Short Film Award Nominees Announced
by Show Me Shorts Film Festival · SCOOPThe Show Me Shorts Awards recognise filmmakers who have achieved excellence in their craft and shine a light on emerging talent to watch. From writers and directors to actors, crew and craftspeople, the awards celebrate the leading lights of New Zealand’s screen industry.
As an Oscar, BAFTA and Goya qualifying short film festival, Show Me Shorts also provides a pathway to international recognition at the highest level.
Carol Hirschfeld, one of the jurors says, “The breadth of storytelling evident in the competition was truly exciting - it's clear short film making is in good heart here in Aotearoa!”
Ten films have been nominated across seven competitive award categories. The most nominated film is moving drama Kurī, written and directed by Ana Chaya Scotney, with four nominations. Socks directed by Todd Karehana and Let’s Settle This! directed by Jack Woon 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
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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 (Let's Settle This!)
Kōawa Studios Best Cinematographer
Caleb Corlett for Kurī
Duncan Cole for (Let's Settle This!)
Tim Flower for Socks
Script to Screen Best Screenplay
Isaac Ieremia for Ciggie
Jack Woon for (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. “It was a privilege and a joy to watch all the films in competition,” says Francesca Rudkin. “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.”
The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Wednesday 14 October, followed by the first screening of the Award Winners collection of films. This collection will also be available to watch as a package in Auckland, Matakana, Wellington, Christchurch, Arrowtown, Tauranga and Thames.
Voting for the People’s Choice Award, which will be presented at the conclusion of the festival, is open throughout the festival via www.showmeshorts.co.nz.
This year’s honourable jurors were:
National Jury
Carol Hirschfeld
Francesca Rudkin
Martin Strange-Hansen (Denmark)
Ibrahim Mursal (Norway)
International Jury
Graeme Tuckett
Kathryn Graham
Steve Newall
Screenplay Jury
Guy Pigden
Mladen Ivancic
Miranda Harcourt, ONZM
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.
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