The winners of Show Me Shorts 2022 (and how to watch them)
The country’s biggest short film festival has crowned it’s winners. See how you can experience them on a big screen near you.
Show Me Shorts, Aotearoa’s biggest short film festival, crowned this year’s best short films in their programme at last night’s awards ceremony. Check out what won and how you can experience them.
Returning for its 17th year, the Oscars accredited film festival (recently hailed as one of the top 20 short film festivals globally) is officially underway. You can browse through the full programme here.
Below are the big award winners for Show Me Shorts 2022. See what they’re all about, what the judges reckoned, and how you can catch them on a big screen near you.
Datsun
Department of Post Best NZ Film & Best Cinematographer
Mark Albiston, Sharlene George, Gal Greenspan and Andrew Mauger took the top prize for their coming-of-age road movie, with DOP Marty Williams taking the Best Cinematographer Award for his skillful work on the film. The judges said, “Datsun worked as a whole, but the cinematography was a particular highlight. A coherent overall package, with a nice arc of tension.”
The story follows a young teenage boy and his father’s Datsun. When the boy’s mum makes plans to sell the car, the teenager takes his mate and little brother on one last joyride.
Datsun is playing as part of…
De Pinpas (The Debit Card)
Best International Film
Thijs Bouman, Rosalien Hollestelle and Noa Zimmerman add to their global collection of awards for this gently crushing Dutch short. The jury comments, “The Debit Card, is a nuanced exploration of class privilege and the vulnerability of migrant labour. Subtly written and superbly acted, the film finely observes everyday bias… and broke our hearts.”
The film centres on a Polish au pair on a seemingly normal day babysitting and running errands. However, when she needs the PIN number to her employer’s debit card, the response causes a rift in their relationship.
De Pinpas (The Debit Card) is playing as part of…
Atali’i O Le Crezent (Sons of the Crezent)
DEGANZ Best Director & Toi Whakaari Best Actor (Villa Junior Lemanu)
Villa Junior Lemanu took home his second Show Me Shorts acting award (following My Friend Michael Jones) and Brendan Canty taking his first SMS directing award for this nostalgia-driven, poetry-in-motion dance film. Through spoken word and physical movement, the film revolves around a young man recalling his roots in a neighbourhood threatened by gentrification.
The judges stated: “This cultural connection story is held true by Villa Junior Lemanu’s uncompromised ability to unfold the layers of the characters’ experiences. He delivers an exceptional performance, creating dynamic tension for us in the moment of each scene through his acting and physicality on screen. Villa transports and challenges us to connect to the inner workings, anxieties, emotions and dreams of the changing realities of the characters life. This performance heralds an actor to watch out for.”
Atali’i O Le Crezent (Sons of the Crezent) is playing as part of…
Time Tourists
Final Draft Best Screenplay
Writer-director Ian Sweeney’s script for his Ōtautahi-made sci-fi earned him an award at this year’s Show Me Shorts awards night, which also served as the World Premiere of the short film. Shot on a virtual stage, the story tells the tale of two tourists who hit it off at a breathtaking, natural location. However, it soon becomes apparent that they’re running out of time—in more ways than one.
Time Tourists is playing as part of…
Breathe
DEGANZ Best Editor
The award for Best Editor went to Richard Shaw for his work on filmmaker Stephen Kang’s exorcism tale. The story revolves around a gifted 12-year-old who has developed an unorthodox healing method that propels her into conflict with her overbearing father.
Breathe is playing as part of…
Better Daze by Hoss
NZ on Air Best Music Video
The Best Music Video prize went to writer-director Zoe Mcintosh and producer Frith Armstrong for their work on Better Daze by Hoss. The video follows a stripper who, after being shouted at by a client, grabs a disco ball and does a runner.
Better Daze by Hoss is playing as part of …
Here’s more about the Show Me Shorts awards night from the official press release:
As Show Me Shorts is an Academy Awards-qualifying festival, the winners of the Best NZ Film and Best International Film awards are now qualified to enter the Oscars. Other prizes include $8,500 cash, $12,000 worth of post-production services from Department of Post, $5,000 of gear rental from Rubber Monkey, copies of Final Draft writing software, memberships to DEGNZ, flowers from Enchanted Rose, engraved winner’s badge and certificates. The total prize pool is valued at more than $40,000.
In addition to the awards listed above, audience members can vote for the People’s Choice Award during the festival, by completing the survey in cinemas or at showmeshorts.co.nz.
The jury panels assembled for the 2022 Show Me Shorts awards included highly regarded screen industry practitioners:
Valeria Wagner: Programmer at Locarno Film Festival
Christian Stark: Programmer at Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur
Glenda Tuaine: Filmmaker and event director at Motone Projects
Steve Newall: Editor at Flicks
Madeleine Hakaraia de Young: Māoriland Film Festival
Shuchi Kothari: Award winning filmmaker & Associate Professor at University of Auckland
Nick Ward: Award winning screenwriter
Show Me Shorts Film Festival 2022 is presented by Stuff. There are 92 short films and music videos in the programme. The films will screen at cinemas nationwide from 7 to 26 October, and On Demand from 15 to 30 October.
