Kōpere Ake
Elevate Your Stories, Reach New Heights. This series development fund is designed to break through the barriers faced by Aotearoa screenwriters. Those being insufficient time to craft and write material at the level of quality required to compete against international content.
Kōpere Ake - 2024
In 2024, the Kōpere Ake one round with two grants will be available for writers or teams of writers to apply for.
Quick Application Checklist
- Applicant(s) can be an individual, or a team
- Applicant(s) must be writer(s) and or creator(s) of the idea
- Applicants can apply with the same project up to three times
- If the project is based on any underlying works, the applicant(s) must demonstrate they have the rights in the underlying works for the purposes of development through this fund
- If the project has already been optioned by a producer or production company, it will not be eligible
- Projects are not eligible if they have already received development funding of any kind from any of these agencies:
- Te Māngai Pāho
- NZ on Air
- New Zealand Film Commission
- The lead applicant must be a NZ citizen or resident
Kōpere Ake: Elevate Your Stories, Reach New Heights.
This series development fund is designed to break through the barriers faced by Aotearoa screenwriters. Those being insufficient time to craft and write material at the level of quality required to compete against international content. Kōpere Ake: Elevate Your Stories, Reach New Heights is creating pathways to help develop screenwriters and their stories, using the simple international formula: time + money + support.
NZWG in partnership with NZ on Air, has developed Kōpere Ake as a programme that will enable Aotearoa screenwriters to create high quality world-class scripted proposals. Giving screenwriters and their writing partners an opportunity to create an environment to take risks and expand on their skills in the development of high-quality stories for screen.
Premium scripted content development requires time and tailor-made support – one size, does not fit all.
Grants are for writers only and provide development funding for quality, premium series proposals and pilot script development.
Kōpere Ake: Elevating Dreams, Empowering Writers!
Kōpere Ake Structure
In 2024, the Kōpere Ake one round with two grants will be available for writers or teams of writers to apply for.
Series Development Fund
- Successful Recipient(s) (Writer, Co-Writers, Teams of Writers) will receive $35,000.00 (+ any applicable GST) development funding administered by NZOA
- Successful Recipient(s) will also receive story development assistance to the value of $5,000.00 (+ any applicable GST) administered by NZWG. That could include, but is not limited to local or international:
- Mentor, consultant, or advisor to assist in creating a premium series story proposal
- Coaching and assistance to pitch and market their work
- Additional writers to assist with story development tables
- Any other craft or professional support to enable high quality story outcomes
Additional Support
Successful Recipients will also receive professional development assistance to the value of $2,000 (+ any applicable GST) administered by NZWG. That could include, but not limited to local or international:
- Legal Fees to create writer-for-hire or other series contracts
- Design Fees – towards the creation of the series proposal
- Series Business development workshops or courses
- Story Producer development workshops or courses
NZWG Support Offering
Successful Recipients will receive the following NZWG workshops:
- Know Your Rights workshop – understanding rights assignments in series creation, learning to exploit this transaction
- Contracting 101 workshop – understanding the functions of each type of agreement in the Chain of Title, and what should be in (and out) of these series agreements
- Connection workshops with Producers, Production Companies, Commissioners, Broadcasters and Platforms
Tailoring the story development and professional development assistance per recipient(s) enables screenwriters to determine the best pathway for the project they are developing. Creating Great, not Good.
Application Guides
Find out all the important information about applying for Kōpere Ake, eligibility and read our helpful guides.
Application Process
Learn how to apply for a Seed Grant and what documents are required.
Selection Criteria
Discover the factors we consider when evaluating Seed Grant applications.
Funding Process
Learn how the Seed Grant funds are disbursed and what reporting is required.
Kōpere Ake List
Explore the full list of upcoming and past Kōpere Ake.
Kōpere Ake Structure
In 2024, the Kōpere Ake one round with two grants will be available for writers or teams of writers to apply for.
Series Development Fund
- Successful Recipient(s) (Writer, Co-Writers, Teams of Writers) will receive $35,000.00 (+ any applicable GST) development funding administered by NZOA
- Successful Recipient(s) will also receive story development assistance to the value of $5,000.00 (+ any applicable GST) administered by NZWG. That could include, but is not limited to local or international:
- Mentor, consultant, or advisor to assist in creating a premium series story proposal
- Coaching and assistance to pitch and market their work
- Additional writers to assist with story development tables
- Any other craft or professional support to enable high quality story outcomes
Additional Support
Successful Recipients will also receive professional development assistance to the value of $2,000 (+ any applicable GST) administered by NZWG. That could include, but not limited to local or international:
- Legal Fees to create writer-for-hire or other series contracts
- Design Fees – towards the creation of the series proposal
- Series Business development workshops or courses
- Story Producer development workshops or courses
NZWG Support Offering
Successful Recipients will receive the following NZWG workshops:
- Know Your Rights workshop – understanding rights assignments in series creation, learning to exploit this transaction
- Contracting 101 workshop – understanding the functions of each type of agreement in the Chain of Title, and what should be in (and out) of these series agreements
- Connection workshops with Producers, Production Companies, Commissioners, Broadcasters and Platforms
Tailoring the story development and professional development assistance per recipient(s) enables screenwriters to determine the best pathway for the project they are developing. Creating Great, not Good.
Kōpere Ake FAQs
Watch this video for answers to common questions about Kōpere Ake.
Still have questions?
Feel free to reach out to us for any further assistance.
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