Screenwriters have been selected for the 2023 Tāhuna Screenwriters Residency, a collaboration between Great Southern Television and Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC).

Claire Varley, Finnius Teppett, Matasila Freshwater and Mia Maramara will spend the one month residency developing a concept for a scripted drama series to be based and produced in the Queenstown Lakes district in the second year of the residency.

“In 2023, we have a wonderfully eclectic mix of writers who we can’t wait to bring into the Tāhuna world and provide with a home and creative space for a month,” Great Southern Television CEO Philip Smith said. 

“This will allow them to fast track their ideas and launch them onto the world stage.”

QLDC film office manager Kahli Scott said the residency will give the four writers time, local connections, mentorship and inspiration to create original TV concepts set in the Queenstown Lakes district.

Promoting Queenstown Lakes as a filming destination is one of the priorities of QLDC’s economic development unit, which works to diversify the local economy, encourage higher value jobs and reduce the reliance on the tourism and construction industries.

Queenstown Lakes is well known for being a key location for the Lord of The Rings films, which were dubbed “the best unpaid advertisement that New Zealand has ever had" by a former Tourism New Zealand manager; television shows including Top of the Lake and One Lane Bridge were also filmed in the district; and it is a regular spot for advertisements.

“As the district’s film office, we recognise the value film and TV production brings to the district’s economy and community,” Philip said.

At the conclusion of the residency, the writers will pitch their concepts to a selection committee and Great Southern Television will have the first right to option chosen concepts and commission a pilot script.

Philip said he has watched the writing careers of last year’s residents flourish and the ideas they brought to the table “are alive in various forms in the global marketplace”.

PHOTO: Supplied