Film Commission makes own decisions, Govt says
The Government has found no fault with the funding of a Dame Jacinda Ardern documentary, saying the Film Commission can make its own decisions.
On Saturday, the commission said it was putting $800,000 towards a documentary about the former prime minister.
In a statement, it said the documentary explores the rise of violent extremism and online hate in New Zealand, while covering Ardern's leadership.
Reacting yesterday, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith said the commission was a crown entity that operated at arm’s length from the government.
“Any decisions about programming or specific projects are operational decisions for the Film Commission to make,” he said.
When it comes to funding political projects, he said, there was an expectation that over time the commission would demonstrate that it was ‘even-handed’.
According to the commission, the documentary was not authorised or even endorsed by Ardern - and she has no editorial involvement.
“It is important to note this is not a biopic. Rather, the documentary explores the rise of violent extremism and online hate in New Zealand, following Jacinda Ardern's leadership trajectory as an example of how these forces played out through one of the most tumultuous periods in modern times.
“The documentary records a period of New Zealand's history."
The documentary is being produced by Emma Slade of Firefly Films, with the writer-directors Pietra Brettkelly and Justin Pemberton.
The documentary is expected to cost around $3.2 million to make, with $800,000 of that coming from the commission.