Highlight short films from the festival are collected in this tasty package.

Inspiring and thoughtful stories include a boxing nun, an AI robot, a dedicated teacher and a Palestinian man trying to return home. Much loved stars Hugh Bonneville, Marlon Williams, Thomas Sainsbury and Alison Bruce make an appearance. We have some fun with an out-of-his-depth dad at a twirling competition and a maniacal ice-cream seller on the beach.

Run time: 102 min

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

New Zealand filmmakers are known for their iconic coming-of-age stories, lush farmland locations and rich cultural traditions. They are also celebrated for their innovative world-building and bold, original ideas.

The short films in this collection demonstrate all of that and more. Classic Kiwi actors Rawiri Paratene, Ginette McDonald, Nathanial Lees and Katlyn Wong headline.

Meanwhile magical realism and science fiction worlds creep into the lexicon of Aotearoa.

Run time: 99 min

Rating: M - Offensive language, domestic violence themes & suicide themes.

The excitement of new love; The vulnerability in exposing your true feelings; The anxiety of being judged or misunderstood. It’s all here in this collection of short films exploring matters of the heart. What are we truly looking for, and what price are we prepared to pay to get it? Having the courage to embrace our desire is the right place to start.

Run time: 84 min

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

That feeling of imminent excitement when you are on the verge of something big, infiltrates the films in this collection. The characters are stepping forward to embrace a major life change, sell their art, embody their power, escape a haunting and claim their rightful five-star review. The characters are lively and hopeful, and the stories are full of momentum and the gritty underside of life after dark.

Run time: 102 min

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

Filmmakers are the ultimate dreamweavers. In this collection of shorts we step through the looking glass to explore their bold visions and ideas. Help us find a mystical bear, meet misanthropic mermaids, and a boy who used to be a dog. Commune with nature, befriend a gravitational phenomenon, and find yourself playing a game in the underworld. It’s a colourful reverie you won’t want to wake from.

Run time: 99 min

Rating: M - Offensive language, nudity & content that may disturb

Remind yourself that we live in a magical land, full of creatures and people worth fighting for, with this collection of short films. Our connection to the natural world around us and the spirits of our ancestors is part of what makes us human. Watch with delight as the characters in these stories go to extreme lengths for their family, their world and their dreams. 

Run time: 99 min

Rating: M - Violence & offensive language.