The Show Me Shorts Film Festival has announced the finalists in their four award categories - Best Film, Best Student Film, Atlab Best Technical Contribution and Panavision Special Jury Prize. The seven finalist short films will play on the opening/awards night on 7 November, at Auckland's Academy Cinemas.

Image: Best Film finalist Embers by Chris Payne.The Show Me Shorts Film Festival has announced the finalists in their four award categories - Best Film, Best Student Film, Atlab Best Technical Contribution and Panavision Special Jury Prize. The seven finalist short films will play on the opening/awards night on 7 November, at Auckland's Academy Cinemas.

Image: Best Film finalist Embers by Chris Payne.Best Film Finalists

Embers by Chris Payne (NZ)
A Very Nice Honeymoon by Jeff & Phill Simmonds (NZ)

Best Student Film Finalists

Paper City Architects by Daniel Agdag (AUS)
The Shomer by Anton Blajer (AUS)
Embers by Chris Payne (NZ)

Atlab Best Technical Contribution Finalists

Cinematographer David Paul for Shadow Over the Sun by Rachel Douglas (NZ)
Cinematographer Richard Harling for Embers by Chris Payne (NZ)

Panavision Special Jury Prize Finalists

Art Direction by Grant Major for Dead Letters by Paolo Rotondo (NZ)
Art Direction by John Harding for The King Boys by Christopher Clark (NZ)

Embers was Chris Payne's thesis film in Creative Producing in the University of Auckland's Master of Creative and Performing Arts program in Film and Television Production. He has production experience on over 40 short films, features, music videos and commercials. The film was written and directed by Marc Laureano, who also holds a Master of Creative and Performing Arts from Auckland University.

Jeff and Phill Simmonds who wrote, directed and produced A Very Nice Honeymoon have just completed another animated short film called Noise Control, which is currently being considered by Sundance.

A Very Nice Honeymoon is an animated documentary about the true story of their grandparents Mariano and Elizabeth Vella, who were on the steamer SS Wairarapa when it was wrecked on the coast of Great Barrier Island in NZ in 1893.

Last year the winner of the Best Film award was Australian filmmaker Jannine Barnes for her heartwarming short film Ray.

"I am quietly happy the top prize will stay on our side of the Tasman this year," says Festival Director Gina Dellabarca, "but it's been a closely fought race and there are some brilliant short films that narrowly missed out on being nominated."

When: 7 November 2007, from 6pm
Where: Academy Cinemas, Auckland
Tickets: $20 (include complimentary bubbles)
Bookings: 09 373 2761

Show Me Shorts Film Festival
8-14 November at Academy Cinemas in Auckland
16-18 November at Metro Cinema Dunedin
23-25 November at the Regent on Worcester in Christchurch
30 November-1 December at the Paramount Theatre in Wellington

7/11/07