Short films will screen at 20 cinemas around New Zealand, stretching from Matakana to Stewart Island, as part of the Show Me Shorts Film Festival during November.
Show Me Shorts is New Zealand’s only Academy Awards® accredited film festival, meaning the winner of its Best Film award qualifies for entry to the Oscars®.
The festival has unveiled its line-up of this year’s top local and international short films. There are 41 short films and six music videos in the programme, divided into six themed sessions: Art Will Save the World, Bromance, In the Neighbourhood, Listen Up, Time Travellers, and My Generation. Countries represented are: New Zealand, Canada, Finland, Ireland, Germany, Israel, Australia, USA, China, UK, Czech Republic, Switzerland and France.
High profile stars feature in some of the shorts, such as Amanda Seyfried (Les Misérables) in the romantic thriller Dog Food, and Oscar®-nominated British actress Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine) and Jim Broadbent (Harry Potter) who co-star in the high-stakes drama The Phone Call.
Closer to home actress Loren Taylor (Eagle vs. Shark) features in two short films: Leo Woodhead’s award winning Cold Snap, and the post-apocalyptic world of The Light Harvester alongside Craig Hall (The Hobbit). Greg Johnson and John Leigh (both ex-Shortland Street) join forces in the bromantic comedy Snowmen, and Charlie Bleakley (Scarfies) and Cohen Holloway (Boy, Good for Nothing) demonstrate their comedic talent in the road trip comedy Coconut.
Show Me Shorts received their largest number of entries ever this year, with almost 1,000 short films coming in from over 55 countries. The programming team, headed by Festival Director Gina Dellabarca, had a challenging task to get through the entries and narrow down the selection. Dellabarca says, “The volume of great short films submitted this year, particularly local ones, was staggering. The final selection is not only great fun, but full of intricately crafted characters that are reaching out for a connection with their community. Sometimes finding it and sometimes not, just like in real life, but crafted by master storytellers to ellicit our every possible emotion. It’s a total privilege to be able to watch these films, and I can’t wait to share our selection with audiences.”
Show Me Shorts will host Chinese writer/director Han Yu during the festival. His film 家 (Home) will make its world premiere during the festival. Han Yu will also present his film at the Yoobee Short Film Talks, where audiences have the opportunity to hear filmmakers talk about their experience and ask questions.
Furthering the cause of audience development, Show Me Shorts is making short films accessible to children and young people by offering a selection of films for them. The My Generation selection is recommended for children and families, as well as being offered to school groups along with a specially developed education pack of curriculum-based questions for students and teachers.
Show Me Shorts launches with the Rialto Channel Opening Night & Awards Ceremony on Thursday 6 November at Auckland’s majestic picture palace, The Civic. Ten awards will be presented at this event. During the festival, audiences can also vote for their favourite film to win $1,000 cash in the Wendy’s People’s Choice award, by filling out the survey in cinemas or at www.showmeshorts.co.nz.
The full programme for Show Me Shorts 2014 is will soon be available in brochures at cinemas, cafes and libraries, or visit www.showmeshorts.co.nz.
