NZ war short film wins big 

Source: NZ short film Poppy by director James Cunningham

A World War One capture animation about two New Zealand soldiers was the big winner at the opening of the Show Me Shorts  film festival in Auckland on Thursday night.

The nationwide event saw 40 films in contention for eight award categories.

However, it was James Cunningham's film Poppy which swept the board taking out three awards including SDGNZ Best Director, SDGNZ Best Editor and the Special Jury Prize.

The tale of redemption and about saving a baby in the trenches was first unveiled at the New Zealand International Film Festival earlier this year.

Even more remarkable, the CGI film is a true story - one of the two soldiers in the story is actually the great-grandfather of one of the writers.

Poppy is the third award winner from director Cunningham, who's previously had success with Infection, Delf and Blinder.

Find out more about Poppy here

Other notable films up for awards include Kill the Alphabet, Coffee & Allah and Just Like The Others which all received two nominations and one win each. 

Judging of this year's festival was conducted by industry experts including Barbara Darragh (Wardrobe for Spartacus, Bridge To Terabithia, River Queen, The Frighteners), Pietra Brett-Kelly (director of The Art Star and the Sudanese Twins) and Athina Tsoulis (writer, producer and director of Jinx Sister).

The full list of 2009 winners and finalists are listed here:
 
KODAK BEST FILM - Jackie van Beek for 'Just Like the Others'
Finalist - Paul Swadel for 'Poppy'
 
BEST STUDENT FILM - Michael Humphrey for 'The Big Happiness'
Finalist - Matteo Bruno for 'Kill the Alphabet'
 
SDGNZ BEST DIRECTOR - James Cunningham for 'Poppy'
Finalist - Jackie van Beek for 'Just Like the Others'
 
NZ WRITER'S GUILD BEST SCREENPLAY - Waine C. Paris for 'Kill the Alphabet'
Finalist - Imogen Thomas for 'Mixed Bag'
 
PANAVISION BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER - Rewa Harre for 'Coffee & Allah'
Finalist - Rob Marsh for 'The Road out of Town'
 
STARNOW.COM BEST ACTOR - Arna-Maria Winchester from 'Mixed Bag'
Finalist - Zahara Abbawaaaji from 'Coffee & Allah'
 
SDGNZ BEST EDITOR - Paul Swadel and James Cunnigham for 'Poppy'
Finalist - Paul Maxwell for 'Aphrodite's Farm'
 
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE - James Cunningham, Stephen Fleet and Sonya Hsu-Ya Chang for animation on 'Poppy'
Finalist - Rachelle Bakarich for 'Christmas Lights' - Best Documentary
 
Festival Director Gina Dellabarca commented, "It was a delight to see the public along with family and friends out in support of the wonderful films and the talented winner's of this year's festival.  I do not envy the judges who had a huge task when selecting the winners for 2009".
 
Launched in 2006, the Show Me Shorts Film Festival screens every November in cinemas across New Zealand, showcasing the best new Kiwi and Australian short film-making talent.  This year organisers have also added a workshop in the two largest cities, providing the opportunity for budding short filmmakers to learn from the pros. 
 
The Show Me Shorts Film Festival will screen at the following locations, before heading around the rest of New Zealand.
 
AUCKLAND 5 - 11TH November at Academy Cinema, Matakana Cinema, WELLINGTON 12 - 18th November at Paramount Cinema, CHRISTCHURCH 12 - 18th November at Rialto Cinema and DUNEDIN 12 - 18th November at Rialto Cinema.