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!

During October 2024 Show Me Shorts will put on 100 screenings in 35 cinemas across New Zealand. The festival will also include screenings of many of the short films through our on demand platform - these films will be geo-blocked to allow only New Zealanders to watch them.

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, documentary and animated films with strong audience appeal, as well as films that are making their premiere in our festival.

We launch the festival with a fun Opening Night party in Auckland, where the festival team are based. This is followed by a separate Awards Night event, and two more Opening Night celebrations in the cities of Wellington and Christchurch.

We also provide professional development and networking opportunities for aspiring short film makers through our Industry Day, 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$3,500 cash. Post-production services to the value of NZ$12,000. Film-making gear rental to value of NZ$5,000. Flowers. Bronze winners badge. Certificate.

Best International Film Award
Oscar®-qualifying status. NZ$2,000 cash. Bronze winners badge. Certificate.

Best Director Award
NZ$500 cash. One-year membership to DEGANZ. Flowers. Bronze winners badge. Certificate.
One-year membership to DEGANZ for the finalists.

Best Editor Award
NZ$500 cash. One-year membership to DEGANZ. Flowers. Bronze winners badge. Certificate.
One-year membership to DEGANZ for the finalists.

Best Music Video Award
NZ$1,500 cash. Flowers. Bronze winners badge. Certificate.

Best Actor Award
NZ$500 cash. Flowers. Bronze winners badge. Certificate.

Best Cinematographer Award
NZ$500. Flowers. Bronze winners badge. Certificate.

Best Screenplay Award
NZ$500. Flowers. Bronze winners badge. Certificate.

People’s Choice Award
NZ$500 cash. Flowers. Bronze winners badge. Certificate.

By submitting your film or music video for the Show Me Shorts Film Festival you agree to the following rules:

EXHIBITION RIGHTS: If your film is selected for the film festival, we have the right during the Festival Period to exhibit your film or music video in cinemas and on our secure online platform that will be geo-blocked to New Zealand (the “Exhibition Rights”). You agree that we are entitled to retain all revenue generated from the Exhibition Rights.

The “Festival Period” is provisionally scheduled from 11 October to 31 October 2024 (inclusive) for nationwide venues (excluding Stewart Island) and from 3 January 2025 to 21 January 2025 (inclusive) at the Stewart Island venue only. You acknowledge that the Festival Period may be subject to change. If we need to change the Festival Period for any reason, we may do so upon notice to you or by updating these Rules .

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
• AGE: you must be at least 18 years old to enter your film or music video.
• FEES: we must receive payment of your entry fee.
• GENRE: Films and music videos can be any genre, including documentary and animation.
• LENGTH: Films are to be no less than 2 minutes and no more than 20 minutes in length (including end credits). Music videos must be no less than 1 minute and no more than 10 minutes in length.
• COMPLETION DATE: Films and music videos must have been completed not more than two years before the opening date of the festival.
• SUBTITLES: All entries with dialogue not in the English language must be subtitled in English.
• UNFINISHED FILMS: Please contact us before the entry deadline to request permission to submit an incomplete film, or to have an extension granted.

ENTRY FEES: Entry fees are non-refundable.

ENTRY CATEGORIES: The Show Me Shorts Film Festival has three categories of entry:
• NEW ZEALAND SHORT FILMS: Films made by New Zealanders or with significant New Zealand content are eligible for the ‘New Zealand short films’ entry category;
• INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILMS: Films made without significant NZ contribution or content are eligible for the ‘International short films’ entry category;
• NEW ZEALAND MUSIC VIDEOS: New Zealand music videos are eligible for the ‘New Zealand music video’ entry category.

SELECTION: not all entries will be selected for the Show Me Shorts Film Festival. Our judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.

You may withdraw your submission at any time prior to 26 July 2024 for the Show Me Shorts Film Festival by contacting the festival organisers at info@showmeshorts.co.nz. A refund will be available at Show Me Shorts’ discretion, if your short film has not been watched by a progammer.

