Previous Winners
We love all of the films that make it into our programme each year, but we also want to recognize those that stand out. Whether it is excellence in a particular category like directing and acting or outstanding overall achievement as exemplified by our Best NZ Film and Best International Film winners, these films all present something special. Since 2012, our Best NZ Film winner has been eligible for the Academy Awards®, giving Kiwi short film makers a shot at an Oscar®. Since 2017 the Best International Film award category has also contained the honour of qualification for the Oscars®.
Award Winners 2020
| Category |
Person or Team |
Film |
| NZ On Air Best Music Video |
Emma Mortimer & Dylan Pharazyn |
Career by Wax Chattels |
| People’s Choice Award |
Jake Mokomoko & Claire Varley |
Hāngi Pants |
| Panavision Best Cinematographer |
Fred Renata |
Daddy’s Girl (Kōtiro) |
| Toi Whakaari Best Actor |
Margaret Sydenham |
Hot Chocolate
|
| Final Draft Best Screenplay |
Kathryn Burnett & James Cunningham |
Prickly Jam
|
| DEGNZ Best Editor |
Dylan Pharazyn |
Career by Wax Chattels |
| DEGNZ Best Director |
Isaac Knights-Washbourn |
Money Honey
|
| Best International Film |
Erenik Beqiri, Olivier Berlemont, Émilie Dubois, Ermir Keta & Amantia Peza |
The Van |
| Department of Post Best New Zealand Film |
Tweedie Waititi & Cian Elyse White |
Daddy’s Girl (Kōtiro) |
Award Winners 2019
| Category |
Person or Team |
Film |
| NZ On Air Best Music Video |
Alexander Gandar, Tom Augustine & Amanda Jane Robinson |
One By the Venom – Finn Andrews |
| People’s Choice Award |
Yves Piat, Damien Megherbi & Justin Pechberty |
Nefta Football Club |
| Panavision Best Cinematographer |
Maria Inés Manchego |
Ani |
| Toi Whakaari Best Actor |
Margaret Sydenham |
Hush |
| Final Draft Best Screenplay |
Judith Cowley |
Walk a Mile |
| DEGNZ Best Editor |
Annie Collins |
Rū |
| DEGNZ Best Director |
Armağan Ballantyne |
Hush |
| Best International Film |
Ithaca Yixian Deng & Hao Zheng |
The Chef |
| Department of Post Best New Zealand Film |
Sarah Cook & Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu |
Ani |
Award Winners 2018
| Category |
Person or Team |
Film |
| NZ On Air Best Music Video |
Alexander Gandar & Kate Moses |
Laugh it Off – Chelsea Jade |
| Calibrate Legal / Patrick McGrath Barrister People’s Choice Award |
Arielle Sullivan & Kyan Krumdieck |
Repugnant |
| NZFC Special Jury Prize |
Simeon Duncombe for Production Design |
Toilet |
| Panavision Best Cinematographer |
Ian McCarroll |
The Brother |
| Toi Whakaari Best Actor |
Villa Junior Lemanu |
My Friend Michael Jones |
| Final Draft Best Screenplay |
Eldon Booth, Ian Leaupepe & Samson Rambo |
My Friend Michael Jones |
| DEGNZ Best Editor |
Betsy Bauer |
Cleaver |
| DEGNZ Best Director |
Summer Agnew |
The Brother |
| SAE Best International Film |
Sorcha Bacon & Harry Lighton |
Wren Boys (UK) |
| Department of Post Best NZ Film |
Alex Lovell, Eldon Booth, Ian Leaupepe & Samson Rambo |
My Friend Michael Jones |
Award Winners 2017
| Category |
Person or Team |
Film |
| NZ On Air Best Music Video |
THUNDERLIPS & Candlelit Pictures |
Turtles – LarzRanda |
| NZFC Best Student Film |
Amberley Jo Aumua |
Waiting |
| WatchMe People’s Choice Award |
Zoe McIntosh |
The World in Your Window |
| Panavision Best Cinematographer |
Andrew McGeorge |
Do No Harm |
| Toi Whakaari Best Actor |
Marion Prebble |
Baby? |
