NZ short film wins Sundance award

A New Zealand short film has won a top prize at the prestigious Sundance International Film Festival.

The Six Dollar Fifty Man, which was written and directed by Wellingtonians Louis Sutherland and Mark Albiston, won the International Jury Prize for short-film-making last night.

The 15-minute film tells the story of Andy, a gutsy eight-year-old boy who retreats into a make believe world to deal with playground bullying and was made with finance from the NZ Film Commission.

Written and directed by Wellingtonians Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland, the film has also been selected for the 60th Berlin International Film Festival in the Generation section which is aimed at younger audiences.

Last week, the film took out the top prize at short film festival, Flickerfest 2010, in Australia, a win that means it now qualifies for consideration in the 2011 Academy Awards.

- NZ HERALD ONLINE / NZPA