The Women in Film and Television New Zealand Awards, also known as the WIFT NZ Awards, are a set of awards that celebrate and encourage the achievements of New Zealand women in film, television and digital media. The awards are administered by Women in Film and Television New Zealand, the national chapter of Women in Film and Television International, and have been awarded since 2004.[1]
The awards were initially made in four categories; additional categories have been added and as of 2022 the awards are made in 11 categories. The awards were also initially presented annually and are now presented biennially. No awards were made in 2012.
Nominations are invited from the public. A panel selects finalists in each category, who are invited to an awards ceremony in Auckland where the recipients are announced.
Award ceremonies and recipients
2022
The awards ceremony was held on 8 July at ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland.[2] One new category was awarded this year: the Tautai Award for Moana Excellence in the Screen Industry, celebrating the contribution of Moana Pasifika women working in the screen industry in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Award
Recipient
Notes
SAE Award for Outstanding Newcomer
Cian Elyse White (Te Arawa, Ngāti Pikiao)
[3]
South Pacific Pictures Award for Achievement in Film
Chelsea Winstanley (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi te Rangi), for Jojo Rabbit
Imagezone Entrepreneurship Award
Aliesha Staples, co-founder of Click Studios and Staples VR
Images & Sound Award for Success in Television and Digital
Rose Matafeo, for Starstruck and Horndog
Professional Lighting Services Award for Unsung Heroine of the New Zealand Screen Industry
Dianne Moffatt, script supervisor
Fulcrum Media Finance Woman to Watch Award
Shoshana McCallum
Te Māngai Pāho Te Reo Māori Champion Award
Reikura Kahi (Waikato, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou, Whānau a Apanui and Cook Island)
The Queenstown Camera Company Craft Award
Melissa Ririnui (Tauranga Moana)
Wingnut and Wētā Companies Creative Technology Award
Alana Cotton, colourist
Tautai Award for Moana Excellence in the Screen Industry
Sima Urale, director, writer and educator
Great Southern Film & Television Award for Outstanding Contribution to the New Zealand Screen Industry
Shuchi Kothari, filmmaker, educator and mentor
2020
The awards ceremony was held on 4 December 2020 at ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland, hosted by Antonia Prebble.[4] One new category was awarded this year: the SAE Award for Outstanding Newcomer.
Award
Recipient
Notes
SAE Award for Outstanding Newcomer
Kayleighsha Wharton, production and location manager
[5]
South Pacific Pictures Award for Achievement in Film
Pietra Brettkelly
Imagezone Entrepreneurship Award
Sharon Menzies, for her work in film financing
Images & Sound Award for Success in Television and Digital
Annabelle Lee-Mather
Professional Lighting Services Award for Unsung Heroine of the New Zealand Screen Industry
Louise Baker
Fulcrum Media Finance Woman to Watch Award
Hweiling Ow, writer, director, and producer
Te Puni Kōkiri Te Reo Māori Champion Award
Stacey Morrison, for her work promoting te reo Māori as a broadcaster, performer, teacher, and author
The Queenstown Camera Company Craft Award
Bindy Crayford
Weta Group Creative Technology Award
Amy Barber
Great Southern Film & Television Award for Outstanding Contribution to the New Zealand Screen Industry
Kelly Martin
[6]
2018
The awards ceremony was held on 1 March 2018 at ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland, hosted by Theresa Healey. Two new categories were awarded for the first time this year: The Queenstown Camera Company Craft Award and The Weta Group Creative Technology Award. The selection panel for the 2018 awards was Christina Milligan (chair), Robin Laing, Vicki Jackways, Cass Avery, Christina Asher, Jill Macnab and Alyx Duncan.[7]
Award
Recipient
Notes
South Pacific Pictures Award for Achievement in Film
Miranda Harcourt, for her work as acting coach on the film Lion
The awards ceremony was held on 26 February 2014 at the Heritage Hotel, Auckland. In addition to the seven award categories, an additional special award was made to Patsy Reddy, chair of the New Zealand Film Commission, for her leadership.[9] The selection panel for the 2014 awards was Christina Milligan (chair), Penelope Borland, Sarah Cull, Debra Kelleher, Robin Laing, Fiona Milburn, Teremoana Rapley, and Sue Thompson.[10]
Award
Recipient
Notes
South Pacific Pictures Award for Achievement in Film
Catherine Fitzgerald, for The Orator
[9]
Queenstown Camera Company Entrepreneurship Award
Frances Valintine, for the establishment and development of Mind Lab
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^"WIFT NZ - The WIFT NZ Awards". www.wiftnz.org.nz. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
^"WIFT NZ AWARDS 2022 WINNERS" (PDF). WIFT NZ. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
^"WIFT New Zealand | Film and Television Industry News from Women in Film and Television New Zealand - Wonderful WIFT Award winners". www.wiftnz.org.nz. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
^"Blog". South Pacific Pictures. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
^ ab"WIFT NZ Awards 2018" (PDF). WIFT NZ. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
^"WIFT Awards 2016" (PDF). WIFT NZ. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
^ ab"WIFT New Zealand | Film and Television Industry News from Women in Film and Television New Zealand - WIFT NZ 2014 AWARD WINNERS". www.wiftnz.org.nz. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
^"WIFT NZ AWARDS 2014". New Zealand Film Commission. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
^"WIFT New Zealand | Film and Television Industry News from Women in Film and Television New Zealand - Lynne Reed - Unsung Heroine". www.wiftnz.org.nz. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
^ ab"WIFT New Zealand | Film and Television Industry News from Women in Film and Television New Zealand - Stop the Press Here Are Our 2010 Award Winners!". www.wiftnz.org.nz. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
^"WIFT New Zealand Awards". Heart of the City: Business. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
^"WIFT New Zealand | Film and Television Industry News from Women in Film and Television New Zealand - Who will you nominate for the WIFT Awards". www.wiftnz.org.nz. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
^Screen, NZ On. "Roseanne Liang | NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
^"WIFT New Zealand | Film and Television Industry News from Women in Film and Television New Zealand - Tell us who is missing from this WIFT Awards list". www.wiftnz.org.nz. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
^ ab"Women in film and TV honoured". NZ Herald. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
^Screen, NZ On. "Julie Christie | NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
^"WIFT New Zealand | Film and Television Industry News from Women in Film and Television New Zealand - Final call for WIFT NZ Awards nominations". www.wiftnz.org.nz. Retrieved 17 December 2020.