The Women In Film & Television (WIFT NZ) Awards will return in March 2026 with nominations opening mid 2025. Be sure to sign up to our e-news for more information!
Women In Film & Television (WIFT NZ) is delighted to feature the recipients for the 11 award categories of the WIFT NZ Awards 2024, held 29 February at St Matthew-in-the-City, Auckland.
See the attached document for full press release.
We echo a deep gratitude to everyone who attended 2024's fabulous awards ceremony: a beautiful opening of musical harmonies by Luminata Voices, Auckland’s chamber choir for women, into an evening seamlessly guided by the warm, wise, and brilliant voice of Kate Rodger. Throughout the evening, phenomenal finalists took the stage to accept their awards sharing empowering stories, laughter, and to mihi those who had helped light their path along the way, and they were always met with a resonate applause from the eager and supportive crowd of mostly women, and as many Māori women took home awards, audience members, rose to offer their melodic and powerful voices echoing songs of this whenua.
The night was woven impeccably to remind women of their power and their impact.
The ceremony was followed by surprise acrobatics, hung from the high ceilings of the immaculate church of St Matthew-in-the-City. The evening was catered by Little Wolf, offering party goers delicious food and beverage.
Finalists were decided by a panel of Jill Macnab (Chair), Kath Graham, Alyx Duncan, Nicole Horan, Amanda Davison, Kathleen Anderson, Jasmin McSweeney, and Vea Mafile’o, with input from Sally Campbell and the various category sponsors.
Previous award recipients include Niki Caro, Ngila Dickson, Robyn Malcolm, Rachel Lang, Rhonda Kite, Janine Morrell-Gunn, Chloe Smith, Robin Scholes, Jane Wrightson, Stacey Morrison and Kelly Martin.
The WIFT NZ Awards is an event designed to celebrate the achievements of women in the industry, provide a special networking opportunity, and act as a source of fundraising for the ongoing work of the organisation. It has become renowned for quality, affordability and great celebration and fun.
The biennial Awards are attended by a mixed audience of leading industry practitioners, friends and supporters, and currently enjoy sponsorship support from South Pacific Pictures, Great Southern Film & Television, Images & Sound, Hinterland, Queenstown Camera Company, Professional Lighting Services, Te Māngai Pāho, Imagezone, Warner Bros. Discovery, Wētā FX, SAE Creative Media Institute and FAT Lighting.
The WIFT NZ AWARDS Categories & Finalists for 2024, and the Winners are in bold.
Finalists:
Alex Reed for Mister Organ
Desray Armstrong for Juniper
Paula Whetu Jones for Whina
This Award recognises significant achievement with a short or feature film released in the last three years locally and/or internationally. This award can be won more than once. To be eligible, film(s) associated with the nominee must have been released between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2023 and had some measurable impact. Particular weighting will be given to positive critical reception, box office success and international profile and achievement.
Finalists:
Luana Barnes
Marianne Infante
Stephanie Damm-Logan
Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne
This Award recognises exceptional talent in a woman under 30 years old working in the New Zealand screen industry. As WIFT is a pan-industry organisation this talent may be in any field, whether behind or in front of the camera.
Finalists:
Abba-Rose Vaiaoga-Ioasa
Angela Cudd
Mia-Marama Henry-Teirney
Morgan Leigh Stewart
This Award recognises a woman with an emerging body of work who shows the potential to have a significant career in the industry.
Finalists:
Chelsea Winstanley – Matewa Media, Ahi Collective, This Too Shall Pass
Nanette Miles – Toybox
Sharlene George – The Sweetshop
This Award recognises exceptional business achievement and is given to a woman who has demonstrated business acumen and entrepreneurial vision in establishing a sustainable financial enterprise, contributing to the future health and viability of the New Zealand film and television industry.
Particular weighting will be given to evidence of a sound business approach, international presence and activity, and significant turnover with leveraged investment in product that delivers sustainability.
Finalists:
Bronwynn Bakker – producer – for her body of work, first broadcast between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2023
Carly Turner – editor – for her body of work first broadcast between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2023
Fiona Copland – producer – for Kiri and Lou
This Award recognises a woman who has had a significant impact or achievement in any aspect of TV or Digital media between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2023. This award can be won more than once.
Finalists:
Alice Shearman
Billie Lusk
Jane Anderson
This Award honours long-term contributions behind the scenes, which ensure successful projects and provide essential support to colleagues. This award can only be won once.
Particular weighting will be given to women who are generally ineligible for other Awards but whose work is critical to achievement, and to women who have demonstrated collegial support for other women in the industry.
Finalists:
Libby Hakaraia
Mihingarangi Forbes
Miriama Kamo
This Award honours a production company or individual whose work makes a significant contribution to the increased use and knowledge of Te Reo Māori me ngā tikanga.
Particular weighting will be given to creative approaches and/or to innovative programming which has a measurable impact on the profile of Māori on screen.
Finalists:
Karin Williams
Lisa Taouma
Ngaire Fuata
This Award recognises an outstanding contribution by a Moana Pasifika woman in any field in the Aotearoa/New Zealand screen industry. It's a new award and we're proud to offer it with the support of the Tautai Pacific Arts Trust.
Finalists:
Ashlee Fidow – stunt performer
Kirsty Griffin – stills photographer
Maria Ines Manchego NZCS – director of photography
This Award recognises outstanding achievement in craft in film, TV or digital media production, between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2023, especially those working in the more traditionally male-dominated sectors, e.g. camera, sound, lighting, grips, stunt work, set design.
NB This is not an award for post-production. There is a separate award for post.
Finalists:
Beck Veitch – compositing supervisor
Cushla Dillon – editor
Kara Vandeleur – vfx producer
This Award recognises outstanding achievement in creativity in post-production in film, TV or digital media from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2023. Nominee job titles could include for example: Editor, Colourist, Sound Editor, ADR Recordist, VFX Artist, VFX Supervisor, VFX Editor, Animator, Compositor.
Barbara Darragh
This Award honours long-term outstanding work, generous support for others, and commitment to the growth of the industry both professionally and personally. This award can only be won once.
