Submissions for #NZWF23 are 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 becomes a participant in the inaugural edition of the Audio Fiction Wprld 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.

NZ Web Fest also runs a Pitch competition open to international and NZ series projects.

In 2023 we're excited to expand with the addition of new submission categories for podcasts and short films - which we expect to flow through to the creation of at least 15 new award categories.

In addition, we've increased the number of awards in the web series categories to better reward the technical skills which make the shows so enjoyable.

Awards & Prizes

#NZWF23 will present awards.

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

Our award categories are:

WebSeries
Best Animation / Puppetry Show
Best Trailer
Best Pilot
Best Editing (Factual series)
Best Writing (Factual series)
Best Directing (Factual series)
Best Show (Factual series)
Best Score (Narrative series)
Best Cinematography (Narrative series)
Best Editing (Narrative series)
Best Ensemble Cast (Narrative series)
Best Actor (Narrative series)
Best Actress (Narrative series)
Best Acting by a non-binary performer (Narrative series)
Best Writing (Narrative series)
Best Directing (Narrative series)
Best Show

Podcasts
Best Host (Actual Play)
Best Show (Actual Play)
Best Sound (Fiction Podcast)
Best Voice Acting (Fiction Podcast)
Best Ensemble Cast (Fiction Podcast)
Best Writing (Fiction Podcast)
Best Directing (Fiction Podcast)
Best Show (Fiction Podcast)
Best Writing (Non-Fiction Podcast)
Best Directing (Non-Fiction Podcast)
Best Show for a station/platform (Non-Fiction Podcast)
Best Independent Show (Non-Fiction Podcast)

Short Films
Best Performance (Narrative Fiction)
Best Writing (Documentary)
Best Writing (Narrative Fiction)
Best Directing (Documentary)
Best Directing (Narrative Fiction)
Best Short (Documentary)
Best Short (Narrative Fiction)
Best Directing (MV)
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.

Award winners receive trophies, and our Pitch competition presents cash prizes.

Rules & Terms

*** 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
45 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Andy Wolf

    What a wonderful festival - great communication and appreciation for filmmakers. Thank you for having us!

    November 2022
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    Response from festival:

    It was our pleasure - great to have Strings Attached in the line-up this year, and great to see it win an award.

  • Arnaud de Grandry

    Very good festival. It was an honor to be part of this experience !!
    Thank you for everything !

    November 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Hi Arnaud, Thanks for being part of this year's festival. We were very happy to have Tape come to us as a direct selection from Apulia Web Fest, so a shout-out to Michele as well!

  • Jacq Ellem

    Keith and Charlie were welcoming and friendly, communication was top notch, it was areal pleasure to be part of the Festival, and an honour to be on the panel for such incredible pitches!

    November 2022
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    Response from festival:

    It was our pleasure to have you with us, and we were very happy to have your help making the tough decisions in the pitch competition :)

  • Sideliners Series

    We loved this festival, and not just because Sideliners won an award! They made the awards ceremony super accessible and I was able to watch and give a speech online. The other entires looked amazing and all the communications were super clear. Thank you!

    November 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks for trusting us with your show, and we were happy to see it take away an award. It was great having people from around the world participate in the awards online - and we hope to make that an even better experience next year. We also really look forward to seeing more of Sideliners as it moves from pilot to series.

  • Jeff Stormer

    A wonderful experience! Friendly, communicative staff. A killer slate of shows, all made easily accessible online for easy viewing. A great festival from top to bottom.

    November 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks, Jeff. We tried a few new things this year - obviously including podcasts such as your Party of One. We were very pleased with the results, and look forward to building on the podcast programme next year, and giving creators more opportunities to participate in the festival.