Highlights of the festival are collected together in this package of short films. Equal parts moving and silly, you’ll find here stories of triumph, friendship, fantastic creatures, and familial love. Stars include the likes of Joanna Lumley and Ben Whishaw, alongside local actors who shine. An excellent way to sample Show Me Shorts like a box of chocolates. Join us for some sweet treats!

Run time: 105 min

Rating: M - Offensive language, nudity & suicide references

There are open caption screenings of The Sampler in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. For those listings, click here. 

Meet space travellers delighted by our world, charming robots and radio-active chickens. Hear the song of our beautiful native birds of Aotearoa, and discover unlikely friendships on the beach. This annual collection of short films for children and their families is one of the most popular sections of Show Me Shorts.

Run time: 52 min

Rating: PG

The characters in this collection of homegrown short films are making sense of the world after a difficult time or crisis. They rise to meet their challenges, be they connection, redemption, justice, closure, understanding or peace. Ka pō, ka ao, ka awatea. From within the darkness comes light and a new day.

Run time: 97 min

Rating: M - Violence, domestic violence, offensive language & drug use.

Discover the richly creative German filmmaking scene with this collection of short films co-curated by Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg . Take part in an ancient tradition, experience crushing bureaucracy and be lulled by vibrant animation. Kindle an obsession, and learn why a population of frogs disappeared overnight. There’s something for every taste - as good as German beer!

Run time: 89 min

Rating: M - Violence, offensive language & nudity

Imagine the world as you know it has shifted… forward into the future. The characters in this collection of science fiction short films are grappling with a new reality. Technology has advanced to a point where robots both serve and stalk us, and medical science can cure us with a single pill. Is it worth having your creativity stifled? Would you dare to cross a city in chaos, or blast into space to save our planet?

Run time: 89 min

Rating: M - Violence, offensive language, nudity, sexual references & content that may disturb.

Romance is underrated. Humans are hard-wired for it. The spark of forging a new connection, the flutter of walking down the aisle, and the warm feeling of safety in the arms of a partner who has made a lifelong commitment. The stories in this collection of short films pay homage to romantic love of all kinds.

Run time: 95 min

Rating: M - Sex scenes, sexual references & offensive language

We all feel lost sometimes. Family can provide an anchor to help weave us back together. Siblings, parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts. When the characters in these stories find themselves adrift, they lean on their whānau to remind them who they are and that they are loved.

Run time: 105 min

M - Violence, offensive language, nudity, sexual content & content that may disturb

What is guiding you? The characters in this collection of short films all have a big dream as their north star and guiding light. Find out how they will triumph over the odds to make their dream a reality. And who will help them achieve it.

Run time: 103 min

Rating: M - Offensive language & deals with suicide

Hilarity and horror combine in this spooky, sticky collection of short films. Crafted with comedy in mind or darkness at heart. The films will have you cringing, cowering and crowing with laughter. Aliens, slime, serial killers, travel influencers, tofu with teeth, and toys turned terrifying. Bring a hand to hold.

Run time: 107 min

Rating: R16 Bloody violence, horror, offensive language, nudity & content that may disturb

The stories of these short films take place in conflict zones around the globe. In times of high pressure it is our humanity that will save us. Hot spots of tension and fear create unexpected heroes. These simple stories of everyday people forging connections amid the chaos are inspiring and full of hope.

Run time: 94 min

Rating: M - Violence & offensive language

The rules and norms of society and social groups can be a lot of pressure. How do we fit in? Do we dare stand out? The stakes are high for the characters in these short films as they try to navigate their paths. Friction comes from fellow passengers on the train or bus, teammates on the court, or friends in the backyard or paddock. 

Run time: 102 min

Rating: M Violence, offensive language, sexual references, nudity & bullying

In this collection of short films, people connect with each other although they don't speak the same language, are separated by time and space, or never had the chance to meet. After the screening you are invited to join our postcard writing session. Bring your address book and a pen, we will provide stamps and postcards for you to write to friends, family, and maybe some strangers. The event is curated by Berlin-based shorts/salon, who create playful events that evoke curiosity, exchange of thoughts and ideas.

Films screening:

• Oiseau de passage (Wandering Bird) directed by Victor Dupuis - Belgium

• Killing Four Birds With One Arrow directed by Elisa Jule Braun - Germany

• So viel von mir (That’s All from Me) directed by Eva Könnemann - Germany

• Mwanamke Makueni (A Woman in Makueni) directed by Daria Belova, Valeri Aluskina - Germany

• Pohledy na Věru Bechyňovou (The Still Life of Vera) directed by Greta Stocklassa - Czech Republic

Sat 12 Oct, 12:30 pm
Academy Cinemas, Auckland
Run time: 70m + 30m
Rating: M
Proudly supported by: shorts/salon, Goethe Institut of New Zealand

Watch all the Show Me Shorts prize-winning short films in one session. The films will be confirmed on 13 October when the awards are announced.

