Deadline: 20-Oct-2025
The Write Room Wellington in partnership with Toi Poneke Arts Centre, POP Film and the Wellington City Council Aho Tini are thrilled to invite applications from screenwriters for its annual residency.
The aim of the programme is to support a writer to develop their work to a level where it can be pitched to a producer and secure further development funding and a pathway towards production. Write Room is committed to supporting diversity in NZ Film and Television. The program’s assessment criteria include Aho Tini – Diversity and Inclusion – Potential to reflect diverse or underrepresented perspectives, cultural relevance especially Māori/Pasifika, and Aho Tini – Wellington based story or production intent; local place based story telling.
The program is for a Wellington-based screenwriter from various literary backgrounds who has a feature film or TV series that would benefit from focused development. This year’s mentors are Robert Sarkies and Vicky Pope, along with the Write Room Producer Intern. Applicants do not need a completed script to apply.
The residency is comprised of three parts: a 16-week residency at Toi Pōneke Arts Centre, a further 12 weeks of work to complete and polish the draft, and a final script read-through with actors. During the program, the writer will receive a grant of $9,750 and support from experienced industry mentors. The writer is expected to spend a minimum of 15 hours a week committed to writing during the residency. The hours are flexible to accommodate other work commitments.
To be eligible, applicants must be Wellington-based New Zealand citizens or permanent residents who are over 18 years of age. Undergraduate students are not eligible. Applicants will be assessed on the strength of their idea, the quality of their writing, the clarity of their vision, the feasibility of their project, their ability to commit the required time, their personal statement, and their potential to reflect diverse perspectives or local storytelling.
To apply, candidates must submit a completed application form, a statistics form, 15 pages of their script, a synopsis and project summary, a self-introduction, and their CV. All materials must be uploaded as a single PDF document. The deadline for applications is 5pm, Monday 20 October 2025. The program dates are from 26 January to 15 August 2026. All project details will remain confidential, and the writer retains all rights to their screenplay.
For more information, visit Toi Poneke Arts Centre.
