With just a month to go before this year's Show Me Shorts Film Festival kicks off, the line-up has been announced.

The 2008 festival will include 41 films in total, with 15 Australian short films and 26 made by Kiwis. The week-long event will screen in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Motueka and Whitianga.With just a month to go before this year's Show Me Shorts Film Festival kicks off, the line-up has been announced.

The 2008 festival will include 41 films in total, with 15 Australian short films and 26 made by Kiwis. The week-long event will screen in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Motueka and Whitianga.The genres are wide ranging, but lean towards horror, sci-fi, comedy and drama. There are also plenty of documentaries, where we can learn more about trains, viruses, buskers and some of the strange folk who live in this country.

The festival will be hosting 21 world premieres for films, not to mention a glamorous awards night in Auckland to kick off the festival.

2007 Best Film award winner Phill Simmonds' new short film 'Noise Control' will be a strong contender for the main prize of Best Film again this year. Others to watch out for are 'One Shoe Short' - a sweet story of friendship made by Kiwi ex-pat Jackie van Beek, and the gripping Australian drama 'Before Closing'.

Festival director Gina Dellabarca says, "Short films are an escape into the imaginations of some of our most talented artists. This is a vibrant and highly creative medium, where you will find a melting pot of future Oscar winners, part-time tinkers, respected stalwarts, and inspiring geniuses. We are proud to be able to honour some of the best at their craft with awards for Best Film, Best Student Film, Atlab Best Technical Contribution and the Panavision Special Jury Prize."

The Teza Opening/Awards Night takes place in Auckland on the 6th of November, and will be followed by similar events kicking off the festival in Wellington on the 13th and Christchurch on the 20th of November. Tickets for the opening nights are $20 and include complimentary drinks and nibbles, plus the chance to see the eight finalist films for the awards, and meet filmmakers and festival organisers.

Tickets for all sessions of the festival in all six locations are now on sale, and can be booked by contacting the local cinemas directly.

For the full line-up and venues visit www.showmeshorts.co.nz.

09/10/08