After another whirlwind weekend of creativity, chaos, and cinematic brilliance, the winners of the 2025 Vista Foundation 48Hours National Awards have been announced!
This year’s competition saw thousands of filmmakers from across Aotearoa take on the challenge of writing, shooting, and editing a short film in just 48 hours. The results were nothing short of spectacular — showcasing the incredible talent, diversity, and storytelling power of filmmakers across the motu.
Taking out the National Grand Champion title for 2025 is Positive Barry with their film Grounded - a duo team of Chris Callus and Adam Reynolds from Wellington. A standout entry that wowed judges with its creativity, technical execution, and emotional impact.
Watch Grounded by Positive Barry.
A young ladybird learning to fly discovers that sometimes in life you need a helping hand... or eight.
In a rare outcome, the National Grand Runner-Up title was awarded as a tie this year, with both Maybe Daddy by Jovial Entertainment from Auckland, and Spoiler Alert by Rabid Aunty Jean from Christchurch, earning equal acclaim from the judging panel.
Watch Spoiler Alert by Rabid Aunty Jean.
An avid reader's fun is spoiled by a stranger passing by, causing a revenge plan to ensue.
Watch Maybe Daddy by Jovial Entertainment.
At a raucous speed dating event, a single mother is blindsided by the reappearance of an old flame whose wild assumptions spiral into chaos, and his inability to let go forces her into a frantic bid to escape.
Made up of leading New Zealand filmmakers and industry professionals, the judging panel praised the high calibre of work across all finalists, noting that the standard of storytelling and filmmaking craft continues to rise each year.
This year marks another exciting chapter in the 48Hours legacy, proudly supported by the Vista Foundation, which continues to champion emerging talent and celebrate the vibrant spirit of Aotearoa’s film community.
Congratulations to all of this year’s winners, finalists, and everyone who took part in the 2025 Vista Foundation 48Hours.
For all the winners go to the 2025 Winners page.
Check out the prizes here.
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In 2025, we had 545 teams register for the competition and 469 eligible films submitted. Nationwide there were 178 School teams and 81 Tertiary Teams involved, with 41 teams giving the solo/duo a go!
This year we combined smaller areas from across the country into one mega region - Across Aotearoa. This gave teams an opportunity to compete in a larger pool of competitors, comparable to the Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch Regions.
There were 48 online and in-person heats screenings across the country gathering together filmmakers from each region. We had 51 judges who dedicated their time and their industry experience to the competition.
The 2025 National Judging Panel features an extraordinary lineup of filmmakers, actors, and producers from New Zealand and around the world, including: 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.
The Vista Foundation 48Hours is presented by The Vista Foundation, in association with Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga / New Zealand Film Commission. We are grateful for the support of these industry giants, along with the WingNut Group and many other generous sponsors. Their backing underscores the significance of 48Hours in the landscape of New Zealand filmmaking and sets many filmmakers on a path to success in the industry.
