We are seeking creative teams who demonstrate readiness for creative leadership, alongside distinct, self-aware voices that reflect the richness of Māori worldviews and the depth of Aotearoa storytelling. This opportunity is open to filmmakers at all levels, but applicants should be clear in their long-term intent to pursue storytelling as a career.

To be competitive for production funding, applicants will need to demonstrate they:

Have proven capacity as Storytellers: Evidenced through a cohesive, well thought out proposal with appropriate supporting material and strong CVs. For emerging applicants, the emphasis is on storytelling craft rather than filmmaking experience, and applicants are welcome to draw on any skills, practice, or experience that have helped shape their storytelling voice and vision.
Show strong vision and voice: Evidenced through a well developed script with a highly focused central idea, a curious or urgent opening, a clear protagonist and an impactful ending. The broader theme, meaning or intent should be clearly articulated in the Writer's Statement.
Strong vision and voice will also be evidenced through a compelling director’s proof of concept, track record and/or strong supporting creative materials. We want to understand how the director sees the film in detail - not only the overall tone, style or theme, but the practical filmmaking choices that will bring it to life on screen. Applicants should aim to be specific about elements such as visual style, camera approach, framing, movement, performance tone, pacing, sound, music, production design and the use of location or atmosphere. Specials such as stunts, VFX or the like should also be addressed. Strong comparables can help where they clearly illuminate the proposed approach.
The producer should demonstrate a strong understanding of both the writer’s script and intention, and the director’s vision and voice, and an ability to maintain cohesion across the key creative team.
Establish that this is the right team to tell this story, at this time: Including clear roles, capability and kaupapa alignment.
Commit to the Aho Shorts filmmaker community: Participate in our Aho Shorts community of filmmakers so that we can build a resilient and connected Māori filmmaking community.

Participant Benefits

Participants selected for the Aho Shorts Production Fund 2026 will receive:

Creative guidance to solidify your script for immediate production.
Wrap-around guidance to help maintain momentum and support you to complete your short film in 2026.
Two wānanga led by experienced industry professionals.
Opportunities to expand your professional network and strengthen your pathway to production.
$40,000.00 NZD to create and deliver a short film and market package.

How to Submit

To apply:

Complete the Cover Sheet via this LINK
And email the following to shorts@ngaahowhakaari.org with subject line: Aho Shorts Production Fund 2026 – [Your Project Title]:
- Advanced Script (a treatment may be accepted in some cases but your application will be stronger with a script)
- Proposal
- CVs incl. short bio, filmography, festivals your work has screened at and/or awards you've won.

Please note: Applicants may only apply as a fully formed team (Writer, Director, Producer).

What should your Proposal include?

Your proposal should be one PDF (max 12 pages) that includes the following (in this order):

Project Title
Logline (max 2 sentences)
Short Synopsis (max 150 words)

Writer’s Statement (max 300 words) – Outline the genesis of the story, why this story and why now? Touch on the broader key theme/s underlying your story.
Director Statement (max 150 words) – Your motivation as a storyteller and what type of stories you want to tell.
Director’s Vision (Max 5 pages) - Outline your approach to telling the emotional, visual and wider thematic story. Please cover: tone and look, art design, working with cast, music and, where relevant, specials incl. stunts and vfx. Make sure to include comparables and ensure this is a strongly visual section.
A link to the director’s previous work (Choose 1-2 of your best works) – If you don't have a completed work then provide a commentary on what actions or experience you have gained that will prepare you for this significant step.
Producer Statement (max 300 words) - Outline the following:
- How the team formed.
- Each team member’s role and agency in the creative process (including the producer, the producer is more than admin, paperwork and budget, please be clear what parts of the creative process you will be part of).
- Why do you want to tell this story (Please limit this to 1-2 sentences).
- What you’re not confident about and where you need support.
- What will be tricky and your plan to manage it.
- Your approach to budget, including how you will secure reduced-rate crew and equipment (and why you are uniquely placed to do this).
Pou Tiaki Reo me ngā Tikanga Statement (max 300 words)
- Does your film include te reo Māori? If yes, what percentage?
- Include a brief summary of any key Māori elements, themes, mātauranga or tikanga within the story.
- Outline what support you have to ensure that the reo Māori and Māori elements are handled in a way that is tika and pono.
- We aim to support a range of projects, so be clear about where reo & tikanga sits in the work.
Ambition for the film (max 300 words) – Describe your ambition for the film. Frame this ambition in terms of critical response, audience appeal and/or innovation of technique, subject or vision. Strong applications will include specific, actionable steps you will take to pursue these outcomes.

Selection Process

All applications will be reviewed by a panel made up of representatives from Ngā Aho Whakaari, Caravan Carpark Films, New Zealand Film Commission and at least one independent assessor.

Shortlisted applicants may be contacted for additional information or a brief interview.

Key Dates

Applications Open:

Monday, 16 March at 9am NZST

Applications Close:

Friday, 24 April at 5pm NZST

Successful Applicants Notified By:

Sunday, 31 May

In-Person Wānanga:

13-14 June in Auckland

Additional Commitments:

Commitment to complete the film by December 2026

De-brief wānanga in early 2027 Dates TBC

Applicant's Check-List

Completed Digital Cover Sheet
Advanced Script (a treatment may be accepted in some cases but your application will be stronger with a script)
Proposal
CVs incl. short bio, filmography, festivals your work has screened at and/or awards you've won.

Submit your application (excl. the Digital Cover Sheet) by email to:
📩shorts@ngaahowhakaari.org
Subject line: Aho Shorts Production Fund 2026 Application – [Your Project Title]

Deadline: Friday, 24 April at 5pm NZST

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Any changes to the deadline will be announced via Ngā Aho Whakaari and Caravan Carpark Films platforms.