The Vista Foundation 48Hours—Aotearoa’s biggest, wildest filmmaking competition—reaches its apex this year with the 2025 National Grand Finals.
Following the four regional finals (Tāmaki Makaurau, Whanganui-a-Tara, Ōtautahi & Across Aotearoa), the country will converge to Wellington’s Embassy Theatre on Saturday 25th October to watch and celebrate the 14 national finalists, plus 3 wildcards selected by Sir Peter Jackson, with the big winners announced straight after the screening. The National Best School winner will also play at the Grand Finals.
Now in its 20th year, the Vista Foundation 48Hours has been a breeding ground for some of New Zealand’s top screen talent. Professionals and amateurs alike take up the challenge to write, shoot/animate, and edit a short film in just one weekend with veteran teams honing their craft and fresh faces stamping their mark on the industry.
It’s also just a great excuse to have fun, make a film, and spread the infectious creative energy that’s always there in abundance at these finals screenings. Even if you’re just there as an audience, you’re unlikely to see another showcase of homegrown films with the verve and variety on display.
2022 national finalist Oh Crap by RS Productions
THIS YEAR’S FINALISTS
Once Upon a Time, There Was You by Angle3 Pictures
MOTHER by Awkward Animations
Singularity by Felix & Luke’s Excellent Team (Ōtautahi / Christchurch Runner Up)
Hat Trick by Great Lake Film Society (Across Aotearoa Regional Winner)
The Shroud by Jake The Sound Guy
Maybe Daddy by Jovial Entertainment (Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland Runner Up)
Toast by Mayodaze (Across Aotearoa Runner Up)
Morgan’s Organs by Pastafarian Productions
iTROLL by Permanently Confused (Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland Winner)
Baby Girl by Pixel Pixies (Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington Runner Up)
Grounded by Positive Barry
Spoiler Alert by Rabid Aunty Jean (Ōtautahi / Christchurch Regional Winner)
The Secret Garden by The Flamily
Ritual by Videoshop (Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington Winner)
SIR PETER JACKSON WILDCARDS
I MetaMan by An Evening With
The True Story of Billy the Horse by PlanetFoxFilms
Party Puffers by Glowtime
2021 national finalist Hydrangea by Tasteful Sideboob
The judges of the 2025 Grand Finals are a real who’s who of the screen industry: Sir Peter Jackson, Dame Gaylene Preston, Elijah Wood, Mette Marie Kongsved, Tim White, Jess Hong, Jasmin McSweeney, Dean Hewison, Sophie Cherry, Nikki Si’ulepa, Peter Salmon, Morgana O’Reilly and Kathryn Graham. You can read all the awards categories and their nominees here and check out last year’s winners here.
Among the wealth of prizes up for grabs, this year’s Grand National Champion will receive $20,000 cash prize from WingNut Films, $20,000 worth of post production services from Park Road Post Production, $15,000 worth of gear hire from Portsmouth Film Equipment Rental, x1 year Digital Pigeon Freelance subscription (valued at A$456), and the Grand National Champion APEE. The VF48Hours and NZFC Level Up Grant also returns this year, offering the winning team an opportunity to pitch for a grant of up to $25,000 towards a new film.
VF48HOURS GRAND FINALS DATES AND DETAILS
Date / Time: Saturday 25th October, 7.30pm (Labour Weekend)
Venue: The Embassy Theatre – 10 Kent tce, Wellington
Rating: TBC
Tickets: Here
Bar opens 6:00pm
Doors open 7:00pm
Show starts 7:30pm
After Party @ The Tasting Room
This event will also be live-streamed for those who can’t make it along on the 48HoursNZ YouTube Channel.
