New Zealand Eyes Bollywood Boom: NZFC Rolls Out Big Incentives to Woo Indian Filmmakers

By ultapaltakhabar Nov 23, 2025 0

NZ Film Commission slashes costs, revamps co-production rules & makes a bold pitch to Bollywood, Tollywood and Indian OTT giants.

New Zealand is trying to charm India once again—and this time, they’re coming armed with a bigger rebate, smoother rules, friendlier processes, and a renewed hunger for Bollywood. The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) has officially kicked off a serious push into the Indian entertainment market, unveiling a brand-new incentive package set to roll out from January 1, 2026. And if insiders at the WAVES Film Bazaar in Goa are to be believed, this could spark a major shift in where Indian filmmakers shoot their next blockbusters.

NZFC CEO Annie Murray, speaking exclusively to Variety before the event, revealed that New Zealand is completely reshaping its International Screen Production Rebate—an update influenced heavily by feedback from Indian producers. The goal? To reclaim the attention of Bollywood, Tollywood, and India’s booming OTT ecosystem.

And honestly, the timing couldn’t be better.

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New Zealand’s New Rebate Shocked Everyone — Minimum Spend Drops From NZ$15M to Just NZ$4M

One of the biggest headlines coming out of the announcement was the dramatic drop in minimum spend requirements. The threshold for feature films, TV, and streaming projects is now NZ$4 million ($2.2 million) across the board. This is a significant slash from the earlier NZ$15 million ($8.4 million) mandate for feature films.

For context: only the biggest Bollywood productions could previously qualify. Now, small and mid-budget Indian filmmakers—who were previously priced out—can finally throw their hat into the ring.

Murray confirmed that the new model opens the gates wide for independent Indian films, American-Indian collaborations, and regional cinema across languages.

No More Above-The-Line Restrictions — Directors, Stars & Writers Win Big

There’s more good news for big names.

New Zealand has removed the above-the-line cap on key crew, such as:

Directors
Producers
Screenwriters
Principal cast

This cap was a long-standing complaint for studios and producers, especially in Bollywood, where top talent costs are high. Murray admitted bluntly: the restriction kept “some productions from coming to New Zealand—or returning to New Zealand.”

With that excuse gone, the playing field just got a lot smoother.

Big Productions Get Bigger Rewards: Extra 5% Rebate Now Easier to Access.

The NZFC also dropped the threshold for the additional 5% uplift from:

NZ$30 million → NZ$20 million

This means big-banner films—think pan-Indian spectacles, star-driven Bollywood blockbusters, or Disney+ Hotstar/Netflix originals—will now lock in a juicy 25% rebate if they cross the targeted budget.

Even post-production and VFX projects now qualify for a 5% bonus, making the PDV rebate a handsome 25%.

VFX-heavy Indian films (like Brahmāstra, Kalki 2898 AD, Game Changer, etc.) will undoubtedly take notice.

NZFC Delegation Arrives in India Again—Third Visit in 12 Months

If you thought this was a one-off marketing trip, you’re wrong.

The NZFC sent a 13-member delegation to Goa, including top executives:

Philippa Mossman (Head of International Attraction & Marketing)
Chris Payne (Deputy CEO & Head of Incentives & Co-Productions)
Te O Kahurangi Waaka (Chief Advisor, Māori Strategy)

Their agenda:

Revive the India–New Zealand co-production treaty, which has shockingly been used only once in 15 years—by Pan Nalin’s Beyond The Known World.

Clearly, New Zealand doesn’t want that embarrassing statistic to continue.

Bollywood Already Loves NZ — ‘Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai’ Still Echoes 25 Years Later

Annie Murray herself recalled the classic Hrithik Roshan–Ameesha Patel blockbuster Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, which was partly filmed in New Zealand, resulted in a massive tourism boom from Indian travellers.

She also attended Farah Khan’s recent Auckland screening of the film—another sign that NZ is using nostalgia strategically to rekindle Bollywood partnerships.

Tollywood Already Ahead — ‘Kannappa’ & ‘Game Changer’ Shot in New Zealand

Interestingly, two recent Telugu movies—Kannappa and Game Changer—shot extensively in New Zealand but did not use the co-production treaty. They simply came as inbound productions.

NZFC hopes the enhanced rebate structure will tempt future South Indian projects to officially co-produce, which could unlock even higher financial benefits.

Chris Payne Explains the Money: Co-Productions Can Score 40% Cash Rebate + Funding.

For official co-productions, Payne broke down the real numbers:

Up to NZ$2.5 million ($1.4M) in NZFC funding
40% cash rebate on NZ expenditure
Must maintain balanced spend, creative input & financing between both countries

For non-co-productions (the simple inbound model):

20% rebate,
25% rebate for budgets exceeding NZ$20 million

Even standalone PDV work can qualify with a budget as low as NZ$250,000 ($140,000).

That’s huge for Indian OTT series, animated films, and VFX-heavy titles.

Māori Cultural Collaboration Becomes a Highlight

Te O Kahurangi Waaka emphasized a cultural angle many Indian filmmakers may not yet know:

Collaboration with Māori communities is not only encouraged—it’s an integral part of the production culture.

She shared how the team behind Kannappa incorporated Māori dance and cultural elements, facilitated by local producer Piripi Curtis.

For Indian filmmakers who often seek meaningful local engagement, this could be a creative goldmine.

New Flight Route Coming: Direct India–New Zealand Flights by 2027

Perhaps the biggest convenience update of all:

Direct flights between India and New Zealand are expected by early 2027.

No more long layovers in Singapore.

No more multi-stop transit nightmares with equipment.

For large film crews, this is a logistical game-changer.

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NZ’s Film Infrastructure Is Ready for Bigger Crews

Philippa Mossman highlighted the country’s production backbone:

Auckland & Wellington: Main crew hubs
Wellington: Home of Peter Jackson’s and James Cameron’s companies
Queenstown & Christchurch: Additional production bases
Skilled crews known for “wrapping around the creative vision of producers and directors”

To sweeten the deal, NZFC even offers: