Who likes short Shorts?
It's been a while coming, but things are starting to warm up in New Zealand.
Winter is now behind us and spring is in the air. This can only mean one thing: film festival season is fast approaching. Well, that and it's time to dust off the barbeques.
But steaks and sausages aside for the moment, the third annual Show Me Shorts Film Festival is getting ready to explode onto the silver screens around the country and, a month out from kick-off, the line-up has now been announced.
'But what is "Show Me Shorts?"' I hear some of you good folk cry at your computer monitors, PDAs, mobile phones or whatever device you may be using to read this.
Show Me Shorts is the only national competitive short film festival, screening all the latest and best short films from the most creative Kiwi and Australian filmmakers.
The beauty of short films is that the limitations are, more often than not, budget-related.
Yet they bring out the best from directors and producers in terms of resourcefulness and support from whomever they can get.
The sample of short films shown in the launch of the festival was no exception; the credits spent a fair percentage of their total duration thanking not only funding bodies, but also businesses that supported them in making the film such as pizza companies, drinks companies, friends, family, television networks and the next door neighbour who lent them that obscure prop that was crucial in turning a scene from good to outstanding. Communities really get together to make these projects work.
Festival director, Gina Dellabarca, says, "Short films are an escape into the imaginations of some of our most talented artists. This is a vibrant and highly creative medium, where you will find a melting pot of future Oscar winners, part-time tinkers, respected stalwarts, and inspiring geniuses. We are proud to be able to honour some of the best at their craft with awards for Best Film, Best Student Film, Atlab Best Technical Contribution and the Panavision Special Jury Prize."
The 2008 festival will include 41 films in total, with 15 Australian short films and 26 home-grown kiwi films. The week-long event will be screening in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Motueka and Whitianga and hosting no less than 21 world premieres for films, kicking off with a glamorous awards night in Auckland.
The Opening/Awards night takes place on the November 6 and will be followed by similar events kicking off the festival in Wellington on the November 13 and Christchurch on November 20.
Tickets for the opening nights are a very reasonable $20 and include complimentary drinks and nibbles as well as the chance to meet the filmmakers and festival organisers.
The filmmaking scene is in full flow and the quality of films being produced is always strong, with some of the shorts really showcasing how rich the filmmaking talent is in New Zealand.
For anybody who enjoys film and wants to support the filmmaking community this would be a great night out - before discussing how good they were over that barbeque.
For more details, such as the full line-up and venues, check out the official website
Preview the trailer for "The Sound of Cry" here
See the official trailer for Splinter here
See part of short film
One Shoe Short here
