Terms and Conditions

General Conditions of Entry - these apply to all entrants regardless of category   

  1. You must declare if your entry is subject to any dispute or litigation with a third party
  2. The details you enter under each entry will be published if that entry becomes a finalist or winner. Please ensure these details are correct at the time of entry
  3. Each entrant is responsible for ensuring DVDs contain the relevant entry, and that there is no technical fault preventing playback. Failure to do so may result in the entry being disqualified.  Entry fees will not be refunded in this instance
  4. Entrants are required to provide their entry on a high resolution, time coded DVD - not VHS
  5. A discounted entry fee applies to programmes broadcast on free to air channels operated by ThinkTV members and entrants that are SDGNZ members
  6. A project (programme, documentary or film) is only permitted to be entered in the Awards once, and cannot have been entered in the film and television awards previously. This includes the former Qantas Film and Television Awards, NZ Screen Awards and Qantas Television Awards
  7. "Screened publicly", as referenced in the Documentary and Film sections, is defined as screened in a commercial theatre to members of the public who have purchased tickets 
  8. The judging panels are made up of expert individuals with experience across all types of television and film production. There will be a chair of judges appointed to each of the four sections: general television, news and current affairs, documentary and film. Individuals involved in the production of any entry may not serve on that category's panel
  9. If, in the opinion of the judges, none of the entries in any category meets the criterion of excellence, or insufficient entries are received in any category, the entries will not proceed and no award shall be made at the discretion of the Awards Committee
  10. In the event there are more than 20 entries in any one category, a pre-selection panel will nominate 15 entries to go forward to the final judging panel 
  11. In any instance where there are insufficient entries in a category, your entry fee will be refunded in full
  12. The consent form required as part of the entry process assigns permission to the organisers of the Aotearoa Film & Television Awards to reproduce stills and clips for the Awards website, Awards shows, and media coverage
  13. The organisers reserve the right to withdraw an award if they later find that the entrant did not comply with the entry conditions
  14. The judges' decisions will be final and no correspondence will be entered into
  15. The success of the Awards relies on complete confidentiality until the winners are publicly announced. All entrants are required to adhere to this condition; failure to do so could result in disqualification. The Awards organisers will make all announcements concerning finalists and winners 
  16. All online entries must be received by 5pm on Wednesday 10 August 2011.
  17. All DVD material must be received by 5pm on Friday 12 August 2011.

Entry Terms and Conditions for News and Current Affairs, and General Television Categories  

  1. All entries must have been broadcast on free to air television in New Zealand between the dates of 7 June 2010 – 31 July 2011.
  2. All entrants into the Best News category are required to submit an additional news bulletin broadcast on a date to be confirmed, the date identified by the Chair of Judges, to support their entry into this category. Entrants must submit completed entry forms by 5pm, Wednesday 10 August and supporting materials by 5pm, Friday 12 August 2011 to qualify
  3. Entry is open to individuals and organisations and is not restricted to ThinkTV members
  4. Any individual who works on a production designated as a New Zealand programme can be entered
  5. The programme is not eligible if it is a regular component of another larger programme format (e.g. interstitials)
  6. The programme must have a minimum duration of five minutes 
  7. A programme/item can only be entered in one best series or episode category. However, there is an exception for 'Best Investigation of the Year', e.g. you can enter your investigation entry in the Best Current Affairs Reporting for a daily, weekly, or one-off current affairs special, and in the Best Investigation of the Year category, and the exception of Best Maori Language programme which may be entered in one other category
  8. An individual may enter a performance in any one role into only one acting or performance category  
  9. All nominations must be consistent with the programme's credit list 
  10. A consent form signed by the producer must be forwarded with DVD/scripts
  11. In the case of a series, only one episode should be provided for judging
  12. Each entry must be accompanied by four DVD copies for each category by the close-of-entry date
  13. Entries into Best Script - Drama/Comedy, category 27, must be accompanied by four copies of the writer's final draft (this category will be judged on the writer's final draft plus the episode/programme) by the close-of-entry date
  14. Each entry must include a summary of the show of 150 words or less - please note space is provided for this on the online entry form.

Entry Terms and Conditions for Documentary Categories 

  1. Entries must have been broadcast on free to air television in New Zealand OR screened publicly at least once during the eligibility period of 7 June 2010 – 31 July 2011
  2. If the film has not screened publicly by the call-for-entries deadline, entrants must supply finished copies (DVDs) of the final version by this date with details on when the first TV broadcast or public screening will occur
  3. Entries must be produced in New Zealand or by a producer normally resident in New Zealand
  4. Feature documentaries can only be entered in documentary categories, OR best feature or short film categories, not both
  5. A consent form signed by the producer must be forwarded with the DVDs
  6. All nominations must be consistent with the programme's credit list
  7. Each entry must be accompanied by four DVD copies for each category per entry by the close-of-entry date
  8. Each entry must include a summary of the show of 150 words or less - please note space is provided for this on the online entry form. 

Entry Terms and Conditions for Film Categories

  1. Entries must be produced in New Zealand or by a producer normally resident in New Zealand and cannot have been entered in the Film and Television Awards previously
  2. 'Feature Film' is defined as a theatrical feature of more than 70 minutes duration
  3. 'Short Film' is defined as an original motion picture that has a running time of not more than 40 minutes, including all credits. This excludes from consideration such works as previews and advertising films, sequences from feature-length films such as credit sequences, unaired episodes of established TV series and unsold TV series pilots.
  4. 'Feature Film' entries must have screened publicly in New Zealand i.e. been open to members of the public who have purchased tickets, at least once during the eligibility period of 6 July 2010 – 14 August 2011 inclusive
  5. 'Short Film' entries must have screened publicly in New Zealand at least once during the eligibility period of 6 July 2010 – 14 August 2011 inclusive
  6. Any individual who works on a production designated as a New Zealand film can be entered
  7. An individual may only enter a performance in any one role into one acting or performance category  
  8. Each entry must be accompanied by four copies of a full cast and crew list by the close-of-entry date
  9. Each entry must include a summary of 150 words or less - please note space is provided for this on the online entry form
  10. Each feature film entry must be accompanied by the required number of DVDs.  Click here to view these requirements. Five copies of the writer's final draft (screen play categories will be judged on the writer's final draft plus the film) must also be provided if screen play categories are entered - please note the digital feature scripts are also accepted. These must be submitted by the close-of-entry date.
  11. Each short film entry must be accompanied by a total of 5 DVD copies of the film entered by the close-of-entry date, no matter how many categories have been entered.
  12. Judges will view all feature film entries in a cinema setting
  13. The Aotearoa Film & Television Awards committee reserves the right to convene a pre-selection panel should the number of viewing hours in a given category exceed 15 hours

All entrants will be required to accept the above terms and conditions as part of the online entry process.

The Aotearoa Film & Television Awards committee reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions or issue binding rules on any matter not included in these terms and conditions.  Such decisions shall be final.