NZ Web Fest

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Submissions for #NZWF26 open on 1 February.

Since 2015 NZ Web Fest has curated and celebrated online entertainment. Since 2017 the festival has been a proud participant in the Web Series World Cup. In 2023 the festival became a participant in the inaugural edition of the Audio Fiction World Cup.

We've simplified submissions by using open categories only, but will make selections and present awards in separate NZ and International categories as we usually do.

#NZWF26 will present awards.

We expect to offer separate NZ and International awards in all categories, subject to a minimum of three shows being selected in the category.

Our award categories are:

Web Series
Best Editing (Factual series)
Best Writing (Factual series)
Best Directing (Factual series)
Best Score (Narrative series)
Best Cinematography (Narrative series)
Best Editing (Narrative series)
Best Ensemble Cast (Narrative series)
Best Actor (Narrative series)
Best Writing (Narrative series)
Best Directing (Narrative series)
Best Animation / Puppetry Series
Best Pilot
Best Factual Series
Best Narrative Series

Podcasts
Best Host (Actual Play)
Best Show (Actual Play)
Best Sound (Fiction Podcast)
Best Score (Fiction Podcast)
Best Voice Acting (Fiction Podcast)
Best Ensemble Cast (Fiction Podcast)
Best Writing (Fiction Podcast)
Best Directing (Fiction Podcast)
Best Concept (Non-Fiction Podcast)
Best Writing (Non-Fiction Podcast)
Best Directing (Non-Fiction Podcast)
Best Actual Play Podcast
Best Actual Play Video Podcast
Best Standalone Fiction Podcast
Best Series Fiction Podcast
Best Non-Fiction Podcast

Short Films
Best Cinematography (Documentary)
Best Cinematography (Narrative Fiction)
Best Editing (Documentary)
Best Editing (Narrative Fiction)
Best Performance (Narrative Fiction)
Best Writing (Documentary)
Best Writing (Narrative Fiction)
Best Directing (Documentary)
Best Directing (Narrative Fiction)
Best Student Short Film
Best Short (Documentary)
Best Short (Narrative Fiction)
Best Music Video

As well as juried awards we present direct selection awards to our partner festivals, and Alum awards, honouring those who've supported NZ Web Fest over several years.

*** Please note ***
We DO NOT offer fee waivers or discounts, except as part of arrangements with partner festivals. Don't waste your time asking :)

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. By submitting to the NZ Web Fest, you:
a. acknowledge you have read, understood and agreed to these terms & conditions
b. confirm you own or hold appropriate rights to all content submitted, including licensed material eg music.
c. release NZ Web Fest from any and all claims and/or liabilities arising from NZ Web Fest's use of material submitted under (5) below

2. Submissions made to NZ Web Fest are valid on receipt by NZ Web Fest or its agents of all required material and payment of the submission fee(s), if any.

3. All submissions not in English, to the short film and web series categories, must be subtitled in English. Podcast submissions are accepted in English only.

4. Submission does not guarantee selection. Submissions are final. They may not be withdrawn, and fees are not refundable.

5. By submitting you grant NZ Web Fest non-exclusive rights to:
a. use still images and clips of up to 30 seconds each from your submission(s) for the purposes of documenting and promoting NZ Web Fest
b. make your submission (in whole or part) available to audiences to listen to/watch during NZ Web Fest

6. NZ Web Fest decisions on selection, awards nomination and judging are final and binding.

7. In the event of any dispute with NZ Web Fest, NZ laws shall apply.

8. PLEASE also read category-specific T&C in the list CATEGORIES AND FEES

Overall Rating

Quality

Value

Communication

Hospitality

Networking

The Storyteller Squad

We had so much fun at our first NZ WebFest! The organizers and all the other creators we met through the festival were super friendly and focussed on celebrating everyone's work. Highly recommend this festival if you're looking for a nice chance to meet people from all over who are making the same sort of work as you.

