Show Me Shorts Film Festival is delighted to announce the winner of the 2021 SAE People’s Choice Award goes to:

Rachel Ross, Morgan Leigh Stewart and Samantha Dutton for Green.

This short comedy drama made its world premiere during the festival, and went on to delight and humour audiences around the country. The winner of this award is determined by audience votes, collected through the Show Me Shorts website. Prizes include: $1,500 cash, a copy of Final Draft writing software, an engraved winner’s badge and certificate.

A pertinent and relevant short film, Green portrays a real-life renewed connection between an estranged father and daughter, both with newly diagnosed life altering illnesses, who smoke marijuana together for the first time, which becomes healing in more ways than one.

Rachel Ross, the writer and director of Green comments:
“This film is an incredibly personal story, I knew it was an important story to be told. I started out gathering funding via a Boosted campaign (thank you to all those who gave) which then swiftly turned into a successful Catalyst He Kauahi grant (thank you NZFC). I want to thank my WONDERFUL creative team who pulled this together so brilliantly and most importantly my Dad, for without him this story wouldn’t exist. We are SO honoured to receive this award, thank you to those who voted and thank you Show Me Shorts! We’re beyond thrilled!”

Based on the real life experiences of Rachel and her Father being diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease and cancer respectively, Rachel decided one day to seize the moment and their unplanned shared battle and pay her Father a visit. She had a simple plan she says “to light up.” A Unique and liberating scenario occurred between Father and daughter, one that as Rachel says “a moment that bound us infinitely closer together, a moment I will never forget.”

Dr Suzette Major, Director of SAE Auckland says: “We are thrilled to be able to support the Show Me Shorts Film Festival again and be a part of showcasing such a wealth of talent. As the tertiary institute of choice for those looking for practical, high quality and globally recognised creative degrees, sponsoring a ‘People’s Choice’ award was the perfect fit. Our sincere congratulations to the winners of this year’s SAE People’s Choice award, and we look forward to seeing what The team from GREEN create next!”

The SAE People’s Choice Award runners up are: Song For Serbia, Bear With Me, A Hole and Milk.

Show Me Shorts Film Festival 2021 is presented by Stuff. There were 74 short films and music videos in the programme. The only location still to play is Stewart Island, on currently and finishing on 22 January 2022. More information about those screenings is available here.

A limited in-person Auckland season may follow in early 2022, once restrictions allow.

Article by Jessica Lee