Wellington has a long history of film making. The first piece of footage shot in New Zealand was in Wellington. But most will know of Sir Peter Jackson, who kickstarted the Wellington film industry with ‘The Lord of the Rings’ in the early 2000s. The industry has come a long way since then. In 2023, the screen, creative, and digital sectors contributed $1.52 billion to the regional GDP.
Research and innovation
It’s not all Hollywood blockbusters. Victoria University of Wellington — Te Herenga Waka and Massey University offer top-tier training for the next generation of filmmakers. Institutions like the Miramar Creative Centre and the National Academy of Screen Arts let students learn from those in the film, animation, and game design industries.
In 2021, Victoria University’s Film School was named one of the 20 best international film schools. While the Academy was established to immerse students, researchers, and stakeholders in the screen industry.
Additionally, Victoria University has the largest computer graphics research group in the southern hemisphere. Its strengths are in real-time computer graphics, virtual reality, and character animation.
“This is a city that can inspire others. It can drive a higher level of aspiration in the people that come here.”
A connected industry
Wellington has a large and growing film, television, animation, gaming, and visual effects industry. The most well-known is award-winning special effects and prop company Wētā Workshop. It’s known for blockbuster films like ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Avatar,’ among many others.
Director Sir Peter Jackson still calls Wellington home. He has recently used AI to restore 53-year-old mono recordings for his documentary series ‘The Beatles: Get Back’. The series includes never-before-seen footage of the band, restored in Wellington.
The Māoriland Film Festival, the largest Indigenous film festival globally, takes place in the Wellington region each year.
Additionally, the New Zealand Game Developers Conference held in Wellington provides a unique opportunity for the industry to come together and speak about visual storytelling and interactive experiences.
How we can help
Business Events Wellington’s networks can connect you to researchers and experts in these fields. The team can also support an international conference bid. Wellington is a super-connected, collaborative city, making it easy to tap into local experts.
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