Submit Your Film

• Earlybird Deadline: 1 April (shorts US$20 / music videos US$5)

• Regular Deadline: 1 May (shorts US$30 / music videos US$10)

• Late Deadline: 1 June (shorts US$40 / music videos US$15)

• Extended Deadline: 1 July (shorts US$50 / music videos US$20)

By submitting your film or music video for the Show Me Shorts Film Festival you agree to the following rules:

EXHIBITION RIGHTS: If your film is selected for the film festival, we have the right during the Festival Period to exhibit your film or music video in cinemas and on our secure online platform that will be geo-blocked to New Zealand (the “Exhibition Rights”). You agree that we are entitled to retain all revenue generated from the Exhibition Rights.

DATES: The “Festival Period” is provisionally scheduled from 6-26 October 2026 (inclusive) for nationwide venues (excluding Stewart Island) and from 2-20 January 2026 (inclusive) at the Stewart Island venue only. You acknowledge that the Festival Period may be subject to change. If we need to change the Festival Period for any reason, we may do so upon notice to you or by updating these Rules .

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
• AGE: you must be at least 18 years old to enter your film or music video.
• FEES: we must receive payment of your entry fee.
• GENRE: Films and music videos can be any genre, including documentary and animation.
• LENGTH: Films are to be no less than 2 minutes and no more than 20 minutes in length (including end credits). Music videos must be no less than 1 minute and no more than 10 minutes in length.
• COMPLETION DATE: Films and music videos must have been completed not more than two years before the opening date of the festival.
• SUBTITLES: All entries with dialogue not in the English language must be subtitled in English.
• UNFINISHED FILMS: Please contact us before the entry deadline to request permission to submit an incomplete film, or to have an extension granted.

ENTRY FEES: Entry fees are non-refundable.

ENTRY FEE WAIVERS: Are not granted except in exceptional circumstances. A maximum of 80 fee waivers will be applied to filmmakers from any one country, with no more than one waiver granted per person/organisation.

ENTRY FEE DISCOUNTS: Are offered to the following verified groups: alumni filmmakers of Show Me Shorts, short film distributors and educational institutes submitting three or more films. The discount offered is: 30%.

ENTRY CATEGORIES: The Show Me Shorts Film Festival has three categories of entry:
• NEW ZEALAND SHORT FILMS: Films made by New Zealanders or with significant New Zealand content are eligible for the ‘New Zealand short films’ entry category;
• INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILMS: Films made without significant NZ contribution or content are eligible for the ‘International short films’ entry category;
• NEW ZEALAND MUSIC VIDEOS: New Zealand music videos are eligible for the ‘New Zealand music video’ entry category.

SELECTION: not all entries will be selected for the Show Me Shorts Film Festival. Our judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.

WITHDRAWALS: You may withdraw your submission at any time prior to 1 July 2026 for the Show Me Shorts Film Festival by contacting the festival organisers at info@showmeshorts.co.nz. Refunds of entry fees are not available.

COMPETITION: The following applies where prizes are offered as part of the Show Me Shorts Film Festival:
• Films only qualify for awards competition if they have not previously been shown publicly on the Internet or TV in New Zealand. (This does not apply to music videos.)
• All judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• Prizes and any specific competition rules will be as set out on our website or as otherwise confirmed to you.
• Prizes are personal to the winners and are non-transferable unless we agree.
• We reserve the right to choose another winner if you’re in breach of these Rules (e.g., you don’t meet the Entry Requirements).
• We reserve the right to replace any prize with an alternative prize of equal or higher value if circumstances beyond our control makes it necessary to do so.
• You are responsible for all insurance, tax or other costs that may be associated with any prize.

SCREENING FEES: Show Me Shorts Film Festival does not pay screening fees.

PROMO USE: If your film or music video is selected for the film festival, you grant us the right to use up to 30 seconds of your production for TV, cinema advertising, video, internet, and all other electronic media for promotional purposes.

COPIES: We may make copies of films and music videos that are selected for the purposes of censorship, obtaining media reviews/stories and for exhibition purposes.

RIGHTS CLEARANCE: You warrant to us that you have obtained all the necessary permissions to enter your film or music video into the Show Me Shorts Film Festival and that our use of the Exhibition Rights will not infringe the rights, including copyright, of any third party. This includes the use of any sound clips and music.

USE OF AI: Films that use AI generated material that may be mistaken for real people, places or events must be labelled as fictitious AI representations in their credits.

LIABILITY: You agree that Show Me Shorts Film Festival, it's board, sponsors and partners, and judges, individually and collectively will not be held responsible for any direct or indirect losses, damages, costs and liabilities arising out of or in connection with this agreement, our use of your film or music video, or the Show Me Shorts Film Festival .

PERSONAL INFORMATION: The personal information you provide to us is collected for the purposes of Show Me Shorts Film Festival only. Show Me Shorts Festival collects, uses and manages your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020. You consent to any such information being used for the above purpose by Show Me Shorts Film Festival whose address is Room 5, Level 2, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand. You may request access to and if necessary correction of any personal information which we hold about you.

ACCEPTANCE OF SUBMISSION: A short film is deemed to be accepted into consideration for the festival only once all of the submission materials have been received and provided that the submitter agrees to all terms and conditions.

AWARDS JUDGING: A jury or juries of screen industry experts will be appointed by the Festival Director from outside of the festival programming team, and the members will vary each year to allow for different tastes. Jury members will view all films (or scripts) in their award categories, and select winners that recognize outstanding achievement in each category. Winners will be decided by majority consensus.

These rules are governed by the laws of New Zealand.

Show Me Shorts has three categories of entry.

NZ films – Films made by New Zealanders or with significant New Zealand content are eligible for the ‘New Zealand short films’ entry category.

International films – Films made without significant NZ contribution or content are eligible for the ‘International short films’ entry category.

NZ music videos – New Zealand music videos are eligible for the ‘New Zealand Music video’ entry category.