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Guide to NZCS Awards Categories
All fees are shown in NZD inc 15% GST
General notes
- Please re-read the category definitions each year before submitting your entry, because categories are refined and amended in the light of experience and the types of productions being made.
- Joint entries will not be accepted. If a project has more than one cinematographer then only the cinematographer who has overall responsibility for the visual content and lighting of the entry i.e. the Director of Photography or Principal Cinematographer may enter (except for specialised and second unit category).
- In every case the cinematography of others and details of their involvement must be provided in the entry notes, highlighting their work by description or giving approximate time codes. For example: ‘Jane Doe shot the aerial sequences,’ or ‘fight sequence at 5:30 minutes was shot by second unit DP John Doe,’ or ‘I was assisted by a second unit DP Jane Doe who shot establishing shots, multi-camera sequences etc.’ This is important for the fairness of judging and for transparency.
- The judges will take into account the relevant information you give them in the notes to the media submission, so entrants are strongly advised to include them.
- Cinematography expressed through cultural perspective and authenticity are valued strengths that enhanced visual storytelling. Entrants are encouraged to bring their unique visual language to their work.
- NZCS may reallocate any entry it believes has been entered in an inappropriate category
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Category 1: Student films |
$30 |
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Entrant was enrolled in a recognised secondary or tertiary film course at the time of filming (or within 12 months following completion), and the work was completed within the eligibility period. Entry notes will specify the course or institution attended. |
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| Category 2: Socials | $60 |
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This category celebrates innovation and creativity in short-form content (under 15 minutes) created specifically for digital-first platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Vimeo. Projects will be shot on phones, v-blog cameras, or other similar gear, and will be judged on strong cinematographic choices and visual storytelling—not production scale. Productions commissioned for corporates, such as commercials, infomercials, branded content, corporate work, should be entered into their respective categories as this category is designed for the new generation of content creators working with low budgets but delivering high visual impact on digital platforms. |
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Category 3: Music videos |
$80 |
| Music or concert item shot for the purpose of entertainment or promotion of the performers' recording of a single track or song. Entrants need to be responsible for lighting - including concert stage lighting. |
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Category 4: Short films |
$80 |
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Short stand-alone scripted productions of less than 20 mins duration. |
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Category 5: News and current affairs |
$80 |
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Topical news or current affairs stories or segments broadcast on regular television news, current affairs programs, or released through other outlets (e.g. online). Enter a single story, segment, or episode and provide a specific title. Longer entries which are more documentary in nature and which run for the entire duration of the program, could alternatively be entered in the documentary category. |
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Category 6: Magazine, lifestyle and reality |
$80 |
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Light entertainment human-interest programmes. For example: travel, leisure, gardening, property, cooking, entertainment, science, nature, sports, arts and reality shows. Enter a single episode. |
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Category 7: Corporate and educational |
$80 |
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Productions specifically shot for a corporate or educational market designed to teach or inform. This category includes infomercials which may appear similar to commercials but are longer than 120 seconds and not primarily for the broadcast market. If there are two versions of the same production enter one version in either this category or the commercial category but not both. |
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Category 8: Documentaries and factual series |
$80 |
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Traditional documentary productions usually dealing with people or wildlife in relation to their community or environment. Entries may include feature documentaries, or an episode from a documentary series. Where a topic spans multiple episodes enter one episode. Long form current affairs segments that constitute the entire program should be entered in this category. |
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Category 9: Commercials |
$100 |
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Advertisements specifically shot to promote a product, service, or message to public audience through any distribution channel. Maximum duration 120 seconds. Includes all distribution channels including online. Entry notes most clearly identify AI or CGI along with the production company and ad agency names. |
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Category 10: Technology and innovation |
$100 |
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This category recognises cinematographic work where digital tools, virtual production, image generation, or other non-traditional techniques are used innovatively to support visual storytelling. The focus is on how these tools are used creatively by the cinematographer, and the award celebrates both the final image and the process behind it. This is not an award solely for VFX, colour grading, previsualisation, or tool development. It is awarded to the cinematographer, responsible rather than a technical team or other creative or technical lead. Eligible entries may include sequences created largely or entirely without a conventional camera, or intended for non-traditional formats (e.g. immersive environments, virtual sets). Submissions may also include work involving AI-generated images or assisted tools, where the cinematographer played a meaningful creative role in how those elements were used and integrated. For further advice on whether your production is eligible for this new category email awards@nzcine.com In the case of sequences, a list of scattered shots or time codes in a production is impractical for judging so an entry in this category must include one or more sequences that can easily be described in plain English and recognised by the judges. The sequences will be found using an approximate start time and a description such as “fight sequence at 10 minutes where hero leaps from building and fights monster, approx. 3 min duration” Main unit shots cut into the sequence should be described. For example: “CUs of hero were MU shots” |
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| Category 11: Specialised and second unit | $100 |
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The Second Unit subcategory recognises camera work that complements the main unit camera work such as chase sequences or stunts. The specialised cinematography subcategory camera work that requires specialised skills or equipment and may be main unit or a specialised unit. Examples include macro photography, ultrahigh speed, miniatures, underwater, wildlife, time lapse, and aerial photography. The entrant may submit segments or sequences from a project provided they were responsible for the segment and have gained clearance from the principal DP of the project. Second unit and Specialised subcategories will be judged separately and awards allocated up to the total allocation for the category. |
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Category 12: New Zealand drama and drama series |
$120 |
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A standalone New Zealand drama production, dramatised documentary, comedy, or one episode from a series. In contrast with Category 13, New Zealand productions are produced and largely shot domestically by New Zealand crews, with local or mixed funding. |
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| Category 13: International drama and drama series | $120 |
| A stand-alone international drama production, dramatised documentary, comedy, or episode from a series. In contrast with Category 12, international productions are fully funded offshore. They may be line-produced and shot in New Zealand or shot by a New Zealand NZCS member working overseas. |
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Category 14: Feature films - Budget up to $10m |
$140 |
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This category is for feature films that have been released theatrically, although they may also have a strong profile on streaming services. The production must have publicly disclosed headline production budget of up to NZD$10 million. |
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Category 15: Feature films - Budget $10m and over |
$140 |
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This category is for films that have been released theatrically, although they may also have a strong profile on streaming services. The production must have publicly disclosed headline production budget of over NZD$10 million. |
