UPDATE for 2021: Show Me Shorts is now a hybrid festival that will include physical screenings in 30 New Zealand cinemas during 1-21 October. It will also include screenings of a select number of the short films online, but these films will be geo-blocked to allow only New Zealanders to watch them.
Show Me Shorts is Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading international short film festival. Our mission is to connect New Zealand audiences with short films and share New Zealand short films with the world. We celebrate the short film art form and champion short film makers!
Each year our programmers curate a selection of the best short films from Aotearoa and around the world, plus some of the top local music videos. We prioritise cinematic narrative-style films with strong audience appeal, as well as films that are making their premiere in our festival.
Show Me Shorts is a travelling festival that screens at approximately 30 cinema locations nationwide. We launch the festival with a glamorous Opening Night event in Auckland. This is followed by a seperate Awards Night event, and two more Opening Night celebrations in Wellington and Christchurch.
We also provide professional development and networking opportunities for aspiring short film makers through our Screenwriting Lab, Short Film Talks, Filmmaker Resources and various masterclasses.
At Show Me Shorts, we love filmmakers. We love your creativity, aspirations, questions and how your stories bring us together.
The percentage of our selected films that come from submissions is: 100%. Any invited films are not automatically selected, they go through the same rigorous selection process.
We are proud to celebrate and acknowledge the work of filmmakers who achieve excellence. As as an Oscar®-qualifying festival the winners of our coveted Best New Zealand Film Award and Best International Film Award become eligible to enter the Academy Awards®.
Best New Zealand Film Award
Oscar®-qualifying status. NZ$2,000 cash. Post-production services to the value of NZ$10,000. Film-making gear rental to value of NZ$5,000. Final Draft writing software. Flowers. Bronze winners badge. Certificate.
Best International Film Award
Oscar®-qualifying status. NZ$1,000 cash. Final Draft writing software. Bronze winners badge. Certificate.
Best Director Award
NZ$500 cash. One-year membership to DEGNZ. Flowers. Bronze winners badge. Certificate.
One-year membership to DEGNZ for the finalists.
Best Editor Award
NZ$500 cash. One-year membership to DEGNZ. Flowers. Bronze winners badge. Certificate.
One-year membership to DEGNZ for the finalists.
Best Music Video Award
NZ$1,500 cash. Flowers. Bronze winners badge. Certificate.
Best Actor Award
NZ$500 cash. Final Draft writing software. Flowers. Bronze winners badge. Certificate.
Best Cinematographer Award
Panavision camera gear rental to value of NZ$12,000. Flowers. Bronze winners badge. Certificate.
Best Screenplay Award
Final Draft writing software. Flowers. Bronze winners badge. Certificate.
People’s Choice Award
NZ$1,500 cash. Final Draft writing software. Flowers. Bronze winners badge. Certificate.