Editing Cinema of New Zealand (section)

==Defining New Zealand film==
In October 1978, the [[New Zealand Film Commission]] was formalised by Parliament under the [[Third National Government of New Zealand|Third National Government]].

Under Section 17 of the New Zealand Film Commission Act 1978, the functions of the commission are to:<ref name="NZFCA1978">{{cite web |url= http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1978/0061/latest/whole.html |title= New Zealand Film Commission Act 1978 No 61 (as at 1 July 2013) – New Zealand Legislation Online |publisher= Parliamentary Counsel Office |date= 1 July 2013 |access-date= 1 October 2014 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141006130817/http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1978/0061/latest/whole.html |archive-date= 6 October 2014}}</ref>
* Encourage and assist in the making, promotion, distribution and exhibition of films
* Encourage and promote cohesion with NZ film industry
* Encourage and promote maintenance of films in archives

With this Act, the New Zealand film industry became more stabilised. Section 18 of the Act, entitled "Content of Films", defines what makes "a New Zealand film". To qualify, a film must have "significant New Zealand content", judged by taking into account the following:<ref name="NZFCA1978" />
* The subject of the film (settings, characters, source material, etc.)
* The locations at which the film was made
* The nationalities or places of residence of:
** the authors, scriptwriters, composers, producers, directors, actors, technicians, editors, etc.
** the owners of any company, partnership, or joint venture involved in making the film
** the copyright holders
* The sources from which the money is derived
* The ownership and whereabouts of the equipment and technical facilities

These defining aspects have in recent years caused debate on whether films like ''[[The Frighteners]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|The Lord of the Rings]]'' qualify as New Zealand films. The impact of the [[New Zealand Film Commission]] upon the industry was significant in getting films made, coming to a definition of "New Zealand Film", and helped to establish a screen industry in New Zealand.

Most New Zealand films are made by [[independent film]]makers, often on a low budget and with sponsorship from public funding sources. Few New Zealand-made films have been specifically commissioned for the international market by international [[film distributor]]s.

Recently, international film companies have become more aware of the skills of New Zealand filmmakers, and have increasingly used the country as a shooting location and also somewhere to finish production of their feature films.

Private funding for New Zealand films has often been in short supply, although for a period in the early 1980s, tax breaks resulted in a short term production boom.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-QjgclGkfVMC&q=%C2%A01980s%2C+tax+breaks+resulted+in+a+production+boom+new+zealand+cinema&pg=PA83|title=New Zealand Film and Television: Institution, Industry and Cultural Change|last1=Dunleavy|first1=Trisha|last2=Joyce|first2=Hester|date=2012-01-08|publisher=Intellect Books|isbn=978-1-84150-609-8|language=en}}</ref> Some New Zealand directors and actors have been ignored in large part by their own country, despite success overseas, and often had to work in the US, Australia, and the UK as a result.