Five short films selected for the Fresh Shorts May 2015 funding round.
Fresh Shorts is the New Zealand Film Commission’s competitive, low-budget short film funding scheme which aims to identify up-and-coming directorial talent who will be part of the next generation of New Zealand feature filmmakers.
The Fresh Shorts scheme is now in its sixth year, and there were a total of 61 submissions this year; 33 applications submitted at the $10,000 funding level, and 28 at the $30,000 funding level. There was a diverse range of stories submitted, and the calibre and quality of applications was of a high standard.
The final 5 films were selected from a shortlist of 20 projects that were reviewed by a panel of both industry members and NZFC staff consisting of: Annie Collins (Editor) Whetu Fala (Producer) Mike Jonathan (Director/DOP), Dale Corlett (Head of Talent Development), Bonnie Slater (Professional Development Executive), and Jude McLaren (Talent Pathways Manager). The panel was chaired by Sima Urale (Director).
A second Fresh Shorts submission round is scheduled for 15 October 2015.
We are pleased to announce the following successful projects:
Fresh 10
Misimpressions Of The Ignorant Wise - An OCD still-life painter and his violinist roommate search for an extra roommate to avoid eviction.
Sinead Lau (Director/ Writer), Julian Arahanga (Producer)
Peekaboo - In an abandoned child's nursery home, a dishevelled woman finds herself trapped in a disturbing game of cat and mouse with Davey, an adult baby.
Lillian Beets (Director/ Writer), Tasha Sharp (Producer)
Slice Of Happiness - A wife on the verge of abandoning her family is forced to stay when her husband has a panic attack after brutally beating their neighbour.
Natalie Medlock (Director/ Writer), Katy Medlock (Producer)
Fresh 30
Stuntman - Eleven year old Frank uses the power of his imagination to be a stuntman, but his little sister is determined to do whatever her big brother does.
Pavel Kvatch (Director), Joseph Ryan (Writer), Costa Botes (Producer)
A Matter of Time - A group of students at high school have their external battles - things they seemingly have no control over which give rise to their internal ones.
Paula Jones (Director/ Writer), Mina Mathieson (Producer)