| Final Draft Best Screenplay |
Lauren Porteous |
Motel |
| DEGNZ Best Editor |
Tom Eagles |
Do No Harm |
| DEGNZ Best Director |
Zoe McIntosh |
The World in Your Window |
| Showtools Special Jury Prize |
Tim Wong |
Do No Harm (Stunt Coordination) |
| Best International Film |
Peter Ghesquiere, Hendrik Verthe, Kobe Van Steenberghe & Frank Van Passel |
Downside Up |
| Best New Zealand Film |
Phil Brough, Matt Heath & Orlando Stewart |
Fire in Cardboard City |
Award Winners 2016
| Category |
Person or Team |
Film |
| Lightbox Best Film |
Georgiana Plaister & Ned Wenlock |
Spring Jam |
| Final Draft Best Screenplay |
Hugh Calveley |
Cradle |
| DEGNZ Best Editor |
Bryan Shaw |
Shout at the Ground |
| StarNow Best Actor |
Katlyn Wong |
Wait |
| Best International Film |
Tim Ellrich |
Tim Ellrich, Die Badewanne (The Bathtub) |
| DEGNZ Best Director |
Ned Wenlock |
Spring Jam |
| Panavision Best Cinematographer |
Simon Baumfield |
Feeder |
| NZFC Special Jury Prize |
Yamin Tun |
Wait |
| Best Music Video |
THUNDERLIPS & Candlelit Pictures |
Breathe by Sheep, Dog & Wolf |
| People’s Choice Award |
James Cunningham & Oliver Hilbert |
Kitten Witch
|
Award Winners 2015
| Category |
Person or Team |
Film |
| Lightbox Best Film |
Alyx Duncan |
The Tide Keeper |
| Final Draft Best Screenplay |
Ryan Heron & Guy Montgomery |
Return |
| DEGNZ Best Editor |
James Cunningham |
Accidents, Blunders and Calamities |
| StarNow Best Actor |
Tina Cleary |
Cub |
| Best International Film |
Jonathan Stein |
Out of the Village |
| DEGNZ Best Director |
Alyx Duncan |
The Tide Keeper |
| Panavision Best Cinematographer |
Chris Pryor & Ben Montgomery |
The Tide Keeper |
| NZFC Special Jury Prize |
Mhairead Connor |
UFO |
| Best Music Video |
THUNDERLIPS |
Emily by The Eversons |
| Best Student Film |
Kyan Krumdieck & Annabelle Dick |
The Grind |
| People’s Choice Award |
James Cunningham & Oliver Hilbert |
Accidents, Blunders and Calamities |
Award Winners 2014
| Category |
Person or Team |
Film |
| Show Me Shorts Best Film |
Julia Parnell & Matthew Saville |
Dive |
| Best International Film |
Marcel Barelli |
Vigia (Lookout) |
| DEGNZ Best Director |
Hamish Bennett |
Ross & Beth |
| StarNow Best Actor |
Jackie van Beek |
Uphill |
| Final Draft Best Screenplay |
Matthew Saville |
Dive |
| Panavision Best Cinematographer |
Ginny Loane |
Helmut Makes a Quilt |
| Best Editor |
Annie Collins |
Eleven |
| Best Music Video |
Alix Whittaker & THUNDERLIPS |
Glare by Sheep, Dog & Wolf |
| NZFC Special Jury Prize |
Paul Neason & Steffen Kreft |
Queenie |
| Student Film, Notable Mention: |
Yarden Elyashiv |
Bars and Tone |
| Wendy’s People’s Choice Award |
Alex Clark, Charlie Bleakley & Cohen Holloway |
Coconut |
Award Winners 2013
| Category |
Person or Team |
Film |
| Rush Munro’s Best Film |
Matt Heath, Anna Geddes, Cass Donaldson & Joe Lonie |
Honk If You’re Horny |
| Panavision Best Cinematographer |
John Chrisstoffels |
Here Be Monsters |
| Mexicali Fresh Best Student Film |
Walter Lawry |
Blind Mice |
| StarNow Best Actor |
Andy Anderson |
Honk If You’re Horny |
| Script to Screen & NZ Writers Guild Best Screen Play |
Nic Gorman |
Here Be Monsters |
| SDGNZ Best Director |
Joe Lonie |
Honk If Your Horny |
| SDGNZ Best Editor |
Thomas Gleeson |
Home |
| NZFC Special Jury Prize |
Thomas Gleeson |
Home |
| Best International Film |
Michael Rittmannsberger & Simon Baumgartner |
Abgestempelt (Punched) |
| RPM Best Colourist |
