Oscar-qualifying short film festival Show Me Shorts is just one week away from getting underway around Aotearoa, with this year’s festival also celebrating the much-loved event’s 20th birthday.
Running from October 7 to 27 at 40 cinemas and community venues across Aotearoa (and during a three-day online festival at Show Me Shorts On Demand over Labour Weekend), this year has a programme to match Show Me Shorts’ milestone anniversary. And the festival has now announced this year’s award nominees to look out for across its carefully curated sessions, each featuring a selection of great shorts.
Jury members praised the high calibre of films overall. Casting Director Stu Turner said, “As a jury we were struck by the richness and diversity of the films presented this year. The standard of storytelling was truly inspiring—making our discussions both challenging and deeply rewarding. Each film brought something unique to the screen. It is an absolute privilege to celebrate such a strong showcase of talent and creativity.”
The winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony taking place as part of Vista Foundation Industry Day on Sunday 12 October at Academy Cinemas Auckland. The Award Winners films are available as a collection that can be watched in Auckland, Katikati, Wellington, Christchurch, and On Demand.
Show Me Shorts 2025: Award Winners
There are sixteen films and music videos nominated across eight categories, with this year’s most nominated film being When the Geese Flew (directed by Arthur Gay) with three nominations.
Here is the full list of Show Me Shorts award nominees—read on to see which of the 11 themed collections they are screening in.
Department of Post Best New Zealand Film
Jason Taylor, Allan George for Mirumiru (Bubble)
Laura Ganotis, Arthur Gay for When the Geese Flew
Raymond Edwards, Lindsay Gough for Ace
Best International Film
Aaron Blaise, Nicholas Burch for Snow Bear (USA)
Gus Flind-Henry, George Malcher, George Telfer for A Sisyphean Task (UK)
Jake Wachtel, Sok Visal, Alan R. Milligan for The Sentry (Cambodia, Norway, USA)
NZ on Air Best Music Video
Jermaine Leef, Piotr Kwasnik for Mau Moko – Alien Weaponry
John Ross, Tali Enjalas Jenkinson for Hold Me – Vallé
Marlon Williams, Jessica Todd for Aua Atu Rā
Toi Whakaari Best Actor
Brit O’Rourke for Are You Still There
Dahnu Graham for Flagfall
Katlyn Wong for Chrysanthemum
DEGANZ Best Director
Allan George for Mirumiru (Bubble)
Arthur Gay for When The Geese Flew
Liam Ngahina Joseph Maguren for The Charm Of The Magpies
DEGANZ Best Editor
Joe Lonie for Flagfall
John Ross for Hold Me
Kerri Roggio for Are You Still There
Best Cinematographer
Adam Luxton for Growing Still
Dave Garbett for Ace
Tammy Williams for Open Looks
Script to Screen Best Screenplay
Alex Farley for Wild Nights, Wild Nights!
Arthur Gay for When The Geese Flew
Michele Powles for Growing Still
Audience members will have the opportunity to vote for the The People’s Choice Award, decided by audience members, which will be presented at the conclusion to the festival. Voting is open throughout Show Me Shorts via www.showmeshorts.co.nz.
This year’s jury members:
National Jury
Jaime Smith (Ngāti Whātua): Platforms Editorial Manager, Whakaata Māori
Steve Newall: Editor, Flicks
Stu Turner: Emmy-nominated Casting Director
International Jury
Betsy Bauer: Award-winning editor, colourist, and producer, Senior Media Producer and Post-Production Manager at Wētā Workshop
Jim He: Chairman of Pacific Culture and Arts Exchange Centre (New Zealand) and chairman of New Zealand China Film Festival Committee
Ryan Cooper: Head Writer / Director, Mukpuddy Animation
Screenplay Jury
Alix Whittaker: Producer at Hot Candle Wave and Candlelit Pictures
Jackie van Beek: Writer/Director/Actor/Producer
Louis Sutherland: Multi-award-winning filmmaker
This year’s collections include The Sampler, Aotearoa, Whānau Friendly, Chinese Focus, Our Planet & Place, Lucid Dreams, Nightlife, Love at All Costs, My Kind and Day One Shorts Premiere.
Here are the collections that award nominees are playing in:
The Sampler – Aua Atu Rā – Marlon Williams, A Sisyphean Task
Aotearoa – Ace, Are You Still There, Chrysanthemum, Hold Me – Vallé
Whānau Friendly – Snow Bear
Our Planet & Place – Mau Moko – Alien Weaponry, When the Geese Flew
Lucid Dreams – Growing Still, Open Looks
Nightlife – Flagfall
Love at All Costs – Mirumiru (Bubble), Wild Nights, Wild Nights!
My Kind – The Charm Of The Magpies, The Sentry
For full programme info, visit the Show Me Shorts website.
NORTH ISLAND LOCATIONS:
Auckland – CBD / Balmoral / Devonport / Great Barrier Island / Howick / Matakana / Northcote / Takapuna / Titirangi / Waiheke Island
Gisborne / Hamilton / Katikati / Napier / New Plymouth / Ōpōtiki / Palmerston North / Tauranga / Te Awamutu / Thames / Wellington / Waihi Beach / Whangārei / Whitianga
SOUTH ISLAND LOCATIONS:
Alexandra / Arrowtown / Christchurch / Dunedin / Invercargill / Kaiapoi / Nelson / Picton / Selwyn / Stewart Island / Tākaka
