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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.’ 
  • 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.
  • Student films should be entered into the relevant categories and the entry notes should indicate it is a student film, the name of the film school, and whether it was totally student led, or supervised by a tutor. 
  • NZCS may reallocate any entry it believes has been entered in an inappropriate category.
  • If you do not have a copy of the entry media yourself then when gaining the producers approval please ask them to supply a copy. Department of Post are kindly giving their time towards managing the entry portal for us, they are not to be used for sourcing your entry media. Contact Awards PM if you need help.

Cutting edge award

The cutting edge award is a discretionary award made in some years by the judges to a cinematographer for breaking new ground in technical, creative, or craft in New Zealand. There is a wide latitude in the kind of production or cinematography eligible for this award. 


  

Category 1: Student films

   $25

Student at time of filming the entry. A maximum of 2 entries per student is allowed. Entrants must state which cinematography / film course or school they attended at the time of filming their entry. 


  

Category 2: Music videos

   $75
Musical or concert items shot for the purpose of entertainment or promotion.
  • Entrants should be responsible for lighting, particularly in the case of stage lighting. 

  

Category 3: Short films

   $75
Short dramatised productions.

  

Category 4: News and current affairs

   $75

News or current affairs stories or segments broadcast on regular television news or current affairs programs. 

  • Enter a single story, segment, or episode.
  • Entries which are more documentary in nature and which run for the entire duration of the program, also have the option of being entered into Documentaries.

  

Category 5: Magazine, lifestyle and reality

   $75
Light entertainment human-interest productions or segments. For example: travel, leisure, gardening, property, cooking, entertainment, science, sports, arts and reality shows.
  • Enter a single story, segment, or episode.

  

Category 6: Corporate and educational

   $75

Productions specifically shot for a corporate or educational market designed to teach or inform. Includes longer online infomercials.

Categories 6 & 9: Is it a Corporate or a Commercial? Not sure which category to enter? Due to the changing landscape of our industry it may be difficult to know which category some work fits into, therefore we have made up a guide to help entrants work out where commercial / corporate works may be entered. Please ask yourself this list of questions via this link. If the majority of your answers are in one column then that is most likely your category for that particular entry.


  

Category 7: Documentaries and factual series

   $75
Traditional documentary productions normally dealing with people in relation to their environment. Entries can include feature documentaries, documentary series and documentaries subjects within current affairs programs that constitute the entire program.
  • In television documentary shows, enter only one episode, per entrant.
  • Current affairs segments that constitute the entire program should be entered in this category.


  

Category 8: Web series

   $75

An episode from a drama series (more than three episodes) made for free online distribution.

  • Enter a single episode per season where you were the DP.
  • Acknowledge in the notes the DP who set up the series look.

    		  

    Category 9: Commercials

    		   $95
    Commercials for national or international release. Entries must have been specifically shot for this purpose and not repurposed from other material.
    • Includes all distribution channels including online.
    • Includes promos, TV station IDs.
    • CGI or computer manipulation must be clearly identified in media submission.

    Commercials are generally distinguished from corporate and educational entries by shorter length (under 90 seconds), TV commercial style, and high productions values. 


    		  

    Category 10: Specialised and second unit 

    		   $95

    Second unit sequences or specialised cinematography sequences or productions.

    • The NZCS defines ‘specialised cinematography’ as a specific discipline of cinematography requiring a high level of expertise and skill in that field. Entrants may submit segments or sequences from a project - including if they did not have the title of DP - provided they shot the segment in its entirety and have gained permission from the DP of the project.
    • This category includes examples such as microphotography, macro photography, ultrahigh speed, underwater, aerial, stunt sequences, chase sequences, fight scenes, or other 2U drama scenes.
    • A list of scattered shots or time codes 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 at “fight sequence at 10 minutes where hero leaps from building and fights monster” Main unit shots cut into the sequence should be described. For example: “CU’s of hero were MU shots”
    • Test footage or show reels are not eligible, as entries are based on a particular production.

      		  

      Category 11: Drama and drama series

      		  $110

      A standalone drama, dramatised documentary, comedy, or one episode from a series. Made for TV broadcast or subscription service. In case of a teleseries:

      • Enter a single episode per season where you the DP

      • Acknowledge in the notes the DP who set up the series look

      Combines teleseries, telefeature and dramatised documentaries “drama is drama”. This does not include webseries which have their own category.


      		  

      Category 12: Feature films - Budget under $5m

      		 $135

      This category is for feature films intended for Cinema and/or VOD release made with a production budget of LESS than NZD$5 million.

      • This amount excludes “P&A” expenditure budget for publicity, advertising or promotion of the film. Entrants may be required to provide verification of the budget. 
      • Entrants who shot a Feature Film with a budget under NZD$5m may choose to enter into Cat 13: Feature Films (Budget $5m and over) if they so wish, but they cannot enter both categories. 
      • A feature film must have a 50 minute duration or longer.
      • A feature film must be first released through national or international theatrical channels. 

      		  


      Category 13: Feature films - Budget $5m and over

      This category is for feature film productions made with a production budget of NZD$5 million or more.

      • This amount excludes “P&A” expenditure budget for publicity, advertising or promotion of the film. Entrants may be required to provide verification of the budget. 
      • A feature film must have a 50 minute duration or longer
      • A feature film must be first released through national or international theatrical channels. 
      		 



      		 
      		$135

      What about colourists and operators?

      From time to time, we receive inquiries about broadening the awards to encompass roles such as colorists, operators, and animators. These roles undoubtedly make valuable contributions, and their importance is recognised by cinematographers.

      The Turtz Award holds a special place in our lineup, honouring contributions from non-cinematographers.

      Operators also have an opportunity to showcase their specialised cinematography sequences in Category 10: Specialised and Second Unit.

      However, due to logistical constraints, we are unable to accommodate additional awards without compromising the manageability of our event. Therefore, our focus remains on directors of photography—the individuals responsible for defining the visual aesthetic.

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