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Entries ranged from young people working to cure treatable blindness to improving mental health and wellbeing, caring for the environment, to greening the rubble in Christchurch.

The judging panel considered entries across a range of awards categories including Best in Secondary Schools, Tertiary and Open.

Finalists and their friends and families, as well as local film industry members and supporters will gather in Wellington on Saturday the 11th March for the awards evening. The overall winner will receive $2000 and a two-day internship at Images & Sound in Auckland.

“Film is a powerful medium to showcase young people doing great things. The quality of entries this year is high, and we’re excited to celebrate the achievements of all of our young filmmakers” – Guy Ryan, CEO and Founder of Inspiring Stories and former young New Zealander of the year.

Making a Difference is run by Inspiring Stories, the charity operating nationwide with the vision to see every young New Zealander unleash their potential to change the world.

FULL LIST OF Finalists:

Best in Secondary School Category Award

• Jayke Hopa If I Can Do It......
• Dog Island Motu Piu
• Georgia

Best in Tertiary Category Award

• Student Volunteer Army Camp Akaroa
• Generation G
• Bonnie Howland

Best in Open Category Award

• The Mindful Minute Project
• Cancer Sucks
• Perception vs Reality

Making a Difference Award

• Jayke Hopa If I Can Do It......
• Georgia
• The Short Straw

Cinematography Award

• Dog Island Motu Piu
• Student Volunteer Army Camp Akaroa
• Generation G

Audio & Sound Award

• Bonnie Howland
• Generation G
• Student Volunteer Army Camp Akaroa

Editing Award

• Dog Island Motu Piu
• Student Volunteer Army Camp Akaroa
• Generation G

Creativity and Culture Award (Sponsored by The Big Idea)

• Dog Island Motu Piu
• Greening the Rubble
• Generation G

Social Enterprise Award (Sponsored by Inspiring Stories)

• Georgia
• Bonnie Howland
• CoLiberate

Kaitiaki and Environment Award (Sponsored by Sustainable Coastlines)

• Dog Island Motu Piu
• Student Volunteer Army Camp Akaroa
• Greening the Rubble

Leadership Award (Sponsored by The Sir Peter Blake Trust)

• Student Volunteer Army Camp Akaroa
• Georgia
• The Short Straw
• Jayke Hopa If I Can Do It......
• Bonnie Howland

Social Justice Award (Sponsored by World Vision)

• Georgia
• Bonnie Howland
• The Short Straw

Inspiring Stories is a nationwide charity founded by Guy Ryan in 2011 that helps young New Zealand leaders unleash their potential to change the world. It has empowered more than 5,000 young New Zealanders through its programmes. The organisation is known for its Festival for the Future, a gathering of 900+ young Kiwis, that explores the big issues of our time and allows young people to share ideas and learn skills that do good in the world. It also runs the summer social entrepreneurship accelerator programme, Live the Dream.