Indian comedy We Were Here, directed by Pranav Bhasin and produced by Yash Gonsai, has won the 2026 Show Me Shorts People's Choice Award, taking the top spot in an audience vote following this year's festival.
The inventive 11-minute comedy follows three retired men in a crumbling Indian town who protest the replacement of human jobs by machines in an unusual way: by pretending to be household appliances.
Written and directed by Bhasin, We Were Here combines absurdist humour with a timely exploration of technological change, work and the value of human connection.
As winners of the People's Choice Award, the filmmakers receive a $500 cash prize, an engraved bronze winner's badge and a certificate recognising their achievement.
New Zealand films take second and third place
Two New Zealand coming-of-age films rounded out the top three, with Socks finishing second and Lucky Luke taking third place.
Written and directed by Todd Karehana and produced by Samantha Dutton, Socks tells the story of a young Māori boy growing up in small-town New Zealand who forms an unexpected bond with a Mormon missionary. The 15-minute film explores an unlikely connection across different backgrounds and experiences.
In third place was Lucky Luke, written and directed by Jesse Griffin and produced by Rachel Jean. The 13-minute comedy-drama follows 18-year-old Luke, whose morning sleep-in is interrupted when his solo mother announces that their domestic arrangement is changing. Rather than mother and son, the pair will now be living together as flatmates.
Celebrating our audiences and filmmakers
The People's Choice Award gives Show Me Shorts audiences an opportunity to recognise the films that made the strongest impression on them during the festival.
This year's top three reflect the diversity of storytelling showcased at Show Me Shorts, from an absurdist Indian comedy to two distinctly New Zealand stories about growing up and navigating relationships.
Congratulations to Pranav Bhasin, Yash Gonsai and the entire We Were Here team, along with the filmmakers behind Socks and Lucky Luke.
Thank you to everyone who attended screenings, supported the filmmakers and took the time to vote in the 2026 Show Me Shorts People's Choice Award.
