Finalists in 58 film, television, documentary, news and current affairs categories have been announced for the inaugural Qantas Film and Television Awards.

Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand executive director and organising committee member, Anna Cahill, congratulated the finalists.

"The number and quality of entries demonstrates the growth and strength of the New Zealand film and television industries. We think the judges have done an outstanding job." 

666 entries were judged by 77 judges in this year's Awards. There are 170 finalists in total.

The awards are the amalgamation of the two former award programmes that have been running for the last three years: The New Zealand Screen Awards and the New Zealand Television Awards. The new combined awards programme celebrates the very best in New Zealand film and television.

New Zealand Television Broadcasters' Council incoming chief executive and organising committee member, Rick Friesen, said he is delighted with the quality of this year's entries.

"We received more entries than expected this year and are delighted with the feedback we have received from judges about the quality of these entries. We wish all finalists the very best for the awards in September."

Winners of the Qantas Film and Television Awards will be announced at an awards gala on Saturday, 13 September in Auckland's historic Civic Theatre.

Winner of the Qantas Film and Television Craft Awards will be announced on Friday, 12 September at a lunchtime ceremony.

The Qantas Film and Television Awards, managed by the New Zealand Television Broadcasters' Council and Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand, is delighted to welcome Qantas as a significant partner and naming rights sponsor.

The Awards welcomes the financial assistance of the New Zealand Film Commission as Award partner and welcomes NZ On Air as a sponsor.

The full list of finalists can be viewed online here.

Tags: awards, New Zealand, television