* The New Zealand Film Commission spent over $145,000 for four staff members to attend the Cannes Film Market.
* Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith has expressed concern over the spending’s appropriateness.
* The Film Commission defended the trip, stating operational costs were lower compared to last year.
The New Zealand Film Commission is in the spotlight after reportedly spending more than $145,000 for four staff members to attend France’s Cannes Film Market.
But the Film Commission has defended the trip, saying it reduced its spending compared to last year’s excursion.
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith at Parliament today said the spending, revealed in a New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union Official Information Act request, seemed to be of concern.
“It does seem excessive, but I’ll have to get the details,” Goldsmith said.
“It’s not unreasonable, I would have thought, to go to international film festivals but obviously spending needs to be appropriate.”
This afternoon, the Film Commission said it made concerted efforts this year to minimise travel, accommodation and other operational costs.
“For example, the total spend on plane fares in 2024 was $20,632, down from $31,348.01 in 2023 with the same number of staff attending.”
The Film Commission said the $24,525.36 spent on food and drink included catering for seven events.
“NZFC staff hosted or co-hosted 18 onsite and 12 offsite networking events for New Zealand industry in Cannes.”
It said these activities included hundreds of meetings NZFC staff undertook over 10 days and were critical to creating opportunities for filmmakers and promoting New Zealand films.
“Despite this extensive activity, our operational costs this year were lower than last year.”
The Film Commission added: “We welcome public scrutiny of how taxpayer funds are used and remain committed to responsible, effective spending that benefits New Zealand’s screen industry.”
An industry source said Cannes was a crucial film event.
“New Zealand has been attending for many, many years and had various successful experiences.”
The source said Cannes was a crucial launching pad for many in the industry, and virtually everybody who attended was expected to work.
They also said the food and drink tab might have included money spent hosting guests.
Gabriel Sherman (left), Maria Bakalova, Ali Abbasi, Sebastian Stan and Martin Donovan at the premiere for The Apprentice during the 77th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes earlier this year. Photo / Michael Buckner, Variety via Getty Images
But the Act Party blasted the Cannes trip.
Act’s Arts, Culture and Heritage spokesman Todd Stephenson said he questioned the value of funding the Film Commission at all after the trip to Cannes.
“In May, at the height of a cost-of-living crisis and when New Zealanders were reading apocalyptic headlines about austerity in Wellington, four Film Commission staff were enjoying a six-figure junket in Cannes,” Stephenson added.
It has also come under fire for paying former boss David Strong well over half a million dollars in leave and severance payments after just nine months in the role.
The Cannes Film Market, or Marché du Film, said it hosted the largest international gathering of professionals in the film industry.
It is held in conjunction with the Cannes Film Festival.
