Great Stories. Real Impact

Community Film Challenge 2026

Community Film Challenge pairs Wellington's talented filmmakers with local charities for one short window of filmmaking, turning real skill into real impact for the causes that need it most.

Explore all films
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About the film challenge

This gallery is the digital home of the 2026 Community Film Challenge. Here, you can watch all the films created as part of the challenge and discover our award winners.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part, and to all the sponsors and supporters who made it possible.

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Judges’ Choice

Supreme Winner: Judges’ Choice

Traces of Nut for Radiant Hope Community Trust

Film Makers

Traces of Nut

Charity

Radiant Hope Community Trust

Student Runners

Jess Roulston, Finn Grieve

Runner Up: Judges’ Choice

Couch Kumara for NZ Riding for the Disabled

Film Makers

Couch Kumara

Charity

NZ Riding for the Disabled

Student Runners

Lucas Cantlon

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Awards

Rocket Rentals Technical Excellence Award

Film Makers

Couch Kumara

Charity

New Zealand Riding for the Disabled

Student Runners

Lucas Cantlon

Empire Films Unfinished Story Award

Film Makers

Wildflowers

Charity

Te Whare Hapori, 
Newtown Community Centre

Student Runners

Abby Robinson, Amber (Cong) Chen

Most Creative / Out of the Box — Joint Winner

Film Makers

Copper Bus Productions

Charity

Dress for Success

Student Runners

Bridie Gilbert, Meg Wheatley

Most Creative / Out of the Box — Joint Winner

Film Makers

Fairlie Professional

Charity

Walk Wellington

Student Runners

Fairlie Professional: Grace Craig, Hunter Wilson

Copper Bus Productions: Bridie Gilbert, Meg Wheatley

WIFT Award / Female & Gender-Diverse Award

Film Makers

Michelle Cameron with Team Wildflowers

Charity

Te Whare Hapori, 
Newtown Community Centre

Student Runners

Abby Robinson, Amber (Cong) Chen

Wellington UNESCO City of Film Diversity in Film Award

Film Makers

Young Joys

Charity

EKTA

Te Herenga Waka Above & Beyond Student Award

Film Makers

Samuel James with Team Billie

Charity

Cycling Action Network

Student Runners

Samuel James, Simon Ulm

Wellington UNESCO City of Film Emerging Filmmaker Award

Film Makers

Reel You In, with the award presented to Finn Grieve & Jess Roulston

Charity

Barnardos Aotearoa

Student Runners

Finn Grieve & Jess Roulston

Wellington Women's House provides safe, affordable, and supportive housing for women who are rebuilding, transitioning, or seeking stability.

Portsmouth Award for Best Storytelling

Film Makers

Butterfly Effect

Charity

Wellington Women’s House

Student Runners

Sophia Zhou

Wellington Women's House provides safe, affordable, and supportive housing for women who are rebuilding, transitioning, or seeking stability.

Best Behind the Scenes

Film Makers

Finn Culver with Cooper Bus Productions

Charity

Dress For Success

Student Runners

Bridie Gilbert, Meg Wheatley

All Films

'Century of Stories' by Haast Pictures

Age Concern

Life is just life, it’s what you make it”, so is ageing. Whether you’re a car fanatic, or want to curl up with an Agatha Christie novel, Age Concern helps older people live their best lives.

Through accessible programmes, events, and services, Age Concern brings people together to foster meaningful connections, promote wellness, and support older people to live fulfilling lives.

Reel You In

Barnardos Aotearoa

Wellington UNESCO City of Film Emerging Filmmaker Award

The decisions we make now will shape their lives tomorrow. Children don’t grow up in election cycles. If we want to build a better future for our tamariki and rangatahi, we need a different way of thinking.

Kettle of Fish

Bellyful

Bellyful is a volunteer-led charity nourishing whānau and connecting communities by delivering free meals to families with babies and young children who are without a support network. This support is for families without a support network. 

Welly Nilly

Changemakers Resettlement Forum

Change Makers Resettlement Forum (CRF) works towards the vision of New Zealanders from refugee backgrounds participating fully in life in Aotearoa New Zealand, through advocacy, research and community development activities. 