November 2025

Helpful

Response from festival:

Thanks, guys, and congrats on a successful if virtual trip to NZ. All the best for whatever comes next :)
Jayde Hudson

NZWebfest was a wonderful festival experience. Very well organised, responsive, and welcoming. Being recognised with Best Writing (Short Fiction Film) for 'Constance' was the icing on the cake. Ngā mihi nui!

November 2025

Helpful

Response from festival:

Thanks for being part of it all, and congrats again on the win.
All the best for your future projects :)
Shannon Fewster

NZ Webfest makes you feel included in the events no matter where in the world you are. Lots of communication and a festive atmosphere.

November 2025

Helpful

Response from festival:

Hi Shannon
Thankyou!
Congrats on getting LASS on to the winner's podium again!
Hope your other projects are all going brilliantly :)
Julia Neumann

Loved my first experience of NZ Webfest and highly recommend!

November 2025

Helpful

Response from festival:

Hi Julia
Congrats on the success of RAW, and we hope to see it doing well elsewhere too :)
Sally McLean

In the ten years I have been submitting digital series to festivals, I can say, hand on heart, that NZ WebFest is one of the standout festivals on the circuit. You are made to feel welcome from the minute you make contact with Keith and the team, and the festival ensures that everyone - whether you can be there in person or not - feels valued and included, from selection through to the final awards ceremonies (one held online for those who are overseas, the other in person for all those in New Zealand, which is amazing and, as far as I know, unique to this fest). Having online panels and screenings was also great for those of us who couldn't be in Auckland and made it feel even more the international event that it is. I am so grateful to have had work in this festival's line up several times over the past decade, including this year, and thank Keith and the NZ Web Fest team again for their amazing support of creators of web series and now short film and podcasts. 10/10 no notes ;)

November 2025

Helpful

Response from festival:

Hi Sally
Congrats on (another!) win.
Thanks for being part of it all over the last several years, and we look forward to seeing what you come up with next :)

Add to List

Dates & Deadlines

January 31, 2026
Opening Date
March 31, 2026
Earlybird Deadline
May 31, 2026
Regular Deadline
July 31, 2026
Late Deadline
August 31, 2026
Final Deadline
September 8, 2026
Notification Date
November 6 – 16, 2026
Event Date

