Competition for young filmmakers

Young filmmakers were excited to attend the inaugural NZ Youth Film Festival last year. Applications are now open for this year's competition.

Applications are now open to young filmmakers to enter the New Zealand Youth Film Festival (NZYFF) with fantastic prizes up for grabs.

This is the second year and the inaugural event last year attracted 357 entries from across New Zealand. Entry is free.

Featuring 11 categories, the festival is live-streamed and presented by The New Zealand Herald.

New Zealand youth, aged 15 to 24 years, can submit entries of any story, genre, or theme by October 27 to be in to win.

Prizes totalling $25,000 include  camera gear and a tour of the Shortland Street set.

Festival director Ryan Chow said: “It’s amazing to witness the incredible talent and creativity of our young moviemakers.

“We’re proud to offer them a platform to shine a light on their work and connect them with industry opportunities in the hopes of kick-starting their careers,” he said.

Nominees will be invited to take part in two-days of physical events in Wellington on December 7 and 8 including experiences of Lane Street Studios and Wētā FX as well as a NZ Herald live-streamed Oscars-inspired awards ceremony.

“New Zealand Youth Film Festival is a fabulous event, and the quality of filmmaking from rangatahi as young as 15 really blew

me away,” says 2022 festival judge Katie Hinsen.

“I can’t wait to know many of these folks as colleagues on the world stage — doing Aotearoa so proud.”

The Festival is sponsored by Massey University, New Zealand Herald, Warner Bros International TV Production NZ, Canon, Adobe, Wētā FX, Wellington UNESCO City of Film, What the Actual?!, South Pacific Pictures, Universal Music NZ, One Good Kiwi (One NZ), Lane Street Studios, NZ On Screen, and Auckland Studio.

New Zealand Youth Film Festival presented by The New Zealand Herald is non-profit dedicated to finding, celebrating and empowering New Zealand’s next generation of creators and movie stars.

It is a free-to-enter film festival for New Zealand youth aged 15-24 years.

Every year, it offers coveted awards and an acclaimed events programme which includes a once-in-a-lifetime red carpet awards ceremony and special industry tours.

Submit entries now for free and learn more on www.nzyff.com