Film Festival: Adamson picks six of the best

Film director Andrew Adamson. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Here are the six finalists for best local short film in this year's New Zealand International Film Festival competition. They have been chosen by this year's guest judge, director Andrew Adamson.

The final six films have been drawn by from 115 entries which were then whittled down by festival programmers to a shortlist of 12 before Adamson made his picks.

The six will screen throughout the festival and audiences will be asked to vote for their favourite to decide the Audience Award. This comes with the prize of 25 per cent of the box office takings from the screenings in the four main centres. In 2013, it amounted to $4500.

A jury will also select winners for three awards with cash prizes ranging from $2000 to $5000 - the Madman Entertainment Jury Prize for the best New Zealand Short Film); The Friends of the Civic Short Film Award for distinctive creative achievement and the inaugural Allen Guilford Cinematography Award.

Here's what Adamson had to say about his choices ...

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

2. U.F.O.
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."

3. Eleven
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."

4. Over The Moon
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."

5. Ross & Beth
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."

6. Cold Snap
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."

The NZIFF will begin in Auckland on July 17. Its 2014 programme is due out on June 24.

- TimeOut