Short Film Lab Call for Entries
Call for entries
Show Me Shorts Film Festival is now calling for entries to the Short Film Lab 2026, which is back after a two-year hiatus, thanks to support from Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga, New Zealand Film Commission.
The Short Film Lab is a prestigious hothouse mentoring scheme for screenwriters who have previously had some work produced, but not previously received significant production funding for one of their projects. They must have a completed short film script to submit, along with outlines for two other projects.
Eight screenwriters will be selected to develop their short film scripts with assistance from experienced screenwriter mentors. The Short Film Lab now includes NZ$40,000 of production funding that will be awarded to two of the eight selected screenwriters at the end of the script development. The $40,000 of production funding awarded includes $10,000 for post-production and film festival entries.
The production funding will be awarded on the basis of production readiness, quality and originality of the script, along with entertainment value and the feasibility of it being produced to a high standard within the resources available. We want to prioritise cinematic stories that will look great on movie screens and have a good chance of being selected by short film festivals internationally.
Some prominent films developed through the Lab include Lauren Jackson’s I’m Going To Mum’s (Berlin Film Festival), Tajim Mohammed-Kapa’s Pītiti (ImagiNATIVE), Finnius Teppet’s Democracy, Pulkit Arora’s Anu (MIFF, Short of the Week), Anna Duckworth’s Just Kidding, I Actually Love You and Stef Harris’s Sister Josephine.
Previous mentors have included many of New Zealand’s most gifted screenwriters, such as Briar Grace Smith, Nick Ward, Gaylene Preston, Shuchi Kothari, Hamish Bennett, Gerard Johnstone, and Michael Bennett.
Applications close at 12 noon on Monday 2 February 2026.
Webinar
Watch our Webinar where we answer a few questions that filmmakers have had about the upcoming Short Film Lab and the application process
Accessibility Support
Special funding has been granted by NZFC to help with access needs. Please tell us if there’s anything you need to make participation possible, e.g. NZSL interpreters, mobility access, alternate formats, sensory accommodations or childcare (in some cases). If any Deaf filmmakers would like more information and would prefer communicating in NZSL, please let us know. We can put you in contact with Access Coordinator Jared Flitcroft who has been assisting us with access needs for the lab.
Application process
The application process is not arduous, and should take as little as fifteen minutes if you already have outlines and a script written. You will require the following to complete the submission:
Contact information: Name, email, phone number.
Bio and previous relevant experience.
List of previous professional development and filmmaking funding grants received to date.
Description of what you hope to gain from the Short Film Lab.
Title, genre and outline for three short film projects.
Script for one of those short film projects.
The reason multiple concepts are required is so that assessors can gauge whether the candidate has a body of work/ideas they want to develop. All selected participants will need to provide a second completed script for one of their other two concepts before the Short Film Lab takes place. Participants will work on more than one idea on the day of the Short Film Lab, to give them more options of what to take forward.
Each outline should be a maximum of 400 words long and should explain the plot and tone of the film - not just a few sentences.
The script should be no longer than 20 pages, written in standard screenplay format, as we are looking for short films that are under 20 mins in duration. Some leniancy will be shown for scripts that are slightly over 20 pages but we encourage writers to try and cut their scripts down pre-submission as it will increase your chances of selection.
Modest travel and accommodation support is available for those based outside of Auckland. Accessibility support is also available. Please tell us if there’s anything you need to make participation possible, e.g. NZSL interpreters, mobility access, alternate formats, sensory accommodations or childcare (in some cases).
Key dates
Applications open: 1 December 2025
Applications close: 2 February 2026
Applicants notified by: 1st week of March 2026
Lab takes place: 28 March 2026
Final scripts delivered: 15 June 2026
Funding decided: 1 July 2026
Final date for delivery of completed short films: 1 July 2026
Eligibility criteria
Who is eligible
Screenwriters who have a track record of modest success by previously having one or more short film scripts produced. The produced short film/s may have been funded (e.g. by Day One, Nga Aho Whakaari or PASC), created as part of tertiary level studies or self-funded.
Screenwriters who have a minimum of three projects, one with a complete script and two others with at least an outline.
Who is not eligible
Previous selected participants in the Show Me Shorts Short Film Lab.
Screenwriters whose work has received Catalyst or feature film funding from Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga, New Zealand Film Commission.
People who have previously had a project selected for Fresh Shorts as a writer or director - this applies whether or not your film was funded.
People who are not New Zealand citizens or residents, this includes any directors or producers attached to the project.
Having a director attached to your project is not a requirement, however any director attached to your project now or later must not have:
Received Catalyst or feature film production funding from Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga, New Zealand Film Commission.
Directed one hour or more of funded content for broadcast television.
There is no restriction for directors who have worked in commercials.
There is no restriction for producers with previous funding of any kind.
Use of AI
AI generated scripts are strictly prohibited.
We support the use of AI as a tool for things like formatting or generating feedback on your script, however we are looking for original ideas only.
All writing must be created directly by the screenwriter applicant.
By submitting your application you are declaring that you hold the 'rights/chain of title' for your script, something that is not possible with a script written or partly written by an AI programme.
Attending the Lab
Applicants must be available to attend the Lab in Auckland on Saturday 28 March 2026.
Applicants must agree that their script and application details will be shared with Show Me Shorts staff and contractors for the purpose of the selection process, mentoring and assisting in the professional development of the applicant and their projects.
Applicants must agree to take an active part in reading the scripts of the other participants and sharing confidential feedback and advice.
