Your Film Career Starts This Weekend!
Posted 21st May 2026
The Vista Foundation 48Hours competition has become a proving ground for emerging directors ready to trade perfectionism for creative momentum. This is more than a competition. It's a dedicated community of grassroots filmmakers and film fanatics that all support each other at packed cinema screening events across Aotearoa.
Trust Your Gut and Hit Record
You don’t need years of experience or a polished filmography to take part in Vista Foundation 48Hours. Whether you’re directing your first short film, finding your creative voice, collecting material for your showreel or a seasoned filmmaker wanting to try something new, this is your chance to dive into a weekend of fast decisions, creative problem-solving, and filmmaking.
It’s where emerging directors learn to trust their instincts, collaborate with new people, take creative risks and discover what they’re capable of when the clock is counting down. The best part is you don’t need a big budget, industry connections, or years of experience to take part.
The Competition That Opens Doors
For 23 years, the Vista Foundation 48Hours has been a meaningful, first or next step for filmmakers seeking an opportunity to showcase their craft, with no risk if it doesn’t work out, and all upside for your career pathway if you crack through.
Crews get to screen their films in audience packed cinemas, compete for awards and cash prizes, and have their work seen by everyone from first-time filmmakers to industry veterans from around Aotearoa.
The Grand National Prize is funding and scaffolded support for your next short film.
Grand Final winners get the opportunity to pitch to the New Zealand Film Commission for a Level Up Grant of $25,000 to put toward a new film project.
From Local Competition to Global Screens
Alumni of the competition include Mukpuddy (The Barefoot Bandits, Bad Jelly the Witch), Viva La Dirt League (Into the Darklands, Sims Logic), Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok, Thor: Love and Thunder, Jojo Rabbit), Joseph Moore and Laura Daniels (Saturday Night Live UK), and Tom Sainsbury (Small Town Scandal, Loop Track).
Long time competitors Callum Devlin and Annabel Kean of Sports Team this year have released a cult classic with indie feature The Weed Eaters.
Recent alumni success also includes 2025 Grand National Champions, creative duo Chris Callus and Adam Reynolds of Positive Barry who had their short film, Grounded selected in two A-List Film Festivals following the competition; Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival.
Level Up Grant
Grand Final winners will get the opportunity to pitch to the VF48Hours team for the NZFC Level Up Grant of $25,000 to put toward a new film project.
Key Dates/Info: The Vista Foundation 48Hours 2026
- Early Bird Registration Opens: June 1st, 2026.
- The Shoot Weekend July 31st - August 2nd, 2026.
- The Genres: Announced at 7:00 PM on Friday, July 31st.