The films screening will be the winners of these award categories:

• Department of Post Best NZ Film Award

• Cause and FX Best International Film Award

• NZ On Air Best Music Video Award

• DEGANZ Best Director Award

• DEGANZ Best Editor Award

• Toi Whakaari Best Actor Award

• Best Cinematographer Award

• Best Screenplay Award

Ratings: M - Violence, offensive language, drug use & bullying.

Runtime: 100 mins

Learn more about making short films in this moderated discussion with three top short filmmakers. Hear candid stories from their experiences. Watch their short films as part of the event. Have the opportunity to ask questions and meet others interested in filmmaking.

Speakers & films screenings:

• Jasper Sutcliffe and Anika Stonnell, director and producer of Who Do We Have Here?

• Frederick Pokai, director of Search for Hawaiki

• Te Waiarangi, director of Honey Kaha

Tues 22 Oct, 6:00–7:30 pm
Light House Cuba, 29 Wigan Street, Te Aro, Wellington
$19.50 / $14.50 from www.lighthousecinema.co.nz
Rating: M - Violence, offensive language & content that may disturb.
Proudly supported by: Screen Wellington, a Unesco Creative City of Film

Learn more about making short films in this moderated discussion with three top short filmmakers. Hear candid stories from their experiences. Watch their short films as part of the event. Have the opportunity to ask questions and meet others interested in filmmaking.

Speakers & films screenings:

• Simon Waterhouse, cinematographer and executive producer of Figment

• Loren Jalyn Kett, director of My Dying Place

• Caleb MacDonald, director of Real - Beacon Bloom

Thanks to Te Puna Matarau - Canterbury Screen Industry Association, this event is a must for all Ōtautahi-based filmmakers and cinephiles. There will be a networking hour with nibbles after the screening, so come along, grab a drink, and meet the flourishing local filmmaking community.

Mon 14 Oct, 6:00–7:30 pm
Alice Cinema, 209 Tuam Street, Christchurch
$20 from www.alice.co.nz
Rating: M - Offensive language & nudity.
Proudly supported by: Christchurch City Council, Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Learn more about making short films in this moderated discussion with three top short filmmakers. Hear candid stories, watch the short films and get the opportunity to ask questions.

Speakers & films screenings:

• Dean O'Gorman (NZ), director of Morning Hate

• Ibrahim Mursal (Norway), director of African Family Dinner

• Ylia Trotter (Australia), director of Hitch Hiking is Safe

Tickets to this session are included for Industry Day passholders, but can also be purchased separately.

Highlights of the festival are collected together in this package of short films. Equal parts moving and silly, you’ll find here stories of triumph, friendship, fantastic creatures, and familial love. Stars include the likes of Joanna Lumley and Ben Whishaw, alongside local actors who shine. An excellent way to sample Show Me Shorts like a box of chocolates. Join us for some sweet treats!

Note, this version of The Sampler includes a bonus film Cold Feet from Hamiltonian producer Miryam Jacobi and featuring Southland-raised lead actor Mele Toli.

Run Time: 112 mins

Rating: M - Offensive language, nudity & suicide references

Join us for these special open captions screenings of The Sampler. Highlights of the festival are collected together in this package of short films. Equal parts moving and silly, you’ll find here stories of triumph, friendship, fantastic creatures, and familial love. Stars include the likes of Joanna Lumley and Ben Whishaw, alongside local actors who shine. An excellent way to sample Show Me Shorts like a box of chocolates. Join us for some sweet treats!

Run time: 105 min

Rating: M - Offensive language, nudity & suicide references

All the films in our programme that have closed captions for the hearing impaired collected in one bundle.

This features all the films from The Sampler, Aotearoa Ka Awatea and a few bonus films.

Rated M.

This collection is an audio described variation of our Aotearoa - Ka Awatea session, specially made for those with low vision. Individual audio description tracks have been created for each film by Able. The films are viewable On Demand, in two versions, with audio descriptions and without, depending on the needs of your household.

Aotearoa - Ka Awatea

The characters in this collection of homegrown short films are making sense of the world after a difficult time or crisis. They rise to meet their challenges, be they connection, redemption, justice, closure, understanding or peace. Ka pō, ka ao, ka awatea. From within the darkness comes light and a new day.

Run time: 97 min

Rating: M - Violence, domestic violence, offensive language & drug use.