2025 VAC Benny Awards Nominations

The club’s Benny Awards evening this year has been booked in for Sunday 9 November 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The primary purpose for the awards night is to honour outstanding achievements in the New Zealand entertainment industry being guided by the following criteria. Your involvement by nominating those artists you feel are worthy of recognition is appreciated.

Except for the Agnew Award for Excellence that can only be awarded to a financial member of the VAC, all other awards are open to all New Zealand entertainers. All recipients must be perceived as New Zealanders i.e. they have official New Zealand citizenship (either living in NZ or could be working overseas), or if not citizens, they have been living here continuously for a minimum of three years.

It is recommended that you visit the lists of past Benny Award Recipients and Other VAC Awards Winners to familiarize yourself with the standard and accomplishments of prior awards recipients before making your nominations. All awards nominations must be received via the official VAC nomination form.

All awards recipients will be selected during August 2025 as follows:
The Benny Award Recipient will be determined by the past Benny winners.
The recipient of the Agnew Award for Excellence will be determined by a vote by current financial VAC members.
The recipients of all other awards will be selected by the VAC Executive Committee.
Some awards may not be presented every year if there are insufficient qualifying nominations.

Nomination process:
Please provide the name of your nominee(s) and the reason why you nominated them.
You may submit multiple nominees for any category.
It is not necessary to nominate someone in every category.

Contact any of the VAC committee directly if you have any questions about the awards and the
nomination process. Please submit your nominations no later than Thursday 24 July 2025.

Benny Award Nominee(s):

The award is named after the famous New Zealand magician, Edgar Benyon. It is a national award bestowed by the past Benny winners to recognize the outstanding lifetime achievement of someone who has excelled in, or contributed to the entertainment industry above the “norm”. The Benny Award can be conferred posthumously. Once an artist has received the VAC’s ultimate Benny Award they are ineligible to receive all other lesser awards except a Scroll of Honour if presented for a specific contribution other than being an entertainer, e.g. for charitable activities.

Reason(s):

Agnew Award for Excellence Nominee(s):

Awarded to a financial VAC member who has shown a high degree of excellence throughout their career. Selection is made by a vote of financial VAC members for one of three top finalists emailed out to members.

Reason(s):

Top Female Artist Nominee(s):

Reason(s):

Top Male Artist Nominee(s):

Reason(s):

Top Musician Nominee(s):

Reason(s):

Top Group Nominee(s):

Reason(s):

Lou Clauson Top Variety Artist Nominee(s):

For magicians, dancers, specialty acts and all other genres not covered by the other awards.

Reason(s):

Top Children’s Entertainer Nominee(s):

Reason(s):

Pat McMinn Rising Star Nominee(s):

Awarded to recognize a talented performer or group at the start of a promising career. There is no age restriction to this category; however the selection process will generally focus on youth.

Reason(s):

Rielly Comedy Award Nominee(s):

Reason(s):

Fullers Entertainment Award Nominee(s):

Awarded to a group or individual who has made an impact or contribution to the NZ entertainment industry but is NOT a performer.

Reason(s):

International Achievers Award Nominee(s):

Awarded to a New Zealand individual or group who has made an outstanding impact or contribution to the entertainment industry at an international level.

Reason(s):

Gary Daverne Classical Music Award Nominee(s):

Reason(s):

Top Showcase Entertainment Award Nominee(s):

Awarded to acknowledge the best of the talent that performed at a VAC Entertainment Showcase during the preceding12 months (or since the last awards).

Reason(s):

VAC Scroll of Honour (up to 3 people) – Nominee(s):

To recognize an unselfish or exceptional contribution to the betterment of the entertainment industry either through assisting others, charity work, dedication and proficiency in their field and/or lifetime achievement. Recipients do not have to be entertainers, for example they can be in related activities such as promoters, broadcasters, filmmakers, journalists etc; or family members that work tirelessly in the background.

Reason(s):

Name:

Member Reason(s): Lou

VAC Member Number # (if known):

Phone Number

Signature (type name in CAPITAL LETTERS):

Submit