'2 Wheels' by Billie

Cycling Action Network

Te Herenga Waka Above & Beyond Student Award

Cycling Action Network and filmmaker Billie take you on a journey on ‘two wheels’ along the Te Whanganui a Tara coastline and around the city, to take in the joy, views, and fun with friends and whānau. 

Copper Bus Productions

Dress For Success

Most Creative or Out of the Box - Joint Winner

Dress for Success provides services to people in the Wellington region to build the skills and confidence they need to reach their aspirations in work and life.

Young Joys

EKTA

Wellington UNESCO City of Film Diversity in Film Award

‘Creating little wonders requires action’. EKTA NZ missions are to form unity, empowerment and connectedness across Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Greta Gerwig & Co

Endo Warriors Aotearoa

You are not alone, warrior. People who suffer from endometriosis often suffer alone with little support, Endo Warriors Aotearoa advocates and supports people living with endometriosis and spreads their stories and creates life-changing support for people who suffer from this disease. 

RealGoodStories

HUHA

First let's meet Kobe and Rodney, two three-year-old furry fellas currently living with Feline Immunodeficiency Disease. They need a loving home that can provide these happy and affectionate boys the indoor sanctuary that they require. 

Lastly meet Malibu and Tenessee two bully-mixed siblings that have been rescued. Many other dogs like them come into HUHAs care until their forever homes can be found. 

Wildflowers

Newtown Community Centre

Empire Films Unfinished Story Award
WIFT NZ Female & Gender-Diverse Filmmaker Award

Newtown Community Centre is a vibrant community hub in the centre of Newtown. Want to hire a venue? Get involved in your community? Join a class? They can help you out.

Couch Kumara

New Zealand Riding for the Disabled

Runner Up: Judges’ Choice
Rocket Rentals Technical Excellence Award

Couch Kumara created two films for NZ Riding for the Disabled, with “Behind Every Ride” receiving the Rocket Rentals Technical Excellence Award and “Livvy’s Story” being named Runner Up: Judges’ Choice at the 2026 Community Film Challenge.

Traces of Nut

Radiant Hope Community Trust

Supreme Winner: Judges’ Choice

Radiant Hope Community Trust provides practical support through kai (food) for those struggling to feed their whānau, practical employment support to prepare you for getting the right job and even provide basic homeware for those who need it.

Donate by Artists for Peace

Society of St Vincent De Paul (Vinnies Wellington)

St Vincent de Paul, or Vinnies as they are affectionately known, has a long and proud history of helping people in need in New Zealand. With the support of the community, the team at Vinnies Wellington aims to tackle poverty and inequality by providing practical assistance and caring support. 

Team Sweden

The Circus Hub

The home of Wellingtons circus scene, The Circus Hub is a creative space for everybody and every person, where they can learn a wide range of circus skills in an inclusive and welcoming space to have fun and move around.

Morph Cut Society

The Road Forward

The Road Forward Te Ara Whai Ora o Te Tangata Ki Mua, ‘Suffering in silence isn't strength, it's just silence’.
The Road Forward provides free confidential peer support for male survivors of sexual harm. You don’t need to carry this alone.  

Fairlie Professional

Walk Wellington

Most Creative or Out of the Box - Joint Winner

Every city has a story to tell. Walk Wellington’s team of experienced guides love to tell Wellington’s story through its rich local history, attractions, architecture, and natural environment.

The Full Eight

Wellbeing Economy Alliance

Meet Dave, Dave is our economy, he’s a good guy... but can do with a few updates. 
WE All Aotearoa is a non-partisan and independent ‘think and do’ tank with a mission to redesign Aotearoa New Zealand’s economy around the wellbeing of our people and te taiao.

Kanvas

Wellington Access Radio

Wellington Access Radio shares stories that are By, For and About our Wellington community.
Meet some of the teams behind shows including Cigarettes Will Kill You, Tu Ma Tilotilo, and Aakashwani Bharat Bhavan, and discover how they use Access Radio to connect with others and their communities.

Wellington Women's House provides safe, affordable, and supportive housing for women who are rebuilding, transitioning, or seeking stability.

Butterfly Effect

Wellington Women's House

Portsmouth Award for Best Storytelling

This video explores touching testimonials from residents at Wellington Women's House. Wellington Women's House provides safe, affordable, and supportive housing for women who are rebuilding, transitioning, or seeking stability.  

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