The programme for the seventh annual Show Me Shorts Film Festival has been announced.

Over half of the films in the 2012 programme will be making their first appearance on New Zealand screens. "We are excited about premiering such a strong line up of new short films, and can't wait to share them with audiences," says Festival Director Gina Dellabarca.

New Zealand highlights include the world premieres of Tammy Davis' new short 'Sonny; My Older Brother', and a slick new sci-fi comedy '50% off Mail Order Bride' by Alan D. Parr. Actress Aidee Walker makes her directorial debut with 'The F.E.U.C.', a romantic comedy about love overcoming all - including terrible eye sight.

Two previous Show Me Shorts Best Film winners have films in the programme this year: Australian Jannine Barnes, whose film ‘Ray’ won in 2006, has a dramatic new film set in a juvenile detention facility called 'The Wilding', and Kiwi director Jackie van Beek, who won in 2009 with 'Just Like The Others,’ has an endearing re-telling of 'Little Red Riding Hood' starring a class of special needs children.

Internationally, the profile of Show Me Shorts was strong enough to garner entries from over 30 countries around the world this year, with 18 films making the final selection. Dellabarca credits this to “The outstanding reputation that New Zealand short films have firmly established in the international filmmaking sector.” While Australia is still the most strongly represented, there are also films from Switzerland, Ireland, Israel, Spain, India, Iceland and the USA.

Several international filmmakers are aiming to attend and participate in the festival. Show Me Shorts is working with the Israeli Embassy to try and bring David Shadi to New Zealand to represent his comic film 'Gentledog'. Shadi is likely to attend the Wellington Opening Night and may also participate in the StarNow Short Film Seminar in Wellington.Indian writer/director Manjari Makijany is also expected to attend to represent her touching short ‘The Last Marble’.

Some of the most interesting short films come from the documentary genre this year, with the world premiere of 'The Velociteers', about an Auckland based synchronised cycling group. 'CatCam' is the story of a curious cat's adventures which, when captured on film by his owner, became an Internet sensation. 'Kia Kaha' is an inspiring look at some families coping with the Christchurch earthquakes, while 'Roger the Real Life Super Hero' introduces us to a 19-year-old who spends his evenings patrolling the streets in spandex doing what he can to help out in his poor neighbourhood.

From the 40 selected films, the strongest theme to emerge is stories about our heroes. So much so that a themed session ‘My Hero’ is dedicated to celebrating the everyday people who make our lives a better place. The five other themed sessions this year are: ‘Comedy Corner’, ‘Explorers’, ‘Love and Other Catastrophes’, ‘Nerds’ Revenge’, and lastly ‘Unrestricted Access’, an all-ages session rated M and below. Laughter, tears, first love, aliens and an Icelandic zombie thriller - there’s something for everyone in this year’s programme.

Show Me Shorts and Script to Screen are also pleased to announce the participants for New Zealand’s third Short Film Lab. The six up-and-coming screenwriters selected to attend the 2012 Short Film Lab are: Samuel Behrend, Wendell Cooke, Sam Gill, Sophie Henderson, Briar March and Alan D. Parr.

Selected on the basis of their original new concepts for short films and their potential to craft excellent stories for the screen, these six participants and their creative collaborators will benefit from an interactive workshop with experienced industry practitioners who have excelled in short filmmaking. With a high calibre of applications this year, selector and mentor Tui Ruwhiu says, “The diversity of ideas and experience made it challenging and interesting, but the final six selections stood out.” The Short Film Lab 2012 takes place at the University of Auckland in November.

Show Me Shorts kicks off on 1st November and features in 12 cinemas nationwide.

For the full list of films in this year’s Show Me Shorts line-up, see showmeshorts.co.nz, or pick up a brochure from cinemas, cafes, or libraries near you.

Good things come in small packages. Show Me Shorts.