NZ director back in frame for Oscars

New Zealand director Taika Waititi has won the top award at Sydney's Flickerfest Short Film Festival, giving him his second shot in two years at the Oscars.

Waititi's non-dialogue film Tama Tu, about six young World War II Maori Battalion soldiers passing the time in the ruins of an Italian villa, took the award at a function on Sunday.

The 30-year-old comedian and actor had his first short film, Two Cars, One Night, nominated for an Oscar last year in the best short film category.

He has just finished shooting his first feature film, Eagle vs Shark, which he describes as a dark comedy.