Join us for the Day One New Filmmaker Awards 2024!

Day One Hāpai te Haeata

Join Us for the Day One New Filmmaker Awards 2024!

Date: December 15, 2024

Time: 12.30pm

Location: Academy Cinema, Auckland

We’re thrilled to announce the upcoming Day One New Filmmaker Awards 2024, an event that celebrates the next generation of filmmakers across Aotearoa. Hosted by Day One Hāpai te Haeata, this year's awards are an expanded celebration, recognising not only participants from our 2024 Day One Film Challenges but also, young talents nationwide who are shaping the future of storytelling. There will be an awards presentation followed by a screening of winning films.

For nearly two decades, Day One (formerly The Outlook for Someday) has been a platform for youth in New Zealand, fostering creativity, connection, and skill development. We’re dedicated to helping rangatahi make their mark on the world through film, and our acknowledging their mahi in this awards event is an essential part of this mission.

About the Day One Film Challenge

The Day One Film Challenge (formerly known as the Someday Challenge) encourages young people across New Zealand to try their hand at filmmaking and share their stories on screen. This year, participants competed in two rounds, bringing forth films that impressed with their originality, message delivery, and technical artistry. The challenge is more than a competition; it’s a journey of growth, collaboration, and self-expression. With a focus on impact-driven storytelling, the Day One Film Challenge nurtures young filmmakers as they explore the power of screen storytelling.

2024 Day One New Filmmaker Awards Categories

The Day One New Filmmaker Awards will recognise outstanding contributions to the Day One Film Challenge, alongside three new award categories open to young filmmakers nationwide, up to 24.

Here’s a look at the award categories for this year:

Day One Challenge Photogear Stand Out Winner

This award goes to the film that most captures the essence of the Day One Film Challenge, standing out for its impact, originality, and storytelling strength.

Day One Challenge Category Awards

Recognising achievement across specific film types:

Impact Shorts
Short Shorts
Phone Shorts
“How To” Shorts
Music Shorts

Day One Challenge Age Awards

Celebrating exceptional talent across age groups:

Up to 11
Up to 14
Up to 18
Up to 24

Day One Challenge Community Awards

Honouring contributions that reflect diversity and representation in filmmaking:

The Whakatipuranga Māori Filmmaker Award for a film by a Māori heritage filmmaker or team, with an outstanding indigenous Māori perspective
The Cultural Award recognises a film that thoughtfully celebrates or explores cultural identity, heritage, or diversity, contributing to greater understanding and appreciation of different cultures.
The Female / Gender Diverse Filmmaker Award for a film by a female or gender diverse filmmaker or team, with a female or gender diverse perspective.

Day One Challenge Craft Awards

Acknowledging technical expertise and creativity behind the scenes:

Recognition in Storytelling
Recognition in Production Design
Recognition in Editing
Recognition in Performance
Recognition in Cinematography
Recognition in Animation

Filmmaker Awards

Open to emerging filmmakers nationwide, these awards celebrate qualities of leadership, storytelling, and technical skill:

The Spirit Award: For young leaders with a can-do attitude and innovative problem-solving skills.
The Vision Award: For creative storytellers with fresh perspectives and a unique way of seeing the world.
The Craft Award: For dedicated craftspeople passionate about the technical aspects of filmmaking.

We’re thrilled to bring together talented filmmakers, their families, and supporters for an unforgettable night celebrating the achievements of our 2024 Day One Film Challenge participants and emerging filmmakers across New Zealand.

If you know a filmmaker under 30 who embodies the qualities celebrated in our new awards, we invite you to nominate them by November 15, 2024 through this Google form. Join us as we celebrate the voices of tomorrow and the stories that inspire change in Aotearoa!

Call for Nominations for Filmmaker Awards

If you know someone under 30 who embodies the qualities outlined below, we invite you to nominate them for one of these awards! Please provide a 300-word nomination that highlights their achievements, skills, and potential for growth in the film industry.

The Spirit Award

This award celebrates young filmmakers with a can-do attitude and a fearless approach to problem-solving challenges. We’re looking for natural leaders who love rallying their peers, think outside the box, and have a knack for finding new ways to get things done. This person could work in any film-related field.

The Vision Award

This award is for young storytellers who bring fresh, original perspectives to life on screen. We’re looking for creative voices who have a unique way of seeing the world and show strong potential to make a lasting impact with their ideas as future writers, directors, or creators.

The Craft Award

This award honours young filmmakers who excel in the technical side of filmmaking. We’re looking for emerging craftspeople passionate about hands-on work—camera, sound, lighting, art department, animation, post, and more—who bring dedication, skill, and attention to detail to their work on set.

Send nominations via this google form by 15th November 2024. You can’t nominate yourself. Great people to nominate you might be teachers or lecturers, people who have worked with or done projects with (fellow students, or team mates), or people you have worked under.

Thank you for supporting the next generation of filmmakers. We look forward to seeing your nominations and celebrating these inspiring young talents!

Photo: Fatma Jarghon for Unsplash.