The Film Intensive is a place of learning, as well as an experience, and an experiment devoted to a deep connection to self and to material. It is based on the belief that each of us filmmakers has a sacred psyche that dreams to express itself poetically, humorously, dramatically through visual story telling. We want to create a space where risk and ambition are playmates, honoured and respected. A place where curiosity and inquiry is never ending and persistence and hard work shape intuition and outcomes.

It is the 2025 edition of the original 2023 A Wave in the Ocean pop up film school. It will be divided into two parts.
The first part is a 15 week intensive full time workshop programme aimed at writer/directors. Part of the application will be the submission of one or two short film ideas. During these 15 weeks you will be developing your idea into a script and receive tuition in film making with emphasis on story, dialogue, improvisation, rehearsal and filmmaking skills.
For the second part each participant will be mentored and funded to make a 10 to 15 minute short film. (The New Zealand Film Commission has made a commitment in principle to provide funds for the short films, this will be confirmed when the NZFC draws up its 2025/26 budget.)

Part 1: 15 weeks 2025 - a 15 week full time Workshop Programme in Wellington April - July 2025 (provisional dates). This includes a 2 week break where participants are able to return home but will still be required to complete work. There will also be a one week residential writing workshop held out of Wellington.
Part 2: July 2025 - August 2026. Participants are mentored through development and production of a short film with a budget of NZ$100k. The films are to be delivered before the end of 2026. You may finish this part in two or three months but you have up to a year.

The course is part of a philosophy of a generous world - it's a gift. Each participant will receive a stipend during Part 1 the workshop programme. A Relocation and Out of Town allowance will be available for people moving to Wellington. AWITO will also contribute to childcare costs on a case by case basis.

The Intensive is the brain child of, me, Jane Campion. I'm the Artistic Director of the initiative and will be participating across the whole programme with co-director Philippa Campbell, Brita McVeigh and Eloise Veber. I will invite one or two significant international guests and NZ leading professionals to join us, to inspire and share practice across various aspects of the programme.

We know there are filmmakers from across the world who are interested in A Wave in the Ocean. We would like to explore opportunities to work together in the future but for now AWITO 2025 is only available for New Zealand Citizens and Permanent Residents in accordance with the generous funding from the New Zealand Film Commission.
AWITO 2 is pitched as the equivalent of a post graduate course, sorry, it's not for beginners. Participants will need to have made serious steps in their filmmaking journey and be ambitious for their on-going careers, we are looking for people with energy and ambition.
As a rough guide you will need to have made at least one short drama film as director that speaks to your potential and capacity, if not more films. Experience as a documentary filmmaker is considered equivalent, you will need to have made at least one, if not more, documentaries. The Intensive is also open to people who have directed one feature film, long-form TV drama or web series, but want an opportunity to explore more deeply, change direction and gain skills.
It is also possible to apply if you have other equivalent artistic experience in disciplines such as directing theatre or writing fiction and have been published or have perhaps completed a visual arts degree but now want to make film a priority.
It's important that you have a high level of obsession/passion for film or other visual story telling such as series drama and that filmmaking is something you want to exclusively focus on and make your career. You need to, want to connect and communicate with an audience.
You need to be highly motivated, available to fully participate in the programme, able to write at least a short film, be excited about being part of a FILM HUB where crewing on other people's exercises will be required, open to feedback, and come with a positive and motivated attitude.

Particular focus for selection will be on your one or two short film ideas no longer than one A4 page each. These synopses will be a key component of each successful application. (A.I. is not permitted to be used. We are using WITCHES a unique A.I. detection system.)
Selection will be genre-neutral, every genre demands intelligent agile filmmaking, we will lean towards personal stories with a distinctive voice and elevated genre. We're looking for people who have something to say and a way of saying it, with strong original concepts that are entertaining and fresh.
At least 50% of the AWITO 2 cohort will be female-identifying and we are committed to inclusive processes that support Māori and other minority ethnic writer/directors.
A final in person interview process with up to 20 applicants will decide the 6 places. Applicants will be given up to three short stories to read and discuss at the interview.
We are aiming at fairness and creating opportunity yet we don't doubt that all of our applicants are talented wonderful humans with infinite capacities.

Will AWITO help me find accomodation in Wellington? No.

Will I have time to do other work during the workshop programme? No, this is an intense fulltime commitment, including homework.

Will I have to pay tax on my stipend? No, because it is for educational purposes it is tax free.

Will I need a car in Wellington? Not essential but definately useful. We don't yet know whereabouts the Film Hub will be.

What technical equipment will we use during the course? Black Magic Cameras and Da Vinci editing software. Tutorials in both will be provided at the beginning of the programme and each participant is given Da Vinci software.

Can my short film ideas and dialogue samples be in languages other than English? You may have dialogue in other languages but you will need to write your samples and ideas in English.

Is the NZFC involved in the selection? No, there will be a panel of diverse independent practitioners and artist selectors, and Jane will curate the final group alongside Philippa and a leading NZ filmmaker.

"A Wave in the Ocean is challenging, and profound. It is a place of deep learning - where the practitioner is asked to explore and examine not only their work - but themselves. To be given the opportunity to develop as an artist, and then put this work into practice - is a gift."

"Throughout my AWITO journey I never felt I was being directed or moulded to be a certain type of storyteller, rather, nurtured and celebrated to explore the filmmaker I inherently am. So speak from your soul, not what you think people want to hear."

"Bring your authentic self to the application process. I found that what Jane, Philippa and the AWITO panel really wanted was to understand who I was and what stories I wanted to tell."

"Answer the application questions from a truthful place for you, don’t say what you think the selectors want to hear. The course will help you find a deeper truth as a filmmaker, so get used to listening to that inner voice from the very beginning."

12:30pm, Tuesday 29th of October
Please submit your application in good time. The portal will automatically reject all applications that are not completed by the deadline.