Welcome to Screen CanterburyNZ
Explore our world of film, all within close proximity to Ōtautahi Christchurch
Screen CanterburyNZ welcomes all filmmakers, story-tellers, and content generators to Waitaha Canterbury. We have some of the most diverse and accessible film locations in the world - many within an hour of our international airport.
We have the people, we have the locations, so what are you waiting for? The opportunities here are endless.
Listen To Our Podcast
All Things Screen podcast is an eight-episode season featuring candid, entertaining and inspiring interviews with screen industry movers and shakers – from filmmakers and TV creators to cutting-edge game developers. Host Kim Georgine sits down with directors, producers, writers, and narrative designers to hear their personal stories as well as their best tips and tricks for a successful career in the industry.
Canterbury – Gateway To Your Creative Vision
Our Latest Showreel
We’ve explored every corner of our region for you. If you want to gain access to amazingly unique locations for your next project, we have the keys you’ll need - ready for you to explore with.
We are here to help you capture anything destined for any screen. From the mountains to the sea - from old period buildings, to some of the most modern city architecture on earth. let’s chat about your next film project.
Unlock Canterbury
Home to Aoraki Mt Cook
A Thousand Mountains
Canterbury and the South Island is home to New Zealand’s largest peak, Aoraki Mt Cook, and a thousand other mountains, glaciers and permanent snow areas. We can land you anywhere you need to be to get the epic shot and sort any access requirements you will need.
From the mountains to the sea
Unique Film Diversity
The film diversity of Canterbury and the West Coast offers amazing opportunities for any film maker. If you need a locations expert to unlock a specific part of our stunning region, then we have many people who have explored every corner of our country. For a full list of everyone who can help your next project get some traction, view our local cast and crew.
Epic locations in close proximity
One Hour Access
Canterbury is New Zealand’s largest region and home to every type of location you can dream of. All the incredible options are still less than a 1 hour flight from Christchurch International Airport. With a plane or a helicopter you can access any potential space quickly and efficiently. We can help you organise any transport requirements you have, no matter how big or small your team is. Get access now.
Accessible on any budget
A Thousand Lakes & Beaches
What other location in the world can you start from a mountain top and be at the beach within minutes. The diversity of our location comes alive with the closeness of our proximity - a film makers dream. We don’t have one mountain, we have thousands, and each distinct season allows us to cater to any narrative or genre.
Keep up with Screen CanterburyNZ
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Keep up to date with all things film and what’s happening in our region. You’ll also see how Canterbury has been the backdrop to some of the biggest blockbusters in cinema history. Be sure to tag us @ScreenCanterburyNZ
- Our People #keystoexplore
- Our Place #unlocknz
- Our Stories #screencanterburynz
- Your World #canterburyas
Screen CanterburyNZ Crew List
We have highly skilled crew to meet your project needs - including specialist teams to get you into areas where local knowledge is paramount.
Screen CanterburyNZ News
Cultural Collaboration Vital to Local Film’s Success
A Kiwi produced film that’s about to hit screens and is already riding waves of success internationally.
Canterbury’s Screen Industry Gets Funding Green Light Through 2026
Screen CanterburyNZ has secured additional funding from Christchurch City Council for the region’s Screen Production Grant.
Q & A With Jessica Todd
Ōtautahi Christchurch-based Producer Jessica Todd has had a busy start to 2024; we reached out to find out what she's been up to.
A Chat With Indian Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap
Screen CanterburyNZ hosted Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap in Ōtautahi Christchurch for a screening of his new film, Kennedy.
Hottest Ticket In Town: Festival Announces Filmmaker Focused Industry Events
Doc Edge alongside festival partners ChristchurchNZ and Screen CanterburyNZ release details on the Doc Edge Industry 2024.
Christchurch Takes Centre Stage When Dark City: The Cleaner Launches
A dark television series filmed in the heart of Ōtautahi Christchurch is set to provide a major boost to the screen industry.
Screen Industry Movers And Shakers Take To The Mic In New Podcast
Screen CanterburyNZ is excited to announce their new podcast, All Things Screen
Tamariki front and centre in the sixth round of Screen CanterburyNZ production grant
Screen CanterburyNZ and ChristchurchNZ would like to extend congratulations to the two round six recipients of the Screen CanterburyNZ produ…
Canterbury’s Diverse Locations Soon To Be On Show
From the wilderness to 1979 post-punk Christchurch and beyond.
Congratulations To The Latest Recipients Of The SCNZ Production Grant, Round Five
Screen CanterburyNZ and ChristchurchNZ extend congratulations to the two recipients of the Screen CanterburyNZ Production Grant.
