We're proud to recognise excellence in filmmaking, and highlight outstanding work with awards and prizes.

$3,500 cash prize.

Eligibility for entry to the Oscars®.

$12,000 post-production services from Department of Post.

$5,000 gear rental from Rubber Monkey.

Flowers from Enchanted Rose.

Engraved bronze winner's badge.

Certificate.

• $2,000 cash prize

• Eligibility for entry to the Oscars®

• Engraved bronze winner's badge

• Certificate

• $1,500 cash prize

• Flowers from Enchanted Rose

• Engraved bronze winner's badge

• Certificate

• $500 cash prize

• Flowers from Enchanted Rose

• Engraved bronze winner's badge

• Certificate

• $500 cash prize

• One-year membership to DEGANZ

• Flowers from Enchanted Rose

• Engraved bronze winner's badge

• Certificate

• (Finalists also receive a one-year membership to DEGANZ)

$500 cash prize

One-year membership to DEGANZ

Flowers from Enchanted Rose

Engraved bronze winner's badge

Certificate

(Finalists also receive a one-year membership to DEGANZ)

• $500 cash prize

• Flowers from Enchanted Rose

• Engraved bronze winner's badge

• Certificate

$500 cash prize

Flowers from Enchanted Rose

Engraved bronze winner's badge

Certificate

$500 cash prize

Engraved bronze winner's badge

Certificate

Head of Content Curation, Whakaata Māori

Manukaroa is a passionate storyteller and creative who has dedicated her career to bringing Māori stories to screen. As the Tumu Kohi Kaupapa (Head of Content Curation) at Whakaata Māori, she plays a leading role in commissioning, acquiring, and scheduling authentic content with powerful narratives that resonate with audiences.Her career has been marked by a balanced commitment to storytelling and a strategic approach to content development across both factual and scripted genres, spanning digital and linear platforms. Notable achievements include directing the award-winning documentary Making Good Men (2018), serving as a Jury Member at FIFO and DocEdge, and acting as the Chair of Playmarket NZ. At the heart of Manukaroa’s work is a desire to create content that not only entertains but also educates, inspires, and empowers. She is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of traditional content creation and curation and ensuring that the stories of her people are not just told but celebrated.

Vice Chair, Beijing Film Academy

Sun Lijun (pen name Fan Beilu) is an animated film director, professor at the Beijing Film Academy, and a judge for the China Golden Rooster Awards and the Seoul International Cartoon and Animation Festival in South Korea. Professor Sun Lijun has been engaged in the creation of animated feature films and shorts for over 30 years. His well-known works include animated feature films such as Little Soldier Zhang Ga, Legend of a Rabbit, and Journey to the Moon, as well as animated shorts such as Harvest, Untitled, and Fighting in the dark. He has received numerous international awards, including selection in the Generation section of the 70th Berlin International Film Festival. Professor Sun Lijun also edited The History of Chinese Animation, which has been translated into multiple languages and published overseas. He has made outstanding contributions to the development of Chinese animation creation and education.

Programmer, Hamburg Kurzfilm Festival

Anna Feistel is a programmer, curator and arts mediator based in Hamburg. She studied Literature, Art and Media Studies at University of Konstanz and Sapienza Università di Roma. Her passion for short films ignited many years ago organizing a student short film festival and working in a communal cinema. She worked as art mediator for Art Basel, MKG Hamburg and Kunstverein Konstanz. Since 2016 she has worked in several positions at Kurzfilm Agentur Hamburg including the distribution department, festival administration and school cinema week. Since 2019 she is part of the international competition selection committee and the programme coordinator of Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg.