Across Aotearoa
In 2025, the Vista Foundation 48Hours is launching a new Across Aotearoa region—bringing together all teams outside Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. This means that there will be one combined regional final bringing together all the talent from across Aotearoa.
We know its really important for teams to get together and watch their films so we will be focussing our resources on making sure that we run heats screenings in all the previous regions - Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Taranaki, Hamilton and Dunedin, as well as adding in additional locations where we have a number of teams entering, but who are currently missing out on in-person screenings. If your community or local film office is interested in a local heat, then we’d love to hear from you.
The finals will be screened online so that teams from across the country can tune in together to watch and celebrate the best of regional filmmaking. All winners in each award category will be elevated into the national finals, where they’ll compete for top honours.
We acknowledge this is a significant change, especially for the many teams who’ve helped shape the identity of the Vista Foundation 48Hours in their areas. We're hoping that this change will create more opportunities for networking, collaboration, and showcasing regional talent on a bigger stage—while still keeping that local spirit alive through watch parties and online interaction.
Regional Manager
Francesca Carney
Born in rural Hawke’s Bay, Francesca (Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi) has over 20 years’ experience in film and television, with a strong focus on uplifting under-served voices. At the NZ Film Commission, she helped lead key initiatives including Fresh Shorts and Te Rautaki Māori.
Alongside her husband Ben Powdrell, she co-directs Suite Habana Productions, creating theatre, radio, and short films, their recent work includes co-producing the NZ On Air-funded animated series Bloke of the Apocalypse. A long-time 48Hours participant, Francesca now brings her passion to the role of ‘Across Aotearoa’ Manager, supporting the next wave of regional filmmakers—while raising three tamariki.
2025 Across Aotearoa Regional Winner
The Hat Trick by Great Lake Film Society
2025 Across Aotearoa Runner Up
Toast by Mayodaze
2025 Finalists
Maggie Mynx 6 Rise of the Reptiloids by Boddybag
Trip Hazard by Bus of the Undead
Backseat by CASA CARLTON
Grandma's House by Confused Antelope
Once Upon A Time in Kaiti by Fusion HAA
LUMP by Girl In The Mirror
48 Hours Later by Hot Lunch
Every Last Bastard by Midnight Sunburn
Morgan's Organs by Pastafarian Productions
Family Christmas Monopoly by Team Northland
The Bad Tasting Hero by The Immortal Think Tank
Canis Familiaris by The Grimm Sisters
2025 Shortlist
Fridgid by 48 hours of Musical Theatre
Flatline by Anubis House
The Second Sprouting by Cucumber Cup Creations
Christmiss by Guavablue Productions
Better Watch Out by REDAACTED BLACKBOOK
Forever hold your pants by RS Productions
Too Far Gone by Russley Pictures
Toad In The Hole by Terrible Ideas
The Devil Wears Pleather by The Happy Little Peas
Signal Lost by The Mismatched Misfits
The Cleaners by Unsalted Films
2025 Across Aotearoa Awards
Best School Team
Rabbit Hole by PB&J The Long Way
Nominees:
Ghost Diaries by HGHS 13
Ballgowns and Breakdowns by Janky But Decent
Phoneonemon by Naycol Jetplanes
Cat-ch Me If You Can by Birthday Party Productions
Best Use of an Accident
Backseat by CASA CARLTON
Nominees:
Grandma's House by Confused Antelope
Coming Home by MyJoJa
Micro Heist by Moose Ninja Studios
Toast by Mayodaze
Best Use of something precious
My Precious by Hamilton Film Collaborators
Nominees:
Once Upon A Time in Kaiti by Fusion HAA
Trip Hazard by Bus of the Undead
Maggie Mynx 6 Rise of the Reptiloids by Boddybag
Lou by Antidaephobia
Best Use of a Miniature
Toad In The Hole by Terrible Ideas
Nominees:
Richard Cheddar and the Cheese by Timenol
Grandma's House by Confused Antelope
Once Upon A Time in Kaiti by Fusion HAA
Toast by Mayodaze
Best Use of slow motion
Ghost Diaries by HGHS 13
Nominees:
48 Hours Later by Hot Lunch
Cop a Sec - The Long Yarn Of The Law by Toro Ake
Too Far Gone by Russley Pictures
Forever hold your pants by RS Productions
Best Use of Genre
Trip Hazard by Bus of the Undead
Nominees:
Grandma's House by Confused Antelope
Toast by Mayodaze
Once Upon A Time in Kaiti by Fusion HAA
Too Far Gone by Russley Pictures
Regional Manager Award - Best Regional Location
Every Last Bastard by Midnight Sunburn
Nominees:
Ride or Die by STABCAM
Afterimage by Peaked in Film School
Signal Lost by The Mismatched Misfits
Trip Hazard by Bus of the Undead
Best Disqualified Film
A cautionary tale to moden piracy by Te Kohanga Moa - 1
Nominees:
Six Feet Further by In Cinemas Now
ENCIPH3R by Fleapit Charlatans 2.0
The Tale of the Minions by Steven (and the Stevens)
Nat ONE by The Handsome Knights
Outstanding Female / Gender Diverse Filmmaker - Supported by WIFT
Hannah Taylor - solo team from Pastafarian Productions
Nominees:
Che Crawford - Writer, Director, Producer, animator from The Immortal Think Tank
Denise Edmonds - Director from Great Lake Film Society
Jade Shepherd - Director from Mayodaze
Jessica Walker - Writer, director from Girl In The Mirror
Best Original Score/Song
Morgan's Organs by Pastafarian Productions
Nominees:
The Second Sprouting by Cucumber Cup Creations
Maximum Glamour by Butterfly Hill Productions
Trip Hazard by Bus of the Undead
The Devil Wears Pleather by The Happy Little Peas
Best Sound Design
Toast by Mayodaze
Nominees:
Signal Lost by The Mismatched Misfits
Canis Familiaris by The Grimm Sisters
48 Hours Later by Hot Lunch
Every Last Bastard by Midnight Sunburn
Best Editing
The Hat-Trick by Great Lake Film Society
Nominees:
Toast by Mayodaze
48 Hours Later by Hot Lunch
Signal Lost by The Mismatched Misfits
LUMP by Girl in the Mirror
Best Animation
Morgan's Organs by Pastafarian Productions
Nominees:
Canis Familiaris by The Grimm Sisters
48 Hours Later by Hot Lunch
Think About It Bro by Orangutan Soup
The Bad Tasting Hero by The Immortal Think Tank
Best Production Design
The Bad Tasting Hero by The Immortal Think Tank
Nominees:
Afterimage by Peaked in Film School
Every Last Bastard by Midnight Sunburn
The Hat-Trick by Great Lake Film Society
Canis Familiaris by The Grimm Sisters
Incredibly Strange Award
LUMP by Girl In The Mirror
Nominees:
Richard Cheddar and the Cheese by Timenol
Antidaephobia by Lou
Think About It Bro by Orangutan Soup
Maggie Mynx 6 Rise of the Reptiloids by Boddybag
Best Cinematography
Every Last Bastard by Midnight Sunburn
Nominees:
48 Hours Later by Hot Lunch
Toast by Mayodaze
Signal Lost by The Mismatched Misfits
LUMP by Girl in The Mirror
Best Script
Nominees
Family Christmas Monopoly by Team Northland
Nominees:
Trip Hazard by Bus of the Undead
Once Upon A Time in Kaiti by Fusion HAA
Grandma's House by Confused Antelope
The Hat-Trick by Great Lake Film Society
Best Performer
Esmée Myers, Robbie van Gruenen and Noah Hewlett-Coffey from Team Northland - Family Christmas Monopoly
Nominees:
Harrison Greer from Mayodaze (Toast)
Luna Blanco from Midnight Sunburn (Every Last Bastard)
Danielle Cormack and Gemma Dart from CASA CARLTON (Backseat)
Dervla Murtagh from Hat Trick
Best Director
Toast by Mayodaze
Nominees:
Family Christmas Monopoly by Team Northland
Trip Hazard by Bus of the Undead
Every Last Bastard by Midnight Sunburn
The Hat-Trick by Great Lake Film Society
Judges
Mike Jonathan
Mike (Tainui, Mātaatua, Te Arawa) has built a remarkable career spanning nearly 30 years as a director, cameraman, and director of photography. Throughout his journey, he has garnered recognition for his outstanding documentaries and short films. A key to Mike’s expertise is his ability to serve as a one-man team, proficient in both shooting and directing. Based in his hometown of Rotorua, he is deeply passionate about Māori storytelling and how each kaupapa impacts his people. This passion drives him and his team to bring a unique perspective to every project they undertake. Mike is a member of the Steambox Film Collective who established RIFF, the Rotorua Indigenous Film Festival, and supported Mike's feature film debut with Māori language drama Ka Whawhai Tonu funded by the New Zealand Film Commission.
Robin Murphy
Robin has worked in the New Zealand film industry as a freelancer for 45 years on both local and international productions. She’s crewed on feature films, television drama, TVC’s and online content ranging from costume for the 1981 kiwi classic feature film Goodbye Pork Pie, through to supervising location manager and asst director for The Lord Of The Rings trilogy and King Kong. She’s also location managed TV shows such as Outrageous Fortune, Power Rangers, One Of Us Is Lying, The Gone, and After The Party.
Over the past 25 years, in between paid gigs, Robin has also produced nine short films, three web series and most recently, the NZ feature films Births, Deaths and Marriages, Lowdown Dirty Criminals and PUNCH.
Having returned to her home base in Hawkes Bay in 2017, Robin still travels regularly around Aotearoa for freelance film work on local and international productions, and enjoys spending time working with emerging filmmakers on their journey from script to screen.
Allan Henry
Born and raised in Patea, Taranaki, Allan Henry (Ngāti Ruanui, Te Āti Awa) has been involved in Film and TV since 2007. A regular performer for WētāFX as well as many international productions, Allan has a large catalogue of work. He was most recently "seen" as Malgosha in A Minecraft Movie, the titular character of Cokey in Cocaine Bear, and King Kong in Godzilla Vs Kong. Allan has spent the last few years as both performer and movement coach for projects such as The Planet of the Apes Trilogy, The BFG, Justice League, and The Avengers, to name a few. Allan has a great love of movement, performance, and teaching across all ages.