Q And A With Janine Morrell-Gunn
A question-and-answer session with Janine Morrell- Gunn to understand her career as a woman in the media industry in New Zealand.
Canterbury’s Game Industry ‘Push Play’ On Strategy Taking Sector To Next Level
The Christchurch Game Developers Association, Screen CanterburyNZ, ChristchurchNZ and the University of Canterbury (UC) have teamed up to st…
Interview With Nick Paris
The Screen Office has had the chance to catch up with the inimitable Nick Paris, one of the current owners of Lumière Cinema.
Jackie Dennis Shares The Ethos Of Script To Screen
The Screen Office recently chatted with Jackie Dennis who is the Executive Director of Script to Screen for Aotearoa New Zealand.
More Cameras Set To Roll
As the Screen CanterburyNZ Production Grant greenlights three more projects.
Rings Return With Streaming Giant’s New Series Locations Unveiled In Canterbury
New Canterbury locations have been revealed in Amazon Prime’s highly anticipated new Tolkien ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’.
A Conversation With Jeni-Leigh Walker, Kāi Tahu Producer And Director
Screen CanterburyNZ recently had the chance to catch up with Kāi Tahu screen practitioner Jeni-Leigh Walker.
Big Screen Symposium Boosts Collaboration Among Creative Voices
In July, after many cancellations due to Covid, the Big Screen Symposium finally went ahead at the ASB Waterfront Theatre in Auckland.
Canterbury Sees Big Picture
Christchurch stands in as American states for streaming giant’s local production.
Congratulations To The Latest Recipients Of The SCNZ Production Grant
Screen CanterburyNZ and ChristchurchNZ would like to extend congratulations to three recipients of the Screen CanterburyNZ Production Grant.
World Premiere Of Documentary Feature BEHROUZ To Be Held In Christchurch
Feature documentary, ‘BEHROUZ’ will have its world premiere in Christchurch, New Zealand on Saturday, 11 June 2022, at the Isaac Theatre Roy…
A Conversation with Rick Harvie of Belmont Productions
Screen CanterburyNZ recently had the chance to sit down with veteran Christchurch filmmaker Rick Harvie. Rick’s production company, Belmont …
Kiri And Lou – A Success Story Made In Christchurch
This Canterbury award-winning project has been awarded best animated short at the 2021 LA International Film Festival.
Canterbury Film Maker Gaylene Barnes Wins 2021 South Pacific Pictures Big Pitch
Gaylene Barnes' project 'Ladies, A Knife' selected as the Winner of the 2021 South Pacific Pictures 'Big Pitch'.
Maui Studios World Expo Trip
Making global connections at the World Expo 2021 in Dubai as part of the Te Aratini Festival of Indigenous and Tribal Ideas.
Introducing Screen CanterburyNZ’s Newest Member Petrina D’rozario
Bringing international production and guild experience to the table.
Janine Sowerby’s WW1 Script Chosen For The Paerangi Project
Janine Sowerby is a local Cantabrian who works full time as a city planner and finds time to engage in her passion for writing.
Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival 2021 Opens In Ōtautahi Christchurch
Ōtautahi Christchurch is hosting the opening event of this year’s festival on Friday 5 November at the Isaac Theatre Royal.
Congratulations To The Inaugural Recipients Of The SCNZ Production Grant
More than 24 enquiries were received and six applications were assessed by an independent panel of industry and Mana Whenua representatives.
Million-Dollar Regional Screen Production Grant The First Of Its Kind
The Screen CanterburyNZ Production Grant is set to kick Canterbury’s screen sector into high gear.
Canterbury Filmmakers Premiere Their Work On Loading Docs
The Scam is a Loading Docs short film directed by Oliver Dawe and produced by Amanda Jenkins – both Ōtautahi Christchurch locals.
Screen CanterburyNZ Production Incentive Set To Boost Activity In The Screen Sector
Screen CanterburyNZ Production Incentive is yet another step toward the increasing viability of screen production in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
2nd Chance Charlie’s Canterbury Connection
Season two of 2nd Chance Charlie has just wrapped. We got to sit down with Director Steph Damm, who lead the team from her Canterbury base.
Beat Of The South
Ōtautahi Christchurch is featured in the web series ‘Beat of the South’ which was created and produced by Tuteri Rangihaeata.
The Canterbury Champion of Children's Television
Whitebait Media is a full-service film studio in central Christchurch, catering to small and large-scale productions.
