MUMBAI: The film industry in New Zealand finds itself in a healthier position, upping revenues by 15 per cent to $700 million in 2011.

According to New Zealand‘s screen industry manager Hamish Hill, sales from completed works rose five-fold to $116 million and investment in film productions increased by a third.

Besides increasing its production of films, the countrymen also watched more films with film revenue accrued from box office increasing by 6 per cent to $162 million. This was partially because of the number of 3D films on offer.

Hill said while not every film made in New Zealand becomes a blockbuster, they can still have a big impact on the film industry. "Over a thousand businesses, both big and small, contracted services to producers of feature film projects. Thirty-five feature films were completed in the country last year," he observed.