Once Upon a Time, There Was You by Angle3 Pictures - Watch the film
MOTHER by Awkward Animations - Watch the film
Singularity by Felix & Luke's Excellent Team - Watch the film
Hat Trick by Great Lake Film Society - Watch the film
The Shroud by Jake The Sound Guy - Watch the film
Toast by Mayodaze - Watch the film
Morgan's Organs by Pastafarian Productions - Watch the film
iTROLL by Permanently Confused - Watch the film
Baby Girl by Pixel Pixies - Watch the film
The Secret Garden by The Flamily - Watch the film
Ritual by Videoshop - Watch the film
I MetaMan by An Evening With - Watch the film
The True Story of Billy the Horse by PlanetFoxFilms - Watch the film
Party Puffers by Glowtime - Watch the film
Two Minutes, One Cup by Anxious Tummy - Watch the film
Trip Hazard by Bus of the Undead - Watch the film
Agapanthus Christie by Couch Kumara - Watch the film
RealYou by Film the People - Watch the film
Every Last Bastard by Midnight Sunburn - Watch the film
Hi Santa, it's Charlie by Olax - Watch the film
Family Christmas Monopoly by Team Northland - Watch the film
The Occupation by The Horny Owls - Watch the film
Marionette by World Wide Wellington - Watch the film
Supported by Digital Pigeon and Rubber Monkey in partnership with Deity and SmallRig
Misplaced Death by Dennistribe - CHCH
Spoiler Alert by Rabid Aunty Jean - CHCH - Link
Nominees:
Two Minutes One Cup by Anxious Tummy - AKL
Agapanthus Christie by Couch Kumara - WLG
Maybe Daddy by Jovial Entertainment - AKL
Toast by Mayodaze - AA
MOTHER by Awkward Animations - AKL
Nominees:
LUMP by Girl In The Mirror - AA
Morgan's Organs by Pastafarian Productions - AA
Grounded by Positive Barry - WLG
Respect for the Dead by 18th Circle - WLG
Nominees:
A Helping Hand by Harbour Light - CHCH
Cake Fancy Small by Rouge Emu - AKL
A cautionary tale to modern piracy by Te Kohanga Moa - 1 - AA
Hannah Taylor - Morgan's Organs by Pastafarian Productions - AA
Nominees:
Nani Conforte - Hope Mirrored is Despair by Enter the Hollow - AKL
Grae Meek & Michelle Pope - For When You Wake by Screen Qweens - CHCH
Emily Ardern - Ritual by Videoshop - WLG
Once Upon a Time, There Was You by Angle3 Pictures - AKL
Nominees:
Purgatory by Kākāpō - WLG
Morgan's Organs by Pastafarian Productions - AA
Brunch Solstice - Sub-par Cinema Society - CHCH
Ritual by Videoshop - WLG
Nominees:
I MetaMan by An Evening With - CHCH
The Shroud by Jake The Sound Guy - AKL
Toast by Mayodaze - AA
I MetaMan by An Evening With - CHCH
Nominees:
Hat Trick by Great Lake Film Society - AA
The Shroud by Jake The Sound Guy - AKL
Baby Girl by Pixel Pixies - WLG
Morgan's Organs by Pastafarian Productions - AA - Link
Nominees:
MOTHER by Awkward Animations - AKL
Grounded by Positive Barry - WLG
Chaos Cabin by Render Rebels - CHCH
Singularity by Felix & Luke's Excellent Team - CHCH
Nominees:
The Occupation by The Horny Owls - AKL
The Bad Tasting Hero by The Immortal Think Tank - AA
Marionette by World Wide Wellington - WLG
Two Minutes, One Cup by Anxious Tummy - AKL
Nominees:
THINGS by AuroraVision - WLG
LUMP by Girl In The Mirror - AA
There Came a Big Spider by Shrek 2 for Blu-ray - CHCH
Midnight Sunburn by Every Last Bastard - AA
Nominees:
Hope Mirrored is Despair by Enter the Hollow - AKL
Baby Girl by Pixel Pixies - WLG
Spoiler Alert by Rabid Aunty Jean - CHCH
Maybe Daddy by Jovial Entertainment - AKL - LINK
Nominees:
Spoiler Alert by Rabid Aunty Jean - CHCH
Family Christmas Monopoly by Team Northland - AA
The Secret Garden by The Flamily - WLG
Kalyani Nagarajan - iTROLL by Permanently Confused - AKL
Nominees:
Hugo Montgomery - Mousetrap by Killing Karma Studios - WLG
Charlie Gates - Hi Santa, It's Charlie by Olax - CHCH
Esmée Myers, Robbie van Gruenen & Noah Hewlett-Coffey - Family Christmas Monopoly by Team Northland - AA
Spoiler Alert by Rabid Aunty Jean - CHCH - Link
Nominees:
Toast by Mayodaze - AA
iTROLL by Permanently Confused - AKL
Ritual by Videoshop - WLG