Christchurch Welcomes An International Feature Film
Ōtautahi Christchurch’s new motorways could double as American roads in a production being filmed in the city in June.
Local Filmmakers Shoot Russian Troll Agency In Mockumentary
Screen CanterburyNZ sat down with Kōwhai Collab, the team behind the quirky short film "A Peek Inside the Chch Internet Troll Agency".
Game Development Opportunities For Ōtautahi Christchurch
A recent hui discussed how to secure a bigger share of New Zealand’s $340 million per year game development industry.
Ōtautahi Christchurch – A Hub of Services and Support for the Screen Industry
Screen CanterburyNZ sat down with hire companies based in the city to learn about the services they can provide productions when filming.
A Film that Could Only be Made in the Southern Alps
The Push, is filming in the Canterbury region. Screen CanterburyNZ sat down with Kyan Krumdieck to find out about the project.
Lightingup Canterbury Locations with a Combo Truck Based in Christchurch
Chris Ruane's recent work as gaffer/grip for Japanese Commercial Vehicle maker Isuzu featured some stunning Canterbury backdrops.
New Short Film Gives Kate a Voice
A new film at Kate Sheppard House showcases local screen industry talent and Ōtautahi Christchurch’s history of women’s suffrage.
Local Filmmakers Win Fresh Shorts Funding
We sat down with Anna and Grae to talk about ‘Homecoming’ - a short film telling a transgender story that is authentic and heartfelt.
The Billion-Dollar Screen Opportunity
ChristchurchNZ is committed to securing a larger share of this industry and is home to Screen CanterburyNZ, the regional film office.
Christchurch Director Nick McLean Wins International Short Film Prize
Local Christchurch director Nick McLean has won a USD$30,000 prize in the international short film competition My RØDE Reel for Bear Hugs.
Spotlight on Film Maker: Dave Kwant
Dave Kwant is a director, film maker and drone pilot, living on the West Coast. He’s worked on Harry Potter and various projects with the BB…
Pariah - Famous Rock Star??
Screen Canterbury sat down with Slavko Martinov, our very own award-winning local Film Producer to ask him questions about Pariah.
Spotlight on Cinematographer: John Ross
Screen CanterburyNZ had a sit down with film maker John Ross to hear more about Blood and Bone Films' latest project, Anywhere but Nowhere, …
Spotlight on Locally Produced Film: Reunion by Nadia Maxwell
Screen CanterburyNZ sat down with our very own Nadia Maxwell from Overactive Imagination to talk about her upcoming film REUNION. Reunion - …
Spotlight on Local Screen Talent: When A City Rises - The People’s Story
If you want to see the mastery of Canterbury creatives, then “When A City Rises” is another reminder of the incredible depth of talent and s…
World Premiere of When a City Rises from Award Winning Documentary Filmmaker, Gerard Smyth
World Premiere of When a City Rises feature film from award-winning documentary filmmaker, Gerard Smyth. This film was made entirely by Cant…
Spotlight on Creative Agency: Maui Studios
Animation, illustration, virtual reality, augmented reality and digital design – if it’s imaginative, and digital, then Māui Studios is all …
Directing Documentary Master Class: New Dates Announced
Multi-award winning Documentary Filmmaker and New Zealand Arts Laureate Leanne Pooley ONZM has been offering this Masterclass for the past 1…
Christchurch Workshop with Kyan Krumdieck Wednesday Sept 9th at 7:30PM via Zoom
Are you a Writer, Director or Producer, developing your own content and wanting to get the ball rolling on proposals and funding for project…
Spotlight on Bollywood Dancer: Shawn Thomas
Shawn Thomas is a Christchurch boy, who we could easily say is the Bollywood Ambassador for New Zealand. With his growing dance community in…
Spotlight on Film Maker: Slavko Martinov
Film maker Slavko Martinov tells us all about being the '3rd eye' while working on the incredibility interesting "Repeat Attenders" feature …
Spotlight on Creative Media Producer: Jeremy Black
Jeremy Black, head of Christchurch based creative media company Blackbird, has recently received attention for his work on an early bird cam…
Spotlight on Creative Producer: Scott Flyger
Creative producer Scott Flyger (Due South Films) is very pleased with the outcome: "we shot the film in just three days with a budget of onl…
Spotlight on Producers: Ki Studio
Extraordinary times need extraordinary efforts. Ki Studio had to change a commercial production overnight and embarked on a new adventure ca…
Spotlight on Director: Nick McLean
New comedy series "Don't be Frank" tells the story of fledging producer Sela who wrangles dodgy director Frank Anthony and his chaotic team …
