Show Me Shorts Film Festival kicked off last night with a glamorous pink-carpet awards bash at Auckland’s swankiest cinema, The Civic. We were there, and it was pretty blimmin’ great!
The top award went to Julia Parnell and Matthew Saville for their fantasy drama through the looking glass, Dive. This film is now eligible for entry into the 2016 Academy Awards®. Saville also took home the Final Draft Best Screenplay Award for Dive. The judges said “Matthew Saville’s Dive is sweet-souled, sharp-witted and powerfully moving. It takes a simple idea and explores it with intelligence and excellent technique, and the results are not simple at all. Dive goes deep. It took our breath away.”
Dive plays at the following Show Me Shorts screenings: Art Will Save the World, My Generation, Highlights.
The Best International Film Award went to Swiss filmmaker Marcel Barelli for Vigia (Lookout), an animated tale narrated by a grandfather telling his grandson about the importance of bees.
Vigia (Lookout) plays at the Show Me Shorts screening My Generation. Take a peek at the trailer:
Here is the full list of winners:
Best Film Award: Julia Parnell and Matthew Saville, Dive
Best International Film Award: Marcel Barelli, Vigia (Lookout)
DEGNZ Best Director Award: Hamish Bennett, Ross & Beth
StarNow Best Actor Award: Jackie van Beek, Uphill
Final Draft Best Screenplay Award: Matthew Saville, Dive
Panavision Best Cinematographer Award: Ginny Loane, Helmut Makes a Quilt
Best Editor Award: Annie Collins, Eleven
Best Music Video: Alix Whittaker and THUNDERLIPS, Glare by Sheep, Dog & Wolf
NZFC Special Jury Prize: Paul Neason and Steffen Kreft, Queenie
Student Film, Notable Mention: Yarden Elyashiv, Bars and Tone
Wendy’s People’s Choice Award: Announced in December when audience votes are counted.
The judges were writer/actress Sophie Henderson (Fantail); award-winning journalist and film critic David Larsen; star of stage and screen Robyn Malcolm; and director/musician Joe Lonie.
The winners of the Show Me Shorts Best Film Award are now eligible to submit their film for the 2016 Oscars®. They also received $2,000 cash, $5,000 worth of gear rental from Rubber Monkey, a membership to StarNow and a copy of Final Draft screenwriting software as part of their prize package. A total prize pool valued at more than $25,000 was given out at the awards event.
Show Me Shorts now plays in 20 cinemas across New Zealand until 23 November. During the festival, audiences can also vote for their favourite film to win the Wendy’s People’s Choice Award by filling out the festival survey in cinemas or on the Show Me Shorts website.
Pick up a brochure with the full Show Me Shorts 2014 programme from cinemas, cafes and libraries, or visit www.showmeshorts.co.nz.
