Show Me Shorts is an international short film festival held in Auckland and other venues across New Zealand. It screens a selection of short films from New Zealand and around the world in cinemas nationwide each spring.
Each year approximately 80 top short films are selected and contend for awards. The festival awards are then presented to the top filmmakers at the opening night and awards ceremony in Auckland. Show Me Shorts is New Zealand's first Academy Awards-accredited festival, with the Best Film and Best International Film award winners becoming eligible for nomination for the Oscars.
The programme covers a diverse range of themes and subjects including documentary, sci-fi, horror, drama, animation and comedy. Since 2014, a music video competitive category has been included. There are a number of supporting events such as a lab for screenwriters and filmmaker talks for aspiring filmmakers that run as part of the festival.
History
Show Me Shorts Film Festival Trust is a registered charitable trust founded in Auckland in 2006 by Gina Dellabarca, MNZM, Tamara Liebman, Katrin Hagen, and Kate Nicholson.[1]
The first screenings took place at Auckland's Academy Cinema in November, 2006. The following year the festival expanded to a full week in Auckland, plus screenings in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. More locations and venues have since been added to the circuit.
In 2013 Show Me Shorts gained Academy Awards-accreditation for their Best New Zealand Film Award, allowing the festival to provide a pathway to the Oscars for filmmakers. In 2016 the festival additionally acquired Academy Awards-accreditation for their Best International Film Award.
Winners 2023
Category
Winner (film / person or team)
Department of Post Best New Zealand Film (Oscar qualifying)
Jazz dos Santos, Puteri Raja Ariff, Julie Zhu for 'Lǎo Lao Lǎo Le'
Best International Film (Oscar qualifying)
Khozy Rizal, John Badalu, Sue Turley for 'Basri & Salma In A Never Ending Comedy'
Toi Whakaari Best Actor
Shared between Prabha Ravi for 'Anu' and Yan Lin for 'Lǎo Lao Lǎo Le'
Best Screenplay
Maza White for 'Daughter of God'
DEGNZ Best Editor
Jeremy Leatinu’u & Ian Powell for 'Te Whakawhitinga'
DEGNZ Best Director
Julie Zhu for 'Lǎo Lao Lǎo Le
Best Cinematographer
Marty Williams for 'The Ballad of Maddog Quinn'
NZ On Air Best Music Video
Ian Sweeney & Johnny Gilbert for 'When You Went Away - The Transits'
People's Choice Award
Anna Rose Duckworth, Ali Burns, Casey Latch, Mikaela Rüegg for 'Just Kidding I Actually Love You'
Winners 2022
Category
Winner (film / person or team)
Department of Post Best New Zealand Film (Oscar qualifying)
Mark Albiston, Sharlene George, Gal Greenspan and Andrew Mauger for 'Datsun'
Best International Film (Oscar qualifying)
Thijs Bouman, Rosalien Hollestelle, Noa Zimmerman for 'De Pinpas (The Debit Card)'
Toi Whakaari Best Actor
Villa Junior Lemanu for 'Atali'i O Le Crezent (Sons of the Crezent)'
Final Draft Best Screenplay
Ian Sweeney for 'Time Tourists'
DEGNZ Best Editor
Richard Shaw for 'Breathe'
DEGNZ Best Director
Brendan Canty for 'Atali'i O Le Crezent (Sons of the Crezent)'
Best Cinematographer
Marty Williams for 'Datsun'
NZ On Air Best Music Video
Zoe McIntosh and Frith Armstrong for 'Better Daze by Hoss'
People's Choice Award
Valentine Taylor, Roberto Nascimento, Belinda Bradley, Perry Bradley for 'Atali'i O Le Crezent (Sons of the Crezent)'
Winners 2021
Category
Winner (film / person or team)
Department of Post Best New Zealand Film (Oscar qualifying)
Bree Greally, Lily Martin-Babin for 'Miro Wine'
Best International Film (Oscar qualifying)
Alies Sluiter, Meng Xiong, Federica Belletti, William Littleton for 'Ayaan (Australia)'
Toi Whakaari Best Actor
Jodie Hillock for 'Blood and Gold'
Final Draft Best Screenplay
Sam Gill for 'Fetch'
DEGNZ Best Editor
Peter Roberts and Dwayne Cameron for 'June'
DEGNZ Best Director
Isaacc Bell for 'Space Invader'
Panavision Best Cinematographer
Kieran Fowler for 'Giants'
NZ On Air Best Music Video
Logan Marshall for 'New Day' by Gino October
SAE People's Choice Award
Rachel Ross, Morgan Leigh Stewart and Samantha Dutton for 'Green'
Winners 2020
Category
Winner (film / person or team)
Department of Post Best New Zealand Film
Tweedie Waititi & Cian Elyse White for 'Daddy's Girl (Kōtiro)'
Best International Film
Erenik Beqiri, Olivier Berlemont, Émilie Dubois, Ermir Keta & Amantia Peza for 'The Van'
NZ On Air Best Music Video
Emma Mortimer & Dylan Pharazyn for 'Career' by Wax Chattels
Panavision Best Cinematographer
Fred Renata for 'Daddy's Girl (Kōtiro)'
Toi Whakaari Best Actor
Margaret Sydenham for 'Hot Chocolate'
Final Draft Best Screenplay
Kathryn Burnett & James Cunningham for 'Prickly Jam'
DEGNZ Best Editor
Dylan Pharazyn for 'Career' by Wax Chattels
DEGNZ Best Director
Isaac Knights-Washbourn for 'Money Honey'
People's Choice Award
Jake Mokomoko & Claire Varley for 'Daddy's Girl (Kōtiro)'
Winners 2019
Category
Winner (film / person or team)
NZ On Air Best Music Video
Alexander Gandar, Tom Augustine & Amanda Jane Robinson for 'One By the Venom – Finn Andrews'