2026 Award Nominees Announced
The nominees for this year’s Show Me Shorts awards have been unveiled. These are the filmmakers to watch, recognised for excellence in their craft. As an Oscar-qualifying short film festival, Show Me Shorts provides a pathway to international recognition at the highest level.
Ten films are nominated across seven competitive categories. The most nominated film is Kurī, written and directed by Ana Chaya Scotney, with four nominations. Socks and 埋單 (Let’s Settle This!) each received three nominations.
Here is the full list of Show Me Shorts award nominees:
Best New Zealand Film
Anna Frances Pearson for Bob & C-Nut: A Good Way to Start the Day
Lucie Lesnard and Keeti Ngatai-Melbourne for Ciggie
Julie Zhu for Kurī
Samantha Dutton for Socks
Best International Film
Henry Stone and Georgia Noe for Mr Adidos (Australia)
Júlia Coldwell Serra and Gerard Guilló i Bort for Ningú Borda (Nobody Barks) (Spain)
Adrian Moyse Dullin, Jawahine Zentar, Lucas Tothe and Jessica Arfuso for Soleil Pâle (Pale Sun) (France)
Toi Whakaari Best Actor
Keporah Torrance for Kurī
Kahukura Royal for Lucky Luke
Monty Walker for Socks
DEGANZ Best Director
Ana Chaya Scotney for Kurī
Jesse Griffin for Lucky Luke
Tom Noakes for The Worm
DEGANZ Best Editor
Anna Frances Pearson for Bob & C-Nut: A Good Way to Start the Day
Sam Small for Kurī
Jack Woon for 埋單 (Let's Settle This!)
Kōawa Studios Best Cinematographer
Caleb Corlett for Kurī
Duncan Cole for 埋單 (Let's Settle This!)
Tim Flower for Socks
Script to Screen Best Screenplay
Isaac Ieremia for Ciggie
Jack Woon for 埋單 (Let's Settle This!)
Lynda Chanwai-Earle for The Owl and the Rainbow
Jury members praised the high calibre of films in competition and the breadth of storytelling on display. Francesca Rudkin said: “It was a privilege and a joy to watch all the films in competition. Selecting the finalists and winners was very difficult. So many wonderful films, so much talent on show. It was a robust, thorough, and thoughtful process.”
Carol Hirschfeld said: “The breadth of storytelling evident in the competition was truly exciting - it's clear short film making is in good heart here in Aotearoa!”
The winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 14 October at Capitol Cinemas in Auckland. The Award Winners films will screen as a special collection during the festival.
Audience members will also have the opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice Award, which will be presented at the conclusion of the festival. Voting is open throughout the festival via www.showmeshorts.co.nz.
This year’s honourable jury members consisted of:
National Jury
Carol HirschfeldFrancesca Rudkin
Martin Strange-Hansen
Ibrahim Mursal
International Jury
Graeme Tuckett
Kathryn Graham
Steve Newall
Screenplay Jury
Guy Pigden
Mladen Ivancic
Miranda Harcourt
Show Me Shorts Film Festival is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most widely available festivals, with 126 screenings at 45 venues nationwide from 7 to 31 October 2026. Tickets for screenings and events are available now. Advance booking is recommended as some sessions have already sold out.
