Wellington Opening Night, presented by Screen Wellington, a UNESCO Creative City of Film

Join us for a very special night out as we launch this year’s Show Me Shorts Film Festival. We will be screening a selection of films from Wellington filmmakers and some of the best and most fun in this year’s programme. Celebrate short films and the people who make them! Hear introductions from some of the filmmakers. Tickets include a glass of wine and snacks on arrival.

Run time: 93

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

Proudly supported by: Wellington City Council, Screen Wellington a UNESCO Creative City of Film, China Cultural Centre in Wellington, Lion Foundation, The Amazing Travelling Photobooth

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

In this collection of short films for children and their families, cute animals and natural environments come to life in vibrant animations; an aspiring young warrior goes on a valiant quest; a much-loved soft toy comes to life; and gnomes declare war on an unsuspecting golf course. Find out why this is one of the most popular sections of Show Me Shorts.

Run time: 74 min

Rating: PG - Some scenes may scare very young children

Best for ages: 7 - 12 years

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.

Join us for these special captioned screenings of Aotearoa.

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.

Join us for these special captioned screenings of The Sampler.

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

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:

• Mīria George, writer/director of Open Looks

• Tom Field, writer/director of monster & me

• Haojun Huang, writer/director of End of Summer

Tues 14 Oct, 6:00–7:30 pm

Light House Cuba

$21 / $15

Rating: PG

Proudly supported by: Wellington City Council

Who are my people? Where do I fit in? The short films in this collection explore pressing questions of selfhood and belonging. If who we think we are is taken away, what are we left with? We can choose to let that change destroy us or embrace the transformation and use it to build something new. Community and connection are the antidote.

Run time: 97 min

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

Celebrate twenty years of Show Me Shorts by looking back at some of our most successful and best loved short films. The acclaimed Kiwi filmmakers behind these movies have built enviable careers, garnering awards and screening their work internationally. Take a nostalgic trip down memory lane with us as we revisit classic Aotearoa New Zealand shorts.

Run time: 96 min

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

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.

Travel to China with this richly creative collection of short films. Meet deities, spirits and animatronic insects; Dream a little, and then wake from cryogenic stasis. Modern ideas are presented alongside those steeped in deep tradition as we showcase the work of some of the most talented Chinese filmmakers working today.

Run time: 83 min

Rating: PG - Offensive language.

Proudly supported by: Ministry of Ethnic Communities