The finalists in 19 film categories for this year's Qantas Film and Television Awards were announced today.

Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand executive director and awards organising committee co-chair Anna Cahill congratulated all the finalists.

"There were 122 entries for the film categories, and it was an extremely tough job for the judges to narrow them down to 55 finalists."

Ms Cahill says the standard of entries in the feature film categories in this year's awards was particularly strong, and reflected the ongoing development of New Zealand's film industry.

"The number and quality of feature film entries this year proves our film industry is going from strength to strength."

The Qantas Film and Television Awards programme is jointly organised by the Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand and the New Zealand Television Broadcasters' Council.

The finalists in the general television, news and current affairs, and documentary categories will be announced on Monday 10 August.

The Qantas Film and Television Craft Awards will be announced during an awards lunch at the Civic Theatre in Auckland on Friday 4 September. The Qantas Film and Television Awards (including highlights from the Craft Awards) will be presented at an evening ceremony at the Civic Theatre on Saturday 5 September.

Qantas Film and Television Awards 2009

Film Category Finalists Qantas Best Feature Film - budget over $1 million Apron Strings - Rachel Gardner, Great Southern Television Dean Spanley - Matthew Metcalfe, Alan Harris; General Film Corporation Show Of Hands - Angela Littlejohn, Great Southern Television Best Feature Film - budget under $1 million I'm Not Harry Jenson - Tom Hern, Six String Pictures The Map Reader - John Davies, Arkles Entertainment Untouchable Girls - Arani Cuthbert, Diva Productions Best Director in a Film Feature (budget under and over $1 million) Toa Fraser - Dean Spanley, General Film Corporation Anthony McCarten - Show Of Hands, Great Southern Television Sima Urale - Apron Strings, Great Southern Television Best Lead Actor in a Feature Film Joel Edgerton - Separation City, Separation City Productions Sam Neill - Dean Spanley, General Film Corporation Scott Wills - Apron Strings, Great Southern Television Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film Danielle Cormack - Separation City, Separation City Productions Jennifer Ludlam - Apron Strings, Great Southern Television Melanie Lynskey - Show Of Hands, Great Southern Television Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film Les Hill - Separation City, Separation City Productions Peter O'Toole - Dean Spanley, General Film Corporation Cameron Rhodes - I'm Not Harry Jenson, Six String Pictures Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film Nancy Brunning - The Strength Of Water, Filmwork Ltd Michelle Langstone - Separation City, Separation City Productions Bonnie Soper - The Map Reader, Arkles Entertainment Best Screenplay for a Feature Film Briar Grace-Smith - The Strength Of Water, Filmwork Ltd Shuchi Kothari, Dianne Taylor - Apron Strings, Great Southern Television Alan Sharp - Dean Spanley, General Film Corporation Best Cinematography in a Feature Film Bogumil Godfrejow - The Strength Of Water, Filmwork Ltd Rewa Harre - Apron Strings, Great Southern Television Leon Narbey - Dean Spanley, General Film Corporation Best Editing in a Feature Film Harold Brodie - The Map Reader, Arkles Entertainment Eric de Beus - Apron Strings, Great Southern Television Chris Plummer - Dean Spanley, General Film Corporation Best Original Music in a Feature Film Don McGlashan - Dean Spanley, General Film Corporation Samuel Flynn Scott, Luke Buda - Separation City, Separation City Productions The Topp Twins - Untouchable Girls, Diva Productions Best Sound Design in a Feature Film Chris Burt, David Long - Untouchable Girls, Diva Productions Paul Cotterell - Dean Spanley, General Film Corporation Dave Whitehead - The Strength Of Water, Filmwork Ltd Best Production Design in a Feature Film Johnny Hawkins - Apron Strings, Great Southern Television Rick Kofoed - The Strength Of Water, Filmwork Ltd Andrew McAlpine - Dean Spanley, General Film Corporation Best Costume Design in a Feature Film Kirsty Cameron - The Strength Of Water, Filmwork Ltd Odile Dicks-Mireaux - Dean Spanley, General Film Corporation Best Make-Up Design in a Feature Film Marese Langan - Dean Spanley, General Film Corporation Deb Watson - The Strength Of Water, Filmwork Ltd Best Short Film Mark Albiston, Louis Sutherland - The Six Dollar Fifty Man, Sticky Pictures Limited James Cunningham - Poppy, Supercollider Ltd Grant Major - Undergrowth, Octopus Pictures Best Performance in a Short Film Ian Hughes - Undergrowth, Octopus Pictures Cameron Rhodes - Brave Donkey, Robber's Dog Films Oscar Vandy-Connor - The Six Dollar Fifty Man, Sticky Pictures Limited Best Screenplay for a Short Film Mark Albiston, Louis Sutherland - The Six Dollar Fifty Man, Sticky Pictures Limited David Coyle - Poppy, Supercollider Ltd Peter Force, Adam Strange - Aphrodite's Farm, JoyRide Films Ltd Outstanding Technical Contribution to a Short Film James Cunningham - Poppy, Supercollider Ltd Cushla Dillon - Brave Donkey, Robber's Dog Films Ginny Loane - Brave Donkey, Robber's Dog Films