David Madigan, former technicians guild president, is the new chair of Film New Zealand, which is responsible for marketing the country's filmmaking talents to the world.

Elected deputy chair was Sue Thompson, ceo of Peter Jackson's Film Unit and Park Road Post and chair for four years up to when the organisation was recently reconstituted as a trust.

The first meeting was also attended by Judith McCann, who took up her role as ceo this month. The former New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) and South Australian Film Corporation ceo relocated from Canada to take up the job.

The other trustees are producers Trishia Downie and Don Reynolds, line producers Murray Francis and Chloe Smith, Peter Avery of FilmVenture Taranaki but representing all regional film offices, Investment New Zealand investment manager for screen production Paul Voigt, and current NZFC ceo Ruth Harley.

McCann's first tasks will be to host the second annual forum of regional film offices, create training opportunities, achieve a stable funding base and plan NZ's presence at several upcoming markets.