Jason Taylor
Jason Taylor (Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato, Ngāti Tama, Te Āti Awa) is an award-winning producer honored as the SPADA Emerging Producer of the Year 2024. He is a participant in the Strength in Numbers programme supported by Script to Screen and the NZFC and is currently a Producer in the Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab.
In 2022, Jason received NZFC He Ara Development Support and participated in Screen Canberra’s ScreenPod programme. In 2023, he was selected as one of 15 producers to take part in NZFC’s Screen Capability and Business Innovation programme. He is a Proud Voices on Screen Producer Incubator alumni.
His company, Tai Huri Films produces scripted projects–both series and features encompassing a diverse slate of animated and live-action properties in development, supported by NZFC, NZ On Air, and Te Māngai Pāho. His animated NZFC-funded short film Mirumiru, is a finalist in this year's NZIFF Ngā Whanaunga: Aotearoa New Zealand’s Best.
Anna Middleton
Originally trained in ballet and contemporary dance, Anna Middleton toured internationally as a singer and entertainer before pivoting to storytelling through the lens of a camera. A graduate of the New Zealand Broadcasting School in 2003, Anna had the privilege of building her early career working on TVCs, music videos, short films, and features. In 2007, she co-founded Flying Saucer Films, a boutique video and stills production company, crafting compelling content for tourism, govt, and corporate clients. Today, she’s a Board Member of the Visual Effects Professionals Guild (VFXG) and Department Manager at Wētā FX, where she’s spent the last decade recruiting and mentoring exceptional visual effects talent from around the motu. Passionate about nurturing our next-gen creatives, Anna appreciates artistic flair, technical innovation, and human-centred storytelling.
Tom Scott-Toft
Tom Scott-Toft is an award-winning Sound Designer, Editor, and Mixer, with over 15 years experience.
Tom has experience across a broad spectrum of projects and mediums. Some particular highlights have been Peter Jackson’s groundbreaking documentary 'They Shall Not Grow Old’, Lisa Reihana’s 2017 Venice Biennale featured art installation, ‘In Pursuit of Venus [Infected]’, and more recent work includes ‘The House Within’, directed by Joshua Prenderville, Taika Waititi’s ‘Time Bandits’ series and Kath Akuhata Brown’s debut feature film ‘Koka’.
Tom began his career in sound in Auckland, working mostly in advertising, but a move to Wellington in 2011 opened the door to film and television, with 10 years spent working out of Park Road Post. Now based in Oamaru in the South Island, Tom works as a freelancer on both large and small projects.
Dale Corlett
Dale Corlett (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Rangitane, Ngāti Ira) has over 30 years’ experience in developing screen storytellers in NZ, the USA, and the UK. Prior to joining Script to Screen as Te Tumu Whakarae Executive Director in 2024, he was Head of Talent Development at the NZ Film Commission (NZFC) for nine years, where he and his team supported new, emerging, and mid-career professionals in all aspects of their professional development.
Prior to the NZFC, he was CEO of GMAC Film in Scotland, where he was responsible for identifying and developing high-quality emerging talent and supporting their progression from shorts to features and developing careers. He was also proactive in the creation of innovative, diversity-led, and gender focused talent development programmes across Scotland and the UK. A graduate of Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School, he has worked as a director, actor, producer, and writer. He was nominated for a Scottish BAFTA as Best Director for his debut feature film, Running Traffic.
Cathasaigh Ó Fiannachta
Cathasaigh Ó Fiannachta is a nonbinary filmmaker living in Kēkerengū, Aotearoa. Over their 15+ year screen career they have developed both film and series at home and off-shore.
In 2024 they co-founded Freak Development with their professional and personal partner Andrew Todd. They are currently producing Tim Hamilton’s first feature: POP, and serve on the Sawmill Studios charitable trust committee.
Amie Richardson
For more than 20 years, Amie Richardson has worked across various roles in communications, film, television, and the media. An award-winning journalist for newspapers and magazines, Amie first joined the media industry as a reporter for the NZ Herald and Sunday Star-Times. Her television work has included various roles from development through to research, script writing, and associate producing in documentaries, docu-drama, tele features, short films, and factual series. In 2010, she moved to Dunedin, where she became a board member of Short Film Otago, producing, script editing, and executive producing various funded short films. She has also worked as a communications professional, with an extensive list of clients including iD Fashion Week, the International Science Festival, and the Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival, alongside a regular fortnightly column with weekend magazine Your Weekend. Amie currently works full time for child rights organisation Save the Children, as the organisation’s Communications, Media and Campaigns Director.
Miguel Weaver
Miguel Weaver is a former 48 Hours Regional Manager and has been film-making for 19 years. Well-known in Dunedin for his circus antics, theatre work, event management, and balloon-twisting, he has made a great many short films, music videos, and promotional videos, while squeezing in a little acting as well.