Kiwi shorts outnumbered by Aussies!

PRESS RELEASE

Kiwi shorts outnumbered by Aussies!

Organisers of New Zealand’s only trans-Tasman short film festival, Show Me Shorts, are jubilant about the number of entries received to date. They are eager, however, to accept more Kiwi films for consideration.

Festival Programming Director Katrin Hagen says, “We had envisaged receiving around 50/50 entries from each country, but in fact the proportion is more like 80/20 in favour of the Australian entries.”

“Australia has an advantage in terms of population. They have also had a larger number of short film festivals for a long time. Show Me Shorts has set up a relationship with the St Kilda Short Film Festival which, at 23 years, is the longest running Australian short film festival.

In other exciting news, Show Me Shorts has secured NZ$1,500 worth of film stock development from Atlab New Zealand. This prize can be redeemed in either NZ or Australia. Other fantastic prizes are also in the pipeline.

Four of the five judges have now been confirmed and we are happy to announce that we have assembled the following prestigious panel: John Barnett, Managing Director of South Pacific Pictures who also produced Whale Rider and Sione’s Wedding; Michael Eldred, General Manager of film distribution outlet Dendy Films NZ; TV3 film critic and entertainment news reporter Kate Rodger, and Academy Award nominated filmmaker Taika Waititi (Two Cars One Night and the upcoming Eagle Vs Shark).

The closing date for the first annual Show Me Shorts Film Festival is the 31st of July 2006. It’s free to enter, so get your films in now!

The festival will take place over three nights and two days from the 24th to 26th of November 2006 at Auckland’s Academy Cinemas.

For further details about the festival and how to enter see: www.showmeshorts.co.nz

Thanks to our sponsors and partners DVDesign, Alliott Thompson Francis Ltd Chartered Accountants, Academy Cinemas, Star Publicity, the St Kilda Film Festival, Atlab New Zealand, and Auckland City Council.

ENDS

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