NZWG is proud to support and celebrate writers in at the SWANZ (Script Writer Awards New Zealand) and Unproduced Script Competition. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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2017 Unproduced Script Competition – Winners

TV Pilot
Saviour – Rene LeBas

Feature Film
Daisy Chain – Shoshana McCallum, Natalie Medlock

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For a list of all winners and finalists (2010 - 2017), click here.