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A single short film took three of the four major prizes in the third annual NZIFF New Zealand’s Best Short Film competition announced at Auckland’s Civic Theatre on August 2.

A single short film took three of the four major prizes in the third annual NZIFF New Zealand’s Best Short Film competition announced at Auckland’s Civic Theatre on August 2.

The Madman Entertainment Jury Prize, a cash prize of $5000 for the Best New Zealand Short Film at NZIFF 2014, is awarded to Ross & Beth, directed and written by Hamish Bennett and produced by Orlando Stewart.

The jury selected Abigail Greenwood, director of the film Eleven, for The Friends of the Civic Short Film Award for distinctive creative achievement. The filmmaker receives a prize of $3000 cash.

A special jury of cinematographers selected Grant McKinnon, cinematographer for Ross & Beth as the winner of the inaugural Allen Guilford Cinematography Award from the New Zealand Cinematographers Society (NZCS), a prize that includes a cash prize of $2,000.

The 2014 Audience Award, 25% of the box office takings from the screenings in the four main centres was awarded to Ross & Beth. In 2013 the prize was valued at $4,500.

The three judges were Eleanor Catton MNZM, 2013 Man Booker prize winner and author of The Luminaries, visiting filmmaker Rolf de Heer (Charlie’s Country, Ten Canoes) and Michael Eldred, representative for Madman Entertainment. The jury statement reads as follows:

"The jurors were united in their admiration for the shorts presented, their variety and the standard of film making contained within them. Each of the shorts, in giving us something to admire, was a worthy finalist.

"For fluid, effective story-telling with both camera and performance, the Friends of the Civic Award goes to Abigail Greenwood for Eleven.

"For its completeness as a short film, its mastery of the different aspects of the medium, both technical and artistic, and its ability to so fully engage its audience, the Madman Entertainment Jury Prize for the Best Short Film goes to Ross & Beth."

Guest selector and international filmmaker Andrew Adamson selected the six finalists from a shortlist of 12. Festival programmers Bill Gosden and Michael McDonnell viewed 115 entries to prepare the shortlist.

The finalists:

Eleven
New Zealand 2013
Director: Abigail Greenwood    
A beautifully painful story of peer pressure and betrayal. Well shot and well acted by the young cast, it’s a very moving story that takes one back to the difficult years of childhood.

Cold Snap
New Zealand 2013
Director: Leo Woodhead
A well structured, beautifully shot narrative... It leaves the audience contemplating life, death and pain – and how confusing such things can be for a child dealing with death every day.

Over The Moon
New Zealand 2013
Director: James Cunningham
A witty and imaginative take on the ‘battle of the sexes’. Cunningham has made great use of technology and whimsical production design to create a fun but pointed commentary on one of the many testosterone heavy occupations.

Ross & Beth
New Zealand 2014
Director: Hamish Bennett
A well crafted character study of ageing rural New Zealand. Lovely subtle performances paint a sweet, sad and gentle story rooted in relatable characters.

School Night
New Zealand 2014
Directors: Leon Wadham, Eli Kent
Hayley Sproull’s performance is perfectly subtle as a sympathetically insecure young woman caught between youth and premature aging. A very complete and satisfying narrative that is rare in the short film format.

U.F.O.
New Zealand 2014
Director: Gregory King
A unique take on a child escaping his surroundings. Good use of makeup and effects sets you up for a turn from the surreal to the tragically real. In the bleak New Zealand tradition the film is affecting and stays with you.

Media Release: NZIFF