Burstyn, Mikha & Murdie Win at NZCS Awards

The 8th annual New Zealand Cinematographers Society (NZCS) Awards took place on 18 October 2025 in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, with DEGANZ members Thomas Burstyn NZCS CSC, Benjamin Mikha, and Joe Murdie taking home awards.

The NZCS Awards were established in 2016 to celebrate and honour outstanding cinematography from Aotearoa. The awards offer cinematographers the opportunity to have their work recognised by their peers and the wider industry across a range of genres, formats, and budgets. Each category presents a gold, silver, and bronze award, recognising filmmakers at multiple career levels.

Thomas won Silver for International Drama and Drama Series for his work on Invasion (S2, Ep 10 Old Friend, New Frontiers). The Apple TV series follows what happens when aliens visit Earth and threaten humanity’s existence. The show unfolds in real time through the eyes of five ordinary people across the globe as they struggle to make sense of the chaos unravelling around them.

Both Benjamin and Joe won Silver Awards in the Social Media & Online Category. Benjamin won for his work on The Warrior Within, a minute-long video about the art of fire knife dancing filmed in Oahu, Hawai’i. Joe took home the silver for his micro-doc ZƎDYN, which follows a young skatboarde from Wānaka.

Benjamin also won Gold in the Specialised Category for his work on Inhabitants, a compilation of time-lapse, hyper-lapse, motion control time-lapse, and drive-lapse footage from around the world.

On the night, DEGANZ Executive Director, Tui Ruwhiu, presented the Short Film, News & Current Affairs, Magazine, Lifestyle & Reality, and Corporate, Brand & Promo Awards.

DEGANZ ED Tui Ruwhiu presents Adam Luxton with an NZCS Silver Award for Short Films.

Congratulations, Thomas, Benjamin, Joe, and all winners at the 2025 NZCS Awards!

Last updated on 6 November 2025