OnScreen: 2026 youth filmmaking competiton
Registrations are now closed for the OnScreen film competition 2026
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.
Entries for 2026 have now closed, and winners will be announced in mid-October.
Teams registered through the OnScreen website and received the OnScreen Manual, with information on planning a shoot, key dates, rules and tips. Throughout the year, students have had free access to workshops, learning resources and mentoring from experts in the film industry to help develop their filmmaking skills.
OnScreen is designed to be student-led. Students work in groups of 1–30 and take on creative leadership roles (e.g. Producer, Director, Performer, Editor, 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: $1000 cash and a $1000 Photogear prize
- 2nd Place: $500 cash and a $750 Photogear prize
- 3rd Place: $500 cash and a $500 Photogear prize
- Best Documentary: $250 cash, a $750 Photogear prize and a shoot-day experience with Aotearoa Science Agency
- Runner-up Documentary: $500 cash
- ZM Best Music Video: $500 cash, a $500 Photogear prize and a ZM concert pass
- Smokefreerockquest Runner-up Music Video: $500 cash
The national 1st Place winner will have their film published on nzonscreen.com. There are also individual awards and prizes for Best Director, Producer, Editor and more.
What's next
Winners will be announced in mid-October. Keep an eye on the OnScreen website for results and for details on next year's competition.
OnScreen launched in 2020 and is run by the team at RQP, a youth development company committed to creating opportunities for rangatahi nationwide to take part in high-quality arts experiences and develop their skills.
