A preliminary drumroll please, for the announcement of the finalists in the 2018 Huawei Mate20 New Zealand Television Awards. Leading the nominations with 11 nods is Great Southern Film & Television for its telefeature about iconic Kiwi rock band: The Dance Exponents - Why Does Love? Following with eight nominations is Matchbox Pictures' Wanted season two, while production company South Pacific Pictures also earned three nods for the hugely successful trans-Tasman drama series 800 Words. The award winners will be announced at two ceremonies: the New Zealand Television Craft Awards on November 8 (yes, that's tomorrow!) and the Huawei Mate20 New Zealand Television Awards gala ceremony on November 22.
So, congratulations to these Wifters who are finalists in the 2018 New Zealand Television Craft Awards:
Margot Francis for Best Editing: Documentary/Factual.
Mitchell Hawkes for Best Director: Multi Camera.
Alana Cotton for Best Post Production Design.
Sara Beale for Best Costume Design.
Roseanne Liang for the Huawei Mate20 Best Script: Comedy,
Pip Hall, Phil Smith and Kate McDermott for Best Script: Drama.
And congratulations to these Wifters who are up for gongs in the category awards at the 2018 New Zealand Television Awards:
Matchbox Pictures, Sharon Lark and Jane Allen of Pukeko Pictures, and Kelly Martin of South Pacific Pictures for NZ On Air Best Drama Series.
Carmen J Leonard of Great Southern Film & Television and Philly de Lacey of Screentime NZ for Images & Sound Best Feature Drama.
Anna Lynch of Great Southern Film & Television, Megan Jones and Robyn Paterson of Imagination Television, and Philly de Lacey and Tina McLaren of Screentime NZ for NZ On Air Best Factual Series.
Carmen J Leonard and Annabelle Lee of Great Southern Film & Television and Arwen O'Connor of Ruckus for NZ On Air Best Documentary.
Anna Lynch of Great Southern Film & Television, Tash Christie of Greenstone TV, Sue Woodfield and Angela Mann for Best Original Reality Series.
Hayley Cunningham, Sue Woodfield and Angela Mann for Stage & Screen Best Format Reality Series.
Arani Cuthbert of Diva Productions, Imagination Television, and Ruckus for Best Lifestyle Programme.
Annabelle Lee of Great Southern Film & Television for Best Current Affairs Programme.
Roseanne Liang of Flat3 Productions for NZ On Air Best Web Series.
Sharon Lark of Pukeko Pictures, Robin Scholes, and Janine Morrell-Gunn and Meg Huston of WhitebaitMedia for Best Children's Programme.
Carmen J Leonard and Annabelle Lee of Great Southern Film & Television, Anna Lynch of Great Southern Film & Television, and Rachel Jean for Te M?ngai P?ho Best Maori Programme.
Megan Douglas for Te M?ngai P?ho Best Reo Programme.
Lisa Taouma of Tikilounge Productions for Best Pasifika Programme.
M?ori Television's Maramena Roderick for Best News Coverage and Best Live Event Coverage.
Angela Mann for Monstavision Best Sports Programme.
Bronwynn Bakker and Shannon Cairns for Best Comedy/Comedy Entertainment Programme.
Mitchell Hawkes of Ruckus for Best Director: Documentary/Factual.
Aidee Walker for Huawei Mate20 Best Actress.
We hope we haven't missed anyone! We'll keep you posted on the winners.
Click here for the full list of finalists