2026 Heats Schedule
All heats will be screened at live screenings, and online on our Youtube channel @48HOURSNZ at the same time. This means that you can watch all the entries from across the country.
Audience voting will be available for 30 mins at the end of each heat. Online heats will be available to view until the following day.
Doors will open 15 minutes before screening for all heats.
Please note that live heats screenings are trade screenings intended for cast and crew, and aren't public events. Some of the venues have limited numbers of seats so please consider how many people you bring along to the heats.
Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland
All heats will be held at the Covert Theatre as well as screened on our Youtube Channel.
Dates:
Saturday 22nd August
Sunday 23rd August
Tuesday 25th August
Thursday 27th August
Location - Covert Theatre - 51 Mackelvie Street, Grey Lynn, Auckland.
Capacity - 80 seats.
Accessibility information - This room will be wheelchair accessible, with ability to retract seats in front row to allow for wheelchair access.
Doors will open 15 minutes before screening for all heats.
Ōtautahi / Christchurch
All heats will be held at the Little Andromeda Theatre as well as screened on our Youtube Channel.
Dates:
Monday 10th August \\ 6:00PM - 9.30PM
Tuesday 11th August \\ 6:00PM - 9.30PM
Wednesday 12th August \\ 6:00PM - 9.30PM
Location - Little Andromeda Theatre - Level 1/134 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch.
Capacity - 100 seats.
Accessibility information -
Wheelchair accessible venue - you can let them know if you have specific requirements on their website.
Doors will open 15 minutes before screening for all heats.
Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington
All heats will be held at the Massey University National Academy of Screen Arts Cinema as well as screened on our Youtube Channel.
Dates:
Friday 4th September \\ 5:00PM - 9:00PM
Saturday 5th September \\ 2:00PM - 9:00PM
Sunday 6th September \\ 2:00PM - 7:30PM
Location - Massey University National Academy of Screen Arts Cinema - Block 10, Old Dominion Museum Building.
Capacity - 150 seats.
Accessability information - Wheelchair accessible, wheelchair seating in rear of cinema. Ramp access within the building. Stair entrance at front of building, but if you head south the ground rises to level of the building.
Doors will open 15 minutes before screening for all heats.
Across Aotearoa
Ōtepoti / Dunedin
Wednesday 26th August: 6:30PM - 8:30PM
Map to Castle 1 Lecture Theatre.
Capacity - 320 seats.
Accessibility information - Wheelchair accessible venue, spaces for wheelchairs at front of theatre.
Doors will open 15 minutes before screening for all heats.
Tauranga
Tuesday 25th August: 6:00PM - 8:30PM
Rating - Family Friendly
Location - The Village Cinema is located in the Historic Village at 159, 17th Avenue, Tauranga South, Tauranga.
Capacity - 60 seats
Accessibility information - Wheelchair access and reserved seating on request in the cinema. For accessibility, feel free to email directly here: access@theincubator.co.nz or check out the website.
Doors will open 15 minutes before screening for all heats.
Waihōpai / Invercargill
(Includes Queenstown teams)
Friday 28th August: 6:00PM
In person location - Southern Institute of Technology.
SIT has two entrances and shows on Google Maps under the name: Te Rau O Te Huia / SIT Centre for Creative Industries - 133 Tay Street or 113 Esk Street, Hawthorndale, Invercargill
Capacity - 120 seats
Accessibility information - Wheelchair accessible.
Doors will open 15 minutes before screening for all heats.
Ahuriri / Napier
Thursday 20th August: 4:30PM - 7:00PM
Location - Century Theatre - MTG Hawkeʻs Bay - 1 Tennyson Street, Napier South, Napier.
Capacity - 300 seats.
Accessibility information - Ground floor access. Wheelchair seating available inside cinema.
Doors will open 15 minutes before screening for all heats.
Ngāmotu / New Plymouth
Date: TBC
Location - Len Lye Cinema - Govett-Brewster Art Gallery - 42 Queen Street, New Plymouth.
Capacity - 60 seats.
Accessibility Information - Ground floor or ramp/slight incline to enter cinema, 2 wheelchair spaces inside the cinema.
Doors will open 15 minutes before screening for all heats.
Tūranganui-a-Kiwa / Gisborne
Sunday 30th August: 6:30PM - 7:45PM
Location - Odeon Multiplex - 79 Gladstone Road, Gisborne.
Capacity - 290 seats.
Accessibility Information - Ground floor access, wheel chair friendly seating.
Doors will open 15 minutes before screening for all heats.
Whakatū / Nelson
Date: TBC
Location - State Cinemas - 91 Trafalgar Street, Nelson.
Capacity - 100 seats
Accessibility Information - Ground floor or ramp/slight incline to enter cinema, 2 wheelchair spaces inside the cinema
Doors will open 15 minutes before screening for all heats.