Lights. Camera. Action!

The annual International Youth Silent Film Festival New Zealand National Awards Final returns to the home of the IYSFF in New Zealand, Baycourt Community & Arts Centre today.

Dust off your suits and ball gowns, and head on to the red carpet at Baycourt's Addison Theatre for a spectacular night of cinema celebrating 2022's top 15 Kiwi films and filmmakers.

This year's ceremony will also feature special guest, American philanthropist and IYSFF founder Jon ‘JP' Palanuk, plus the top 15 films will all have their soundtracks performed live on Baycourt's ‘Mighty Wurlitzer' theatre organ by the competition's official composer, Nathan Avakian.

The IYSFF is an annual global competition challenging young filmmakers aged 20 and under from across the United States of America, Montenegro, Hungary, Australia, The United Arab Emirates, and New Zealand to create a three-minute silent film set to one of 10 musical scores composed specifically for the festival.

This year, NZ filmmaker Dylan Pritchard, 19, won the IYSFF Global Award, competing with filmmakers from across the USA, Europe, Australia and UAE, after winning second place in the IYSFF NZ National Awards Final in Tauranga in November 2021.

On Wednesday night there will be prizes for the top three placed films, plus seven ‘Best Of' category awards to be won.

In addition, the top two films will represent New Zealand at the IYSFF Global Awards 2023 in Portland, Oregon, USA.

Who will win the crown of best Kiwi filmmaker for 2022? You'll have to come along and find out on the night

The IYSFF NZ Nationals 2022 is proudly delivered with support from major media partner The Breeze Tauranga 95.8FM.

The International Youth Silent Film Festival New Zealand National Awards Ceremony will be held at 7pm on Wednesday November 16. Tickets are $16. For more information click here