Uni Shorts: A New Generation of Filmmakers

Friday 23 March 2012

UNI SHORTS: A New Generation of Filmmakers

Emerging filmmakers from New Zealand and around the world will put their work on show next month, with the launch of an innovative new student film festival.

Uni Shorts International Student Film Festival 2012, to be held at Unitec's Mt Albert campus on 20-22 April, is a multi-faceted event that will showcase the work of local and international student filmmakers as they compete for awards. It will also provide a programme of seminars and networking events, and an opportunity for student discussions.

Event organisers say the scene is set for a highly relevant and informative inaugural event for students, educators and film buffs.

"Uni Shorts is intended to address what we realised was a gap in Australasia for the showcasing of tertiary student work. Given that the quality and sophistication of students has increased tremendously over the years, we wanted to find a way to bring their talents to the attention of a wider audience," says Athina Tsoulis, Head of Unitec's Performing and Screen Arts Department, which is hosting the event.

"We anticipate that the festival will not just screen work but also provide a platform for discussion on the issues that affect emerging filmmakers and the landscape they are entering."

The competition has attracted entries from places as diverse as India, Spain, United Kingdom, Estonia, Otago and Miami, USA. Among them are a smart neo-noir entry about a hitchhiker who accepts a lift from a strange man, a documentary about a daughter's hunting trip with her father, and an animated story about a rooster who wakes up on the morning of his wedding with incriminating evidence left over from his stag do.

The short-list of films selected to screen at the festival is attached [below].

The judging panel of three features Roseanne Liang (Director/writer, My Wedding and Other Secrets), Florian Habicht (Director, Love Story, Kaikohe Demolition) and Unitec's curriculum leader for screen and former Head of Development at New Zealand Film Commission Caroline Grose. Prizes of NZ$1000 will be awarded for the best New Zealand film, best international film and best film overall. A fourth prize of the same value will be awarded to the actor deemed to have given the most outstanding performance.

The seminar panels running at the festival will focus on how to make films to get noticed, and on developing skills to break into a competitive film industry.

Industry high flyers named as participants on panels and/or roundtables are: John Barnett, CEO, South Pacific Pictures (Outrageous Fortune, Sione's Wedding); Rachel Gardner, producer (Apron Strings, The Cult); Robert Sarkies, director / writer (Scarfies, This is Not My Life); Steven O'Meagher, producer (Out of the Blue, This is Not My Life).

The new generation of filmmakers working in the industry will be represented by Unitec screen graduates Kristian Eek, (producer, Manurewa) and Cristobal Araus Lobos (director, Curry Munchers, Netherwood).

Those interested in attending events and screenings should check out registration information at www.unishorts.unitec.ac.nz

"We have been very impressed by the quality and diversity of the film entries, and the level of support from our industry friends and associates has also been very pleasing. I encourage the film community, fans, students and teachers to come along and participate in an exciting event," says Athina.

For more information about registering for the festival, go to www.unishorts.unitec.ac.nz

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2012 Uni Shorts – Selected films for screening
Twenty-four films made by local and international emerging film makers have been selected to screen at the inaugural Uni Shorts International Student Film festival in April.

Auckland Big Small City – Natcoll Design School, NZ – director: Syahrir Ego Farizy
Las Placas – Natcoll Design School, NZ – director: Jeronimo Ohlsen
Cavity – University of Auckland, NZ – director: Ada Chin
Juggled – Otago Polytechnic, NZ – director: Mia Weatherall
Cocked up – Media Design School, NZ – director: Oliver Hilbert
Haircut – University of Miami, US – director: Tim Warren
Dust Off – Baltic Film & Media School, Estonia – director: Ivan Pavljutskov
Kamambo (Butterfly) – Victorian College of the Arts, Australia – director: Victoria Goodyear
Nachtbus (Night Bus) – Hamburg Media School, Germany – director: Benjamin Teske
Die Katze Tanzt (cat's dance) – Hamburg Media School, Germany – director: Esther Bialas
Begegnung (encounter) – Hamburg Media School, Germany – director: Matthias Zuder
Wie Ein Fremder (Stranger at home) – Hamburg Media School, Germany – director: Lena Liberta
Raju – Hamburg Media School, Germany – director: Max Zahle
Ezra Rishona (First Aid) – Sam Spiegel Film TV School, Israel – director: Yurden Karmin
Flowers – Staffordshire University, UK – director: Jack Tew
Playground – Staffordshire University, UK – director: Mark Kuczewski
If we are to be eaten by Wolves – Unitec, NZ – director: Ian Hedley-Wakefield
A Day Hunting – Unitec, NZ – director: Gemma Duncan
A Tiempo – ECAM Madrid, Spain – director: Guillermo Magarinos
Eso Te Pasa Por Barroco – ECAM (Madrid, Spain) – director: Pablo Serrano
Interes Variable – ECAM Madrid, Spain – director: Felipe Pardo
La Lavadora – ECAM Madrid, Spain – director: Ana Aurora Rodriguez y Andrea Correa
Zurdo – ECAM Madrid, Spain – director: Demetrio Elorz
Sin Palabros – ECAM Madrid, Spain – director: Bel Armenteros
More info on the programme and registration can be found at www.unishorts.unitec.ac.nz
Also follow the festival on FACEBOOK / UNI SHORTS & TWITTER / Uni Shorts.

ENDS

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