OnScreen 2025 Winners Announced
NZ On Screen is proud to support OnScreen, the short film competition for intermediate and high school students across Aotearoa.
Congratulations to this year's first place winner, Kenta Lord from Riccarton High School, for his WWII drama Zippo. The National Finals took place on Tuesday, 21 October at Auckland's Academy Cinemas. With over 210 student-made films, music videos and documentaries submitted, this year's competition was the biggest yet.
Watch the winning film and previous years' winners here
OnScreen 2025 National Winners
Narrative Short Film
- 1st Place ($2,000): Zippo - Kenta Lord, Riccarton High School
- 2nd Place ($1,000): The Plastic Weight of Uncanny Denial - Liam Nightingale, Elim Christian College
- 3rd Place ($500): Empty Seats - Jude Caudeville, Takapuna Grammar Schoo
Documentary
- Aotearoa Science Agency Best Documentary: The Last Lap - Pierre Donsimoni, Western Springs College
- Runner Up: Unseen Currents - Anish Choudhary & Isabella Macartney, Lynfield College
Music Video
- ZM Best Music Video: 'Some Change' - Isaac Uammuang, Macleans College
- Smokefreerockquest Music Video Runner Up: 'Are You My Truth?' - Stella and Rosanna Hepburn-van Zyl, Gisborne Girls' High School
Junior
- Best Junior Short Film: Sticky Notes - Henderson Intermediate
Special Awards
- OnScreen's Choice Award: Fading Spotlight (Documentary) - Annabel Aitken & Amber Faavae, Waitakere Colleg
About OnScreen
OnScreen is a nationwide challenge for intermediate and high school students to create an original short film, documentary or music video. It's free to enter and open to all students across Aotearoa.
The competition is run by Rockquest rPromotions (RQP) — the team behind Smokefreerockquest, Smokefree Tangata Beats, Showquest, Rockshop Bandquest, Toi and Stills.
Registrations for 2026 open in March. Students can form teams of 1–30 and register via the OnScreen website, where they'll receive the OnScreen Manual with planning tips, key dates, rules and filmmaking advice.
Throughout the competition, students develop their filmmaking skills with free workshops, learning resources and mentorship from industry experts.
OnScreen is student-led, with participants assigning creative leadership roles such as Producer, Director, Performer, Editor and Choreographer. Schools can submit multiple films.
Competition Sections
- Senior: Narrative Short Film, Documentary, Music Video (7 minutes max)
- Intermediate: Short Film (5 minutes max)
2026 Prizes - 1st Place Short Film: $2,000 cash
- Best Documentary: $1,000 cash
- Best Music Video: $1,000 cash
The national first place winner will have their film published on NZ On Screen. Additional awards and prizes are available for Best Director, Producer, Editor and more.
OnScreen launched in 2020 and is run by RQP, a youth development company committed to creating opportunities for rangatahi nationwide to participate in high-quality arts experiences and develop their skills.
OnScreen is proudly presented by the Wright Family Foundation and RQP, and supported by NZ On Screen, Vista Foundation, SAE Creative Media Institute, ZM, Smokefreerockquest and Academy Cinemas.