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A scene from Teddy - Source: ONE News
New Zealand gay short film Teddy has been nominated for a prestigious short film prize in the UK.
Teddy is among 30 films chosen from around the world to compete for the $60,000 Iris Prize, an annual event and festival held in Cardiff in October.
The finalists were announced this week by Brothers and Sisters star Matthew Rhys who says the shortlist represents the best of the best.
"It's great to see films from all over the world represented in the shortlist...and for the first time a film from New Zealand making it through to the final."
Christopher Banks, writer and director of Teddy, says he is thrilled at the nomination, which comes after sold-out screenings in July at the Director's Guild of America as part of Outfest 2009.
"The support we've had internationally for our film has been fantastic, but it's the support from the local gay community that's been particularly heartening," says Banks.
Teddy has screened at festivals in Toronto, San Francisco, New York and Philadelphia and is booked to play at further festivals around the US.
For more information about Teddy click here.
