Celebrating some of the stand-out zines
showcased at the market.
2023 Best of the Fest
Winner
Best Activist Zine
Maharanis Gone Wild
by Migrant Maharanis
“Actively burned down the cis-het patriarchy with so much awesome style, beautiful art, prose, poetry, the personal as political, shared lived experiences of pain, race and identity in diaspora. Also so much joy and such gorgeous printing and stitching.”
– Tui Gordon
Winner
Best Crafted Zine
luv language
by caito
“A very cute crafted zine, the materials choices lent themselves well to the hand-made feel. The bind is simple and very effective.”
– Adrian Bennett
Winner
Best Narrative Zine
(home)land: migrants in our heritage
by arrow
“(home)land: migrants in our heritage is a visually stunning and narratively engaging zine that dives into the theme of homecoming. It wasn't difficult for this zine to elicit an empathetic response from me. Homesickness, homecoming and the act of finding where you feel 'at home' are nigh universal experiences and this work pulls them off with a gentle touch. Although I'm not from the same place as the author, I felt like I too, had come home.”
– Damien Levi
Winner
Best Comic Zine
It's a learning experience
by Deadface
“A deceptively simple drawing style that's clear, effective and packs a punch. Good control of storytelling in the writing and drawing - it's thoughtful and well considered. The artist is using every tool to drive towards a clear point: it feels honest, unflinching and personal.”
– Toby Morris
Winner
Best Mini Zine
143 Shanghai
by SchwanZhu
“SchwanZhu’s zine is a precious collection of moments that make a place feel like home. 143 Shanghai is Illustrated with delicate sketches, bilingual notes, and a format that makes it feel like you are looking out a window or into the artist's sketchbook.”
– Camila Araos E.
Winner
Best Photography Zine
Frames vol. 1
by johnthebeloved
“This tribute to Manila is a stimulating journey full of beautiful juxtapositions and diverse visual representations. Through the artist’s use of layers and textures, intertwined with text and photography, we move through the different landscapes, situations and people that builds a captivating story that is both engrossing and immersive.”
– Fernanda Venegas
Winner
Best Visual Art Zine
Tokyo Super Sketch 1
by superhyperpaper
“This well-crafted zine offers a compelling combination of incredibly detailed drawings alongside collaged ephemera such as ticket stubbs, price stickers and labels from Japan. Come for the densely layered imagery and stay for charming small details like the repurposed envelope on the inside cover. I noticed new elements upon every read and found it a real joy.”
– Grace Sinclair
Winner
Best Design Zine
咩What zine
by blinking_icelashes, oiimin
“Beautifully considered design, alongside energetic playful typographic illustrations, all immaculately executed. This treasure of a zine communicates layered complex information in clear and informative ways with warmth and heart.”
– Kaan Hiini
Winner
Best Miscellaneous Zine
Haunted Doll Delivery Vol.1
by Kate Ann Morris
“Bizarre and funny, loved the left-field concept of re-homing haunted dolls, the urge to care for small traumatised beings but a certain glee in knowing they are actually evil.”
– Tui Gordon
Winner
Best Poetry Zine
conditions of my parole
by hairbrushed & caito
“A balance of humour in existentialism in equal parts, conditions of my parole doesn't take itself too seriously. Instead, it provides a poetic examination of the self in a stream-of-consciousness way that's inherently relatable. The text is enhanced by striking visuals that complement the dream-like introspection, with thick saturated colours and expressive forms. All-in-all a beautiful zine.”
– Damien Levi
Winner
Best 24-Hour Zine
I Called You Home
by Jewelia Howard
“A simple yet charming zine.”
– Catalina Nuñez E.
Runner-up
Best Activist Zine
CRISIS
by Sasha Francis
“One of the best collage zines I've seen and also fits the ‘activist’ category in that it is a carefully constructed brain dump which sums up late stage capitalism in lurid detail.”
– Tui Gordon
Runner-up
Best Narrative Zine
My name is not my name
by Beth Tianxin Xia
“Though the premise of My name is not my name is deceptively simple, the author approaches it with a kind of measured indifference. These are simply the facts of how their name came to be without judgment. What I most appreciated most, was that there is an inquisitiveness about how their name may change again; an openness to the possibilities of the future.”
– Damien Levi
Runner-up
Best Comic Zine
A Sea of Roaches
by Liam Bowen
“I love comics that feel like only one person in the world could make it. There's a unique drawing style, sense of humour and outlook on the world. It's a look at the world through unique and creative eyes - the artist doubts his abilities but his creation is great.”
