Six short films have been selected as the finalists in the
inaugural NZIFF New Zealand's Best
Short Film Competition, with two of them produced by WIFT NZ
members. Desray Armstrong producedEllen is
Leaving, while Chelsea Winstanley produced
Night Shift.
Guest selector and international filmmaker Roger Donaldson selected
the six finalists from a shortlist of twelve. Festival programmers
Bill Gosden and Michael McDonnell viewed 109 submissions to prepare
the shortlist.
"All films show a very high standard of cinematography and
production values. I am really impressed by the quality of the
acting. New Zealand is obviously creating a large pool of very
talented people to draw on. I feel honoured to be part of the
process of helping choose the final programme." says Guest Selector
Roger Donaldson.
The New Zealand's Best programme
will screen as part of the 2012 NZIFF and audiences will be invited
to choose a winner by rating all six. A jury of three will select
the winners of the $5000 Madman Entertainment Jury Prize and the
$3000 Friends of the Civic Award. The winner of the Audience vote
in Auckland and Wellington takes away 25% of the box office from
the Festival screenings.
You can read more about the finalists
here.