Jon Newell, Chris Rudkin & Erin Woolhouse |
Here Be Monsters |
| People’s Choice Award |
Ben Woollen & Scott Granville |
Serve and Protect |
Award Winners 2012
| Category |
Person or Team |
Film |
| Show Me Shorts Best Film |
Matt Noonan & Chelsea Winstanley |
Night Shift |
| Panavision Best Cinematographer |
Ari Wegner |
Night Shift |
| Best Student Film |
Lauren Eisinger & Katherine France |
Kia Kaha |
| StarNow Best Actor |
Anapela Polataivao |
Night Shift |
| Script to Screen Best Screen Play |
Zia Mandviwalla |
Night Shift |
| SDGNZ Best Director |
Sam Kelly |
Lambs |
| SDGNZ Best Editor |
Jeff Hurrell |
Lambs |
| Special Jury Prize |
Richard Mans’ technical accomplishment |
Abiogenesis |
| Best International Film |
Jannine Barnes |
The Wilding |
Award Winners 2011
| Category |
Person or Team |
Film |
| Kodak Best Film |
Jack Woon |
The Great Barrier |
| Panavision Best Cinematographer |
Nick Matthews |
The Kiss |
| Best Student Film |
Jonah Musitano |
Maurice |
| StarNow Best Actor |
Nicole Gulasekharam |
The Kiss |
| Script to Screen Best Screen Play |
Tammy Davis |
Ebony Society |
| SDGNZ Best Director |
Jack Woon |
The Great Barrier |
| SDGNZ Best Editor |
Lewis Albrow |
3 Hours |
| Special Jury Prize |
Peter Neville, Lucas Bone & Luke Eve for the musical score |
Cockroach |
Award Winners 2010
| Category |
Person or Team |
Film |
| Kodak Best Film |
Felicity Letcher & Rachel Lorimer |
This is Her |
| Panavision Best Cinematographer |
Jac Fitzgerald |
Choice Night |
| Best Student Film |
Zyra McAuliffe |
Four |
| StarNow Best Actor |
Cameron Rhodes |
Brave Donkey |
| Script to Screen Best Screen Play |
Kate McDermott |
This is Her |
| SDGNZ Best Director |
Mark Albiston & Louis Sutherland |
The Six Dollar Fifty Man |
| SDGNZ Best Editor |
Hayley Lake |
Make Me |
| Special Jury Prize |
Kurt Filiga |
Kurt-E: In My Blood |
Award Winners 2009
| Category |
Person or Team |
Film |
| Kodak Best Film |
Jackie van Beek |
Just Like the Others |
| Panavision Best Cinematographer |
Rewa Harre |
Coffee & Allah |
| Best Student Film |
Michael Humphrey |
The Big Happiness |
| StarNow Best Actor |
Arna-Maria Winchester |
Mixed Bag |
| NZ Writer’s Guild Best Screen Play |
Waine C. Paris |
Kill the Alphabet |
| SDGNZ Best Director |
James Cunningham |
Poppy |
| SDGNZ Best Editor |
Paul Swadel & James Cunningham |
Poppy |
| Special Jury Prize |
James Cunningham, Stephen Fleet & Sonya Hsu-Ya Chang for animation |
Poppy |
Award Winners 2008
| Category |
Person or Team |
Film |
| Show Me Shorts Best Film |
Jeff & Phill Simmonds |
Noise Control |
| Best Student Film |
Cameron Edser |
Animal Instincts |
| Atlab Best Technical Contribution |
Roseanne Liang for editing |
Take 3 |
| Panavision Special Jury Prize |
Bruno du Bois |
Serial Killer |
Award Winners 2007
| Category |
Person or Team |
Film |
| Show Me Shorts Best Film |
Jeff & Phill Simmonds |
A Very Nice Honeymoon |
| Best Student Film |
Chris Payne |
Embers |
| Atlab Best Technical Contribution |
Richard Harling for cinematography |
Embers |
| Panavision Special Jury Prize |
Chris Payne |
Embers |
Award Winners 2006
| Category |
Person or Team |
Film |
| Jameson Best Film |
Jannine Barnes |
Ray |
| CityMix Best Student Film |
Kate Bradbury & Bill Morris |
Mad Mac and the Fat Ugly Snail |
| Best Technical Contribution |
Suren Perera |
Morning Star |
| Panavision Special Jury Prize |
Skye Wansey for her acting |
A Special Talent |