Categories & Fees

Podcast - Actual Play/TTRPG Audio
Open to submissions from ALL territories. Your show may stream live or be pre-recorded and edited. Please submit a section of a single episode from your back catalogue. Work submitted for consideration must be released after 1 January 2025. To qualify for the discounted rate for students, work submitted must have been created while registered at a recognised educational institute, and may be part of coursework or made independently. For selection purposes we prefer a first episode or season opener, if possible, as it usually makes more sense on a cold listening. The maximum 30-minute requirement is for the episode used for selection purposes. Please DO NOT submit a whole season as one file. Please note: We accept audio files ONLY, and do not accept videos in the podcast categories (except Actual Play Video). We accept podcasts in the English language ONLY. You MUST upload your file in the Music/Songwriting category.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $32
- Gold Members: $36
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $45
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $48
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $56
- Gold Members: $63
Submit Now
Podcast - Actual Play/TTRPG Video
Open to submissions from ALL territories. Your show may stream live or be pre-recorded and edited. Please submit a section of a single episode from your back catalogue. Work submitted for consideration must be released after 1 January 2025. To qualify for the discounted rate for students, work submitted must have been created while registered at a recognised educational institute, and may be part of coursework or made independently. For selection purposes we prefer a first episode or season opener, if possible, as it usually makes more sense on a cold listening. The maximum 30-minute requirement is for the episode (or part episode) used for selection purposes. Please DO NOT submit a whole season as one file.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $32
- Gold Members: $36
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $45
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $48
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $56
- Gold Members: $63
Submit Now
Podcast - Non-Fiction
Open to submissions from ALL territories. Factual podcasts, magazine-style shows, all factual genres such as sports, true crime, with a minimum of three episodes. Work submitted for consideration must be released after 1 January 2025. To qualify for the discounted rate for students, work submitted must have been created while registered at a recognised educational institute, and may be part of coursework or made independently. For selection purposes we prefer a first episode or season opener, if possible, as it usually makes more sense on a cold listening. The maximum 30-minute requirement is for the episode used for selection purposes. Please DO NOT submit a whole season as one file. Please note: We accept audio files ONLY, and do not accept vodcasts in the podcast categories (except Actual Play Video). We accept podcasts in the English language ONLY. You MUST upload your file in the Music/Songwriting category.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $32
- Gold Members: $36
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $45
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $48
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $56
- Gold Members: $63
Submit Now
Podcast - Audio Drama/Fiction Series
Open to submissions from ALL territories. Fiction podcasts, anthology or serial, with a minimum of three episodes. Work submitted for consideration must be released after 1 January 2024. To qualify for the discounted rate for students, work submitted must have been created while registered at a recognised educational institute, and may be part of coursework or made independently. For selection purposes we prefer a first episode or season opener, as it usually makes more sense on a cold listening. The maximum 30-minute requirement is for the episode or part episode used for selection purposes. Please DO NOT submit a whole season as one file. Please note: We accept audio files ONLY, and do not accept video in the podcast categories. We accept podcasts in the English language ONLY. You MUST upload your file in the Music/Songwriting category.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $32
- Gold Members: $36
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $45
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $48
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $56
- Gold Members: $63
Submit Now
Podcast - Standalone Audio Drama/Fiction
Open to submissions from ALL territories. Standalone audio fiction/drama of ONE episode only. Work submitted for consideration must be released after 1 January 2025. To qualify for the discounted rate for students, work submitted must have been created while registered at a recognised educational institute, and may be part of coursework or made independently. The maximum 30-minute requirement is for an episode or part episode used for selection purposes. Please note: We accept audio files ONLY, and do not accept vodcasts in the podcast categories. We accept podcasts in the English language ONLY. You MUST upload your file in the Music/Songwriting category.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $32
- Gold Members: $36
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $45
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $48
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $56
- Gold Members: $63
Submit Now
Short Film - Animation/Puppetry
A minimum of 50% of runtime must be animated or use puppetry. The film may be a standalone title or part of an anthology. If a short is from an anthology in which titles are made by different teams, only the title submitted is considered for selection, not the whole collection. You may submit separate titles from an anthology as separate entries. If a short is from an anthology series in which titles are made by the same team, the series may be submitted to the appropriate Web Series category. Must have been completed after 1 January 2025. Submissions not in the English language must be subtitled in English. To qualify for the discounted rate for students, work submitted must have been created while registered at a recognised educational institute, and may be part of coursework or made independently.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $32
- Gold Members: $36
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $45
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $48
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $56
- Gold Members: $63
Submit Now
Short Film - Documentary
