Two new co-productions between New Zealand and Canadian producers will create interactive documentaries with historic ties to both countries.
NZ On Air and the Canada Media Fund have announced $843,675 (NZD) in funding for two digital media co-productions project under the Canada-New Zealand Digital Media Fund.
Now in its third year, the partnership between the Canada Media Fund (CMF) and NZ On Air supports digital media co-productions from the two countries. The fund encourages creative producers from each country to collaborate on digital media productions.
The projects funded this year both deal with important historic events in our shared history.
Nuclear Reaction is an interactive documentary project that centres around the French nuclear testing in the South Pacific from 1960-1996. In 1973 New Zealanders and Canadians led the world’s anti-nuclear movement in protesting against the tests.
Spurred On will mark the 100th anniversary of Passchendaele - a significant story for both New Zealand and Canada. Both nations experienced significant loss of life. The interactive documentary that will follow the parallel journeys of a NZ and a Canadian presenter as they explore the experience of Passchendaele, one of the deadliest battles of World War One, centered through the stories of their own relatives.
“Interactive documentaries create multi-layered stories and engage audiences in new ways. These co-production projects continue to show the way in this relatively new medium, and will become an important historic archive of our two nations stories,” said NZ On Air Chief Executive Jane Wrightson.
Projects were evaluated and chosen by a selection committee composed of representatives from both funding organisations. Funded projects involve at least one eligible Canadian producer and at least one New Zealand resident producer.
Funding details
Spurred On - NZ & Canada at Passchendaele, Gibson Group $210,000 NZD/ Antica Productions $199,950 CAD
Nuclear Reaction, Rogue Productions $226,136 NZD/ Jam3 $186,500 CAD
