NZWG is proud to support and celebrate writers in at the SWANZ (Script Writer Awards New Zealand) and Unproduced Script Competition.
NZWG believe that our unique stories should be shared, celebrated and recognised within our industry. These awards and the evening event do just that for the best writers in the New Zealand.
This year NZWG would like to thank our generous sponsors – Final Draft, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development, South Pacific Pictures, New Zealand Film Commission & Filthy Productions.
About SWANZ
The Script Writers Awards NZ were created in 2008 in response to New Zealand not having a dedicated celebration of screen and stage writers. The inaugural SWANZ ceremony was held in November 2010. This initiative was created to recognise and acknowledge the storytellers behind the screens and stages of New Zealand.
That first SWANZ met with widespread acclaim, and now SWANZ is an annual event and a major date on the stage and screen industry calendar.
SWANZ is an opportunity to celebrate with New Zealand’s best film, stage and television industry writers in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.
GENERAL DATES & DETAILS
Nominations for SWANZ open around late June each year.
Finalists are announced around two weeks ahead of the ceremony & event for the SWANZ Awards.
The SWANZ event is scheduled — to nestle alongside the weekend of the Big Screen Symposium — on a Thursday night: late September–early October each year.
SWANZ & USC CATEGORIES
SWANZ
Best: Feature Film Script
Best: Short Film Script
Best: Play
Best: Radio Play
Best: Episode TV Series: Comedy
Best: Episode TV Series: Drama
Best: Episode Web Series
Best: Script One-off TV Drama
Best: Documentary Script
Best: New Writer
Unproduced Script Competition (USC)*
*Unproduced Script Competition: the competition – and awards – for works that are yet to be made
Best: UNPRODUCED Feature Film Script
Best: UNPRODUCED TV / Web Pilot
2017 SWANZ – Winners
South Pacific Pictures – Best Feature Film
Waru – Briar Grace-Smith, Casey Kaa, Ainsley Gardiner, Katie Wolfe, Chelsea Cohen, Renae Maihi, Paula Jones, Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu
Best Short Film
Mr Bernstein – Guy Hamling, Deb Filler
Best Play
Te Puhi – Cian Elyse Waiti
ATEED Best Episode TV Series – Drama
Shortland Street 25th Anniversary Special – Nick Malmholt, Harry McNaughton
Best Web Episode
Darryl. An Outward Bound Story, Episode 2 – Millen Baird, John Argall
Best One-off TV Drama
Jean – Paula Boock, Donna Malane
Best New Writer
Cian Elyse Waiti
2017 Unproduced Script Competition – Winners
TV Pilot
Saviour – Rene LeBas
Feature Film
Daisy Chain – Shoshana McCallum, Natalie Medlock
For a list of all winners and finalists (2010 - 2017), click here.