COMPETITION: The following applies where prizes are offered as part of the Show Me Shorts Film Festival:
• Films only qualify for awards competition if they have not previously been shown publicly on the Internet or TV in New Zealand. (This does not apply to music videos.)
• All judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• Prizes and any specific competition rules will be as set out on our website or as otherwise confirmed to you.
• Prizes are personal to the winners and are non-transferable unless we agree.
• We reserve the right to choose another winner if you’re in breach of these Rules (e.g., you don’t meet the Entry Requirements).
• We reserve the right to replace any prize with an alternative prize of equal or higher value if circumstances beyond our control makes it necessary to do so.
• You are responsible for all insurance, tax or other costs that may be associated with any prize.

SCREENING FEES: Show Me Shorts Film Festival does not pay screening fees.

PROMO USE: If your film or music video is selected for the film festival, you grant us the right to use up to 30 seconds of your production for TV, cinema advertising, video, internet, and all other electronic media for promotional purposes.

COPIES: We may make copies of films and music videos that are selected for the purposes of censorship, obtaining media reviews/stories and for exhibition purposes.

RIGHTS CLEARANCE: You warrant to us that you have obtained all the necessary permissions to enter your film or music video into the Show Me Shorts Film Festival and that our use of the Exhibition Rights will not infringe the rights, including copyright, of any third party. This includes the use of any sound clips and music.

LIABILITY: You agree that Show Me Shorts Film Festival, it's board, sponsors and partners, and judges, individually and collectively will not be held responsible for any direct or indirect losses, damages, costs and liabilities arising out of or in connection with this agreement, our use of your film or music video, or the Show Me Shorts Film Festival .

DISCOUNTS: We offer small discounts to alumni filmmakers who have screened with us in the past, and to distributors who are entering a large number of films. Contact Mark in our office to enquire about this: info@showmeshorts.co.nz

INFORMATION: The personal information you provide to us is collected for the purposes of Show Me Shorts Film Festival only. You consent to any such information being used for the above purpose by Show Me Shorts Film Festival whose address is Room 5, Level 2, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand. You may request access to and if necessary correction of any personal information which we hold about you.

These rules are governed by the laws of New Zealand.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Anna Duckworth

    I had an incredible time being part of the Show Me Shorts Film Festival. The wide range of events were always super awesome and I met so many incredible people. Listening to a packed cinema react to my short was a huge highlight. Such an honour to be involved. I am so grateful.

    January 2024
  • Maddie Dai

    A wonderful festival run by a supportive and enthusiastic team. We feel extremely lucky to have had the Show Me Shorts experience, with a hometown premiere, lining up amongst some glorious short films. From the moving to the hilarious to the absurd, they have love for the genre and the filmmakers plodding along. Thank you Show Me Shorts!

    December 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks so much Maddie, what kind words. Sorry you couldn't make the premiere of 'Ministry of Jingle' but it was great to watch it with an audience.

  • Cassidy Harrison

    We are so honored to have our film be included in Show Me Shorts Film Festival this year. What a great way to start our festival run. They have a love for the short film genre and great communication. We were honored to be in the Sample Shorts program which sold out several times. They clearly have an enthusiastic supportive audience that we all hope for, to see our films. Thank you, Mark Prebble and your team.

    December 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks so much Cassidy! What a treat to be able to show 'The Life of Lester Wink', well done on a great short film!

  • Martha Grant

    I feel so lucky Llamas at the Laundromat was part of the the Show Me Shorts Film Festival this year. I had a great experience with the festival team in all of our communications and would highly recommend it to any filmmakers considering a submission. I would love to attend in person some day!

    December 2023
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    Response from festival:

    And we would love to host you Martha! Thanks so much for allowing us to show 'LLamas at the Laundromat', it was a gem!

  • Leonardo Martinelli

    Great festival to be a part of

    December 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Leonardo. 'Pássaro Memória (A Bird Called Memory)' is an incredible short film, nothing short of mesmerizing. Well done.