At Vista Foundation, we're passionate about fostering talent and innovation within the New Zealand film industry. Back in April 2022, as part of our collaboration with the Compton School, we brought together a dozen cinema exhibitors to get a sneak peek at eight film projects then in development as part of the programme.
At Vista Foundation, we're passionate about fostering talent and innovation within the New Zealand film industry. Back in April 2022, as part of our collaboration with the Compton School, we brought together a dozen cinema exhibitors to get a sneak peek at eight film projects then in development as part of the programme.
This was part of a training programme we were running with the support of Vista Foundation. The programme was focused on helping participants develop the pitch and marketing strategy for their films. Little did we know, it would also provide a fascinating glimpse into the future box office success of one particular film: Tinā.
Based on the filmmakers' pitches, these experienced cinema exhibitors were asked to review and vote on the eight projects. The results were compelling. Tinā, the debut feature from talented Samoan filmmaker Miki Magasiva, resonated powerfully with the exhibitors, earning the top spot by a significant margin.
The story doesn't end there. Three months later, we repeated a similar exercise, this time engaging a group of film distributors and sales agents. They were tasked with ranking the same eight film projects based on Creative Potential, Commercial Potential, and Strength of Pitch. Remarkably, Tinā once again emerged as the top-ranked film across all three categories.
Fast forward three years, and the initial enthusiasm has translated into undeniable commercial success. Tinā, released by Madman Entertainment, has just surpassed a phenomenal $6 million at the New Zealand box office, cementing its place as the sixth highest-grossing New Zealand film of all time – and it's still going strong!
Furthermore, screenings in Australia have already generated an impressive $2,137,082, hinting at similar success across the Tasman.
The journey of Tinā serves as a remarkable demonstration of the power of a 'wise crowd' in identifying films with exceptional potential, in this case, nearly three years before its theatrical release. Exhibitor and distributor insights underscore the value of industry collaboration and expert recognition of commercially viable storytelling.
Congratulations to Miki Magasiva and the entire team behind Tinā on this well-deserved achievement. It's a testament to their vision and the insightful feedback provided early in their journey.
We at Vista Foundation are incredibly proud to have played a small part in this story, highlighting the importance of supporting and empowering filmmakers in Aotearoa. The success of Tinā is a win for the entire New Zealand film industry, and we look forward to witnessing and supporting many more such triumphs in the future.