Taste a selection of highlight short films from Show Me Shorts Film Festival. These inspiring and thoughtful stories include long-distance love on a distant planet, precocious children up to mischief, a whole town waiting for bad luck to pass, and a man stuck in a time loop. Comedy, science fiction, romance, and coming-of-age classics abound.

This session is also screening with open captions at select locations. For details on The Sampler (captioned) click here.

Run Time: 99 min

Rating: M - Domestic violence, drug use, offensive language

Beautiful stories of our land and our people. The movies in this collection showcase the work of talented New Zealand short film makers. Bold coming-of-age films sit alongside thoughtful drama, silly comedic fun, inventive fantasy, and warm-hearted documentary. We explore unlikely friendships, face our past, and step into the unfolding future.

This session is also screening with open captions at select locations. For details on Aotearoa (captioned) click here.

Run Time: 96 min

Rating: M - Drug use, offensive language, sex scenes & mental health themes

What is love? Placed into a variety of pressured situations, the characters in these short films still manage to find their humanity, their heart, and their compassion—exposing their bravery. If only we all had their courage! Drama, romance, coming-of-age, and of course musical romance can be found here, exploring exactly what tugs on our heartstrings.

Run Time: 91 min

Rating: M - Offensive language.

The robots are already here. The filmmakers behind these short films have created ambitious near-future worlds for us to explore, exposing the existential threat automation poses to us all. Poke fun at the impending apocalypse with us, or take it as a serious warning as we explore possible futures and what they all mean.

Note: This collection includes one AI-generated film presented within the context of this theme.

Run Time: 85 min

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

In this collection of short films, we explore intriguing worlds that are just one step from reality. We look through lenses of strangeness and meet amusingly unusual characters in odd settings: a puppet having an existential crisis, two Kung Fu masters on a date, an artist searching for the perfect thrift-store find, and a poet trapped in a society that frowns on talking. It’s an inventive reverie you won’t want to wake from.

Run Time: 99 min

Rating: R16 - Violence, offensive language, sex scenes, nudity & suicide themes.

Prepare to fear. The zombies are coming. A worm is giving you dark orders. And the coyotes are out there. Do not open the door or drink from that chalice. Strange creatures lurk, and our deepest fears can be brought to life in this decidedly frightful collection of short films.

Run Time: 89 min

Rating: R16 - Bloody violence, graphic injury detail, offensive language, suicide references & content that may disturb.