Day One Challenge 2024 Round One Finalists Announced

Day One Hāpai te Haeata

Announcing the 10 shortlisted films for this year's Day One Challenge!

Congratulations to the ten shortlisted films:

Space by Lee Li
Doll Face by Alex Farley
The Digital World by Vheona Arenillo, Hayley Maule, and Rachel Steiner
Ngaru by Terri Tekii-Lemanu
Rock to Your Own Beat by Kaya Gladding Gibb
In His Sketchbook by Matteo Damesin and Sofia Bottomley-Gadd
Don't Destroy What You Came to Enjoy by Kaia Kahurangi-Jamieson and Eli Jesse Taika Jamieson
Dino Party by Archie Crayford (video insert above)
Drowned Out by Ben Butler
Food Everywhere by Mishika Chawla

These incredible young filmmakers have poured their creativity, passion, and talent into their work, and we can’t wait to share their stories with you.

A huge shout-out to our screeners Liz Skinner, Loyd Doron, and Francheska Arriaza.

And the judges;

➤ Alex Casey, senior writer at The Spinoff

➤ Max Currie, Emmy award winning writer/director

➤ Gracie Meek, writer, director, videographer

➤ Holly Groves, emerging filmmaker

➤ Zech Soakai, storyteller, educator, and spoken word poet, Day One alumni

Your time and expertise were invaluable in bringing these amazing stories to light!

Help us decide who should win the People’s Choice Award. VOTE!!!

Watch each of the films here.

Then make your choice and vote here.

Every voting form filled out counts as a vote too, as does sharing with friends and whānau! So, spread the word!

Stay tuned as we get closer to revealing the Special Awards winners! And don’t forget—Round 2 entries are open now and close on October 18th! Entry at dofilm.co.nz/challenge

Also, a big thank you to our supporters Photogear, Vista Foundation, Ministry of Youth Development, Ministry of Culture and Heritage, Next Gen, Foundation North, Stephens Lawyers, and Auckland Council for their generous support. Without you, this challenge wouldn’t be possible.