NZ Web Fest Awards This Year’s Bests

An exciting update from our previous piece about the DEGANZ members nominated for awards at this year’s NZ Web Fest! Six projects with members involved won awards. The Ahikāroa team had a particularly successful run, taking home four awards by the end of the night.

The festival held the awards ceremony in Tāmaki Makaurau on 10 September to wrap up its run this year. Congratulations to the winners and all nominated projects!

NZ Short Films (Narrative)

Dive

Best Writing

Writer: Fredrick Pokai

Director: Tyler Redmond

A coming-of-age drama that follows a young competitive swimmer named Paula, who is trained by her father Troy. Despite her dedication and hard work, Paula’s results don’t meet her father’s high standards. Meanwhile, Troy struggles with financial problems and the possibility of losing their home. As the national swimming competition approaches, tensions rise between father and daughter, and Paula begins to question her passion for the sport.

 

NZ Web Series (Factual)

Turning the Tide

Best Directing

Director: Magnolia Lowe

Producer: Tui Ruwhiu

Editor: Amanda Mulderry

The Turning the Tide six-part short documentary series highlights the work of researchers, kaitiaki, and community members as they pool their knowledge and resources to improve the health of the seas around Aotearoa New Zealand.

 

NZ Web Series (Narrative)

ADHD + Me

Best Directing

Director: Michelle Ang

A comedy web series about a woman who unexpectedly receives a late ADHD diagnosis. When her ADHD manifests as a person that only she can see, she must reevaluate how well she knows her own brain.

Ahikāroa

Best Narrative Series

Best Editing

Best Ensemble

Best Acting (awarded to Turia Schmidt-Peke)

Co-editor: Jack Woon

Writer & Storyliner: Onehou Strickland

A Māori bilingual series following a crazy group of city-based rangatahi. They’re young, kura kaupapa raised and dangerously onto it. Their world orbits around getting cash, cutting corners and charging their phones.

The Creature

Best Cinematography

Director: Jake Tabata

Producer: Isabelle (Izzi) Hoskyn

Stuck in the online dating rut of endlessly swiping with no results, Aidan is ecstatic when he matches with his ‘dream man’. However, to leave for his date, Aidan must face the perturbed Creature lurking in the shadows of his home.

Well Well Wellness

Best Writing

Writer: Brady Polkinghorne

Director: Jack Nicol

A comedy web series that follows a silent retreat run by some well-meaning but hopeless wellness gurus. It follows the bumbling owners trying to save their haven, the mystic teachers who aren’t as deep as they seem, and the assorted mix of weird, wonderful, and worrisome retreatants who come to stay, find peace, or otherwise.

 

Last updated on 21 November 2024