– Toby Morris
Runner-up
Best Mini Zine
Boo
by Amy Matthews (Amy & Lou)
“A charming autobiography zine written by a cat. It's simple but beautifully designed adorned with portraits of cats in various styles and text as if a cat had run across a keyboard. The cherry on top is the 'about the author' page at the back.”
– Camila Araos E.
Runner-up
Best Photography Zine
Grey Lynn, Auckland march 2023
by Elisa Bonnafous
“This unique photozine, is presented as a treasure hunt that invites an exploration of the territory through photography. It is a photographic proposal full of color, nostalgia and play, which encourages the creation of a photographic map through the artist’s interpretation of a geographical map. A simple and charming idea.”
– Fernanda Venegas
Runner-up
Best Visual Art Zine
Graceful Malfunctions
by Sarah Cowie
“The lush materiality of Cowie’s fabric puppets leap off the page in these bewitching photographs cloaked within a velvet coverslip. A chic zine that understands the emotive and narrative potential of an image.”
– Grace Sinclair
Runner-up
Best Design Zine &
Best Crafted Zine
Rain
by yukuko endo
“Elegant in form, function and narrative, this beautifully minimal zine creates emotion and sensation in such a joyful way. A beautiful experience.”
– Kaan Hiini
Runner-up
Best Miscellaneous Zine
Bean Zine
by Jennifer Aedy (pop-up house collective)
“I love the humble bean, great topic for a recipe zine. I liked how the author was excited and then got sick of making the zine, funny and gloriously lo-fi.”
– Tui Gordon
Runner-up
Best Poetry Zine
Cockroach
by autofus
“A fun and sometimes confusing exploration of physical form, 'Cockroach' invites you to participate in the act of discovery. As you unfold the paper, a visceral picture of life in the urban expanse also unfolds. Coloured pink, which feels strangely appropriate, the hectic illustrations drive home a sense of dread that pemeates these folded pages. A poem for those in the city's sprawl to sit with.”
– Damien Levi
Runner-up
Best 24-Hour Zine
Trans sport
by Elliot M.
“Raw yet so full of content. Loved the references to topical and pop culture moments.”
– Catalina Nuñez E.
Judge’s Wildcard
SHOES OFF SLIPPERS ON
by Good Bad English
“This zine was beautiful and sweet and funny and a pleasure to read.”
– Tui Gordon
Judge’s Wildcard
Ghost House
by Wiz Butch
“I wanted to make a special mention for the crafted category here - such a creative spin on the classic one-page fold zine with aspects of pop-up mechanisms - very creative crafting.”
– Adrian Bennett
Judge’s Wildcard
Frogman Jimothy
by Kiki
“I loved this - lovely drawing, so much personality in this funny little character. Would love to see further adventures of Frogman Jimothy.”
– Toby Morris
Judge’s Wildcard
one drop river
by yukuko endo
“This piece is so experential, especially if you have the opportunity to see it print live from the receipt printer. I really love how over time the ink will fade and the piece will disappear, provoking readers to cherish the text.”
– Damien Levi
Judge’s Wildcard
Sando with your Favorite Stuff
by Genue Revuelta
“Playful and charmingly simple, a clear concept results in an entertaining artifact.”
– Kaan Hiini
Judge’s Wildcard
Almusal, Filipino Breakfast Recipes
by Blessilda
“Reading this made me incredibly hungry and I found the historical context at the start an important framing for the recipes that followed.”
– Grace Sinclair
Best of the Fest Judges
Thank you to the judges for reviewing the submissions for each category with so much care.
Best Visual Arts Zine
Grace Sinclair
Samoa House Library
Best Crafted Zine
Adrian Bennett
In a Bind Bindery
Best 24-Hour Zine
Catalina Nuñez E.
Auckland Zinefest Committee
Best Design Zine
Kaan Hiini
Curative
Best Poetry Zine &
Best Narrative Zine
Damien Levi
Bad Apple Gay
Best Mini Zine
Camila Araos E.
Auckland Zinefest Committee
Best Comic Zine
Toby Morris
Comic Artist, The Spinoff
Best Photography Zine
Fernanda Venegas
Colectivo Narval
Best Activist Zine &
Best Miscellaneous Zine
Tui Gordon
Zinemaker & Activist
Prize Sponsors
Thank you to our friends for celebrating zinemaking and donating prizes for the Best of the Fest winners.
