New Zealand Youth Film Festival Presented by The New Zealand Herald (NZYFF) is a non-profit here to find, celebrate, and empower Aotearoa’s next generation of creators. We’re a free-to-enter film festival for New Zealand’s rangatahi youth aged 15-24 years. Every year, we offer coveted awards and run an acclaimed programme of events. This includes once-in-a-lifetime experiences like our popular Industry Day as well as a live-streamed red carpet Award Ceremony. Tens of thousands of dollars worth of awards are up for grabs, and any* type of entry is accepted!

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

Wellington UNESCO City of Film Best Overall Film - $1,000 cash + Lunch with Sir Richard Taylor, Lady Tania, and the team at Wētā Workshop + Wellington UNESCO City of Film Best Overall Film is added on NZ On Screen

South Pacific Pictures Best Acting - Time with a South Pacific Pictures production actor/actress and casting department

South Pacific Pictures Best 15 - 18 Age Group Film - $200 cash + A set visit to a South Pacific Pictures scripted production based in Auckland (eg. Shortland Street)

One New Zealand Best 19 - 21 Age Group Film - $250 cash + Work experience through the lens of advertising at One New Zealand

Warner Bros. International Television Production New Zealand Best 22 - 24 Age Group Film - $300 cash + A tour of a Warner Bros. International Television New Zealand production

Adobe Best Editing - 5x 1 year Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions

Wētā FX Best Visual Effects - $500 cash + Lunch with Wētā FX in Wellington

Canon Best Cinematography - $500 cash + A Canon R50 camera kit

Massey University National Academy of Screen Arts Best Directing - An induction to a Canon film production kit and other film production equipment to be used on a shoot for a duration of 2 days

Universal Music New Zealand Best Music Video - Winner will be commissioned to create content with Universal Music New Zealand artist(s)

What the Actual?! Best Documentary - 1 week work experience + Lunch with New Zealand Media & Entertainment (NZME) + Screening of winning film at NZME + Winning film may be loaded on The New Zealand Herald website's entertainment section

By submitting my film, I agree to NZYFF’s rules and policies. In the event that I am nominated, I give permission to NZYFF to use an image of me and my team for its publicity in perpetuity. I also give permission to NZYFF to screen my film on its website and at its events, including at its annual festival and ancillary programmes. I understand that NZYFF does not guarantee that my film will be nominated or that it will win an award. I hold it and its management, agents, sponsors, and affiliates harmless from any and all claims of liability resulting from my entry. I own or have authorisation to all necessary copyrights, intellectual property rights and licenses in relation to my film as declared in the “Copyright Declaration”. I indemnify NZYFF for all liability it may suffer as a result of any claims made against it by any person that the film and/or NZYFF’s use of it breaches their intellectual property rights. On request, I will supply NZYFF with copies of such licenses and with copies of signed talent (actors/actresses) releases. If I am under 18 years of age, my parent/guardian consents and approves of my entry. I declare that the film I am submitting is a film that I have created as either its Director or Producer and own the rights to and am authorised to submit. I am also of the age that was declared in this submission. If nominated for an award I agree to be bound by NZYFF’s Nominee Terms and Conditions and confirm that I will be able to supply the full, original film as a soft copy in a digital format (.mp4/.mov). I understand that I may be disqualified if I am unable to supply the original film, am found to have supplied false information, or have violated any other part of this agreement.