The 2013 Rush Munro’s Best Film award from Show Me Shorts Film Festival went to Matt Heath, Anna Geddes, Cass Donaldson and Joe Lonie for Honk If You’re Horny. This film is now eligible to enter the 2015 Academy Awards.

In making the award, judges Kirstin Marcon, Frances Morton and Matt Noonan said, Honk If You’re Horny surprised us with a wild, sexy ride. Every element and every creative department shines. It’s good to see New Zealand’s broader urban culture in the spotlight, and to give voice to such an instantly identifiable character without resorting to cliche. We hope to see more from this creative team.

Honk If You’re Horny also took out the SDGNZ Best Director Award for Joe Lonie, and the StarNow Best Actor Award for Andy Anderson’s “gripping, humorous” performance as a lascivious taxi driver telling a filthy story.

Here Be Monsters also took out three award categories – a notable achievement for a zombie film! Writer Nic Gorman was acknowledged with the Script to Screen & NZ Writers Guild Best Screenplay Award. John Chrisstoffels received the Panavision Best Cinematographer Award, while Jon Newell, Chris Rudkin and Erin Woolhouse jointly accepted the inaugural RPM Pictures Best Colourist Award. The judges were impressed with the sparse, moody look of this film, commenting: Here Be Monsters photography made the most of its location and production design, and all elements worked in harmony. It transported the judges into a post-apocalyptic world.

In the Best International Film Award category, the judges were so torn they highlighted four finalists. This award went to Austrian drama Abgestempelt (Punched), directed by Michael Rittmannsberger. Judges called it “an engaging, well-acted, completely believable piece of cinema. This taut, contemporary tale of preconceptions features subtle, nuanced performances and economical storytelling.”

The Special Jury Prize was awarded to Thomas Gleeson for Home. Gleeson also took away the SDGNZ Best Editor Award. Home features in the ‘Our Place’ section of the Show Me Shorts programme with other New Zealand stories of what home means to them. The judges fittingly said, “Home invites us to think about who we are, where we are and what makes a home.”

The glamorous Rialto Channel Opening Night & Awards Ceremony for Show Me Shorts sold out days in advance. The evening was attended by prominent screen industry identities including Chelsie Preston Crayford, Aidee Walker, Ben Barrington, Jared Turner and festival ambassadors Francesca Rudkin and comedian Te Radar – Te Radar also acted as the event’s MC.

Guests walked a pink carpet on arrival at the historic Capitol Cinema, and received ice cream from Rush Munro’s and wine from Macvine International. A climbing gym was transformed into a lively after-party venue with live band for the winners to celebrate after the screenings.

Show Me Shorts is playing in Auckland for the next two weeks, and opens in Wellington and other centres next week.

Full programme details are at www.showmeshorts.co.nz.

Full List of Award Winners

Rush Munro’s Best Film Award
Matt Heath, Anna Geddes, Cass Donaldson and Joe Lonie, Honk If You’re Horny

Best International Film Award
Michael Rittmannsberger and Simon Baumgartner, Abgestempelt (Punched)

SDGNZ Best Director Award
Joe Lonie, Honk If You’re Horny

StarNow Best Actor Award
Andy Anderson, Honk If You’re Horny

Script to Screen & NZ Writers Guild Best Screenplay Award
Nic Gorman, Here Be Monsters

Panavision Best Cinematographer Award
John Chrisstoffels, Here Be Monsters

SDGNZ Best Editor Award
Thomas Gleeson, Home

RPM Pictures Best Colourist Award
Jon Newell, Chris Rudkin and Erin Woolhouse, Here Be Monsters

Mexicali Fresh Best Student Film Award
Walter Lawry, Blind Mice

NZFC Special Jury Prize
Thomas Gleeson, Home
Presented for originality and the emotional effect of the experience.

People’s Choice Award
Announced in December when audience votes are counted.

Media Release: Show Me Shorts Film Festival