A non-fiction film, either a standalone title or part of an anthology. If a short is from an anthology in which titles are made by different teams, only the title submitted is considered for selection, not the whole collection. You may submit separate titles from an anthology as separate entries. If a short is from an anthology series in which titles are made by the same team, the series may be submitted to the appropriate Web Series category. Must have been completed after 1 January 2025. Submissions not in the English language must be subtitled in English. To qualify for the discounted rate for students, work submitted must have been created while registered at a recognised educational institute, and may be part of coursework or made independently.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $32
- Gold Members: $36
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $45
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $48
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $56
- Gold Members: $63
Submit Now
Short Film - Narrative
A narrative fiction film, either a standalone title or part of an anthology. If a short is from an anthology collection in which titles are made by different teams, only the title submitted is considered for selection, not the whole collection. You may submit separate titles from an anthology as separate entries. If a short is from an anthology collection in which titles are made by the same team, the collection may be submitted to the appropriate Web Series category. Must have been completed after 1 January 2025. Submissions not in the English language must be subtitled in English. To qualify for the discounted rate for students, work submitted must have been created while registered at a recognised educational institute, and may be part of coursework or made independently.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $32
- Gold Members: $36
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $45
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $48
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $56
- Gold Members: $63
Submit Now
Short Film - Music Video
Short film made as a music video. Work submitted for consideration must be released after 1 January 2025. No student fee discounts are available in this category.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $20
- Gold Members: $18
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Gold Members: $22.50
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
Submit Now
Web Series - Pilot
Open to submissions from ALL territories. A pilot for the first season of a show that, if completed, would qualify for consideration in our Animation/Puppetry, Factual or Narrative web series categories. Work submitted for consideration must be released after 1 January 2025. Submissions not in the English language must be subtitled in English. The maximum 25-minute requirement is for the episode used for selection purposes. Please DO NOT submit a whole season as one file. To qualify for the discounted rate for students, work submitted must have been created while registered at a recognised educational institute, and may be part of coursework or made independently.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $32
- Gold Members: $36
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $45
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $48
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $56
- Gold Members: $63
Submit Now
Web Series - Animation/Puppetry
Open to submissions from ALL territories. A show or series, ie anthology or serial fiction, anthology or serial non-fiction, containing a minimum of 50% animated content or puppetry. Work submitted for consideration must be released after 1 January 2025. Submissions not in the English language must be subtitled in English. For selection purposes we prefer a first episode or season opener, as it usually makes more sense on a cold viewing. The maximum 25-minute requirement is for the episode used for selection purposes. Please DO NOT submit a whole season as one file. To qualify for the discounted rate for students, work submitted must have been created while registered at a recognised educational institute, and may be part of coursework or made independently.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $32
- Gold Members: $36
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $45
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $48
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $56
- Gold Members: $63
Submit Now
Web Series - Factual
Open to submissions from ALL territories. Serial non-fiction, magazine-style series, or anthology series of three episodes or more. Work submitted for consideration must be released after 1 January 2025. Submissions not in the English language must be subtitled in English. For selection purposes we prefer a first episode or season opener, as it usually makes more sense on a cold viewing. The maximum 25-minute requirement is for the episode used for selection purposes. Please DO NOT submit a whole season as one file. To qualify for the discounted rate for students, work submitted must have been created while registered at a recognised educational institute, and may be part of coursework or made independently.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $32
- Gold Members: $36
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $45
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $48
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $56
- Gold Members: $63
Submit Now
Web Series - Narrative Fiction
Open to submissions from ALL territories. Anthology or serial fiction of three episodes or more. Work submitted for consideration must be released after 1 January 2025. Submissions not in the English language must be subtitled in English. For selection purposes we prefer a first episode or season opener, as it usually makes more sense on a cold viewing. The maximum 25-minute requirement is for the episode used for selection purposes. Please DO NOT submit a whole season as one file. To qualify for the discounted rate for students, work submitted must have been created while registered at a recognised educational institute, and may be part of coursework or made independently.
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $32
- Gold Members: $36
- Regular Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $45
- Late Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $48
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $56
- Gold Members: $63
Submit Now

Other Festivals You May Like

Sponsored

Montreal Women Film Festival
View Listing
Sponsored

Big Apple Film Festival and Screenplay Competition
View Listing
Sponsored

NEW YORK INDIE SHORTS AWARDS
View Listing
Indie Short Fest
View Listing
Beyond Fest
View Listing

Other Festivals You May Like

Sponsored

Montreal Women Film Festival
View Listing
Sponsored

Big Apple Film Festival and Screenplay Competition
View Listing
Sponsored

NEW YORK INDIE SHORTS AWARDS
View Listing
Indie Short Fest
View Listing
Beyond Fest
View Listing

The Storyteller Squad

Response from festival:

Jayde Hudson

Response from festival:

Shannon Fewster

Response from festival:

Julia Neumann

Response from festival:

Sally McLean

Response from festival: