Adventure filmmakers and writers are being invited to submit their work to the annual NZ Mountain Film & Book Festival, with entries now open for both the film and book competitions.

The 24th edition of the popular seven-day event will take place in Wānaka from June 19–23, with two nights in Queenstown later in the month, before the online film festival launches.

The festival exists not only to entertain and inspire audiences, but also to spark adventure, deepen appreciation for the natural world, and nurture the next generation of outdoor storytellers, festival director Whitney Oliver said.

New Zealand filmmakers receiving awards at the 2025 festival. PHOTO: Deanna Gerlach 

The opening of entries is always a highlight in the annual calendar, she said.

"There is always great anticipation when the competitions open each year. Adventures are evolving in new and exciting ways, and so are the ways these stories are shared through films and books.

“This year's programme is bound to raise the bar once again.”

A long-standing member of the International Alliance for Mountain Film, the festival has attracted world-class films for two decades as well as being a launchpad for up-and-coming talent.

A total of $9,500 in prize money will be awarded across the categories, with the Grand Prize–winning film and Best NZ-Made Film each eligible for $2,500, and the Nankervis/Bamford Award for Book of the Year taking home $2,000. 

The festival welcomes a wide range of creative interpretations, so long as the work connects to adventurous sports or people, or is set among the world’s mountains, lakes, rivers, oceans or skies, or explores cultural or environmental themes.

“We love being able to encourage new voices, as well, not only as a place to share work with a stoked and supportive outdoor audience, but through our efforts to provide opportunities at the festival for filmmakers to learn, network, and develop their skills,” Whitney said.

The festival is also opening entries to the two-day Adventure Film School, which gives aspiring filmmakers hands-on instruction from industry-leading professionals.

Find more information about the competitions and the Adventure Film School, including detailed criteria, dates and more, here.