Uni Shorts student film festival announces 2013 finalists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6th March 2013 - Auckland, NZ

Uni Shorts student film festival announces 2013 finalists

Uni Shorts International Student Film Festival organisers have this week announced 30 finalists to screen in competition next month. Uni Shorts 2013 will be held on 13-14 April at Auckland's Unitec Institute of Technology (Mt Albert campus) in New Zealand. It will be the second annual festival after last year's inaugural event. Uni Shorts is the only student film festival of its type in Australasia.

This year's finalists were chosen from nearly 200 short film entries that were submitted from film schools and universities around the world, including entries for the new category for New Zealand Secondary Schools. All films selected will vie for cash prizes in fiction, animation, documentary, and experimental genres, including an overall award decided by judges and an audience vote. (FULL LIST BELOW)
"We are pleased to see a marked increase in the number of entries from our inaugural event last year," says festival chairperson, Athina Tsoulis. "The standard was high. Every film that came through had its own merits and unique story which made the pre-selection process tough."

Uni Shorts 2013 - Final Selection

POSTGRADUATE CATEGORY:
THE CAREER COMEDIAN - London Film School, UK
FIRST CONTACT - Victorian College of Arts, Australia
MILK AND HONEY - University of Auckland, NZ
I LOVE YOU FISH - WA Screen Academy, Australia
TRUNK / HARD VIND - University of Southern Denmark

UNDERGRADUATE CATEGORY:
IN THE NICK OF TIME - Beuth University of Applied Sciences, Germany
DINNER AND A MOVIE - London Film School, UK
TWO PRINCES - Unitec Department of Performing & Screen Arts, NZ
RESTING IN PLAY - Victoria University Wellington, NZ
SUCH EYES - The Sam Spiegel Film and TV School, Israel

DOCUMENTARY CATEGORY:
ROLLER DERBY SAVED MY SOUL - South Seas Film & Television School, NZ
THE HARDCORE OBSESSION - Queensland University of Technology, Australia
A GOOD NOTE - Massey University, NZ
SCARRED - WA Screen Academy, Australia
WILL HIGGINS: THE REAL KENNY - Queensland University of Technology, Australia

ANIMATION CATEGORY:
BEAN CAUGHT - Rochester Institute of Technology, USA
PYGMALION - University of Canterbury, NZ
STEAM RIVALS - AUT, NZ
FUNERAL HOME PINATAS - Media Design School, NZ
LUNA PARK - Media Design School, NZ

EXPERIMENTAL/NON-NARRATIVE CATEGORY:
FUTURE SKIES - Staffordshire University, UK
OCCULUS - Staffordshire University, UK
IT'S A DREAM - Radio and Film College of Chengdu, China
TRISTE - University of Waikato, NZ
HERE INSIDE YOU - Rochester Institute of Technology, USA

NEW ZEALAND SECONDARY SCHOOLS CATEGORY:
THE NIGHT OF THEIR LIVES - St Kentigern, Auckland
THE SLEEPER - Christ's College, Christchurch
GONE BY APRIL - Cashmere High School, Christchurch
LIGHTS CAMERA FAIL - Wellington Girls College, Wellington
GENERATION TEST TUBE - Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland

Napoleon Dynamite producer confirmed as guest speaker

American Indie filmmaker/producer Chris 'Doc' Wyatt has been confirmed as this year's international guest speaker. Wyatt is the producer of 2004 cult hit Napoleon Dynamite. The film is one of the most successful independent films of all time grossing a massive US$46,140,956 at the box office from just a US$400,000 budget. "I'm looking forward to coming to New Zealand and sharing my experiences with New Zealand filmmakers, and have them share theirs with me, so that we can grow together as a global indie film community," he says.

Tsoulis says Wyatt's presence will add to an already exciting programme lined up for Uni Shorts 2013. "This is a wonderful opportunity for us to learn from his experience in producing successful low budget features as low budget is where most of New Zealand's film making is located," she says. "Student filmmakers and those starting out in the industry will find value in attending next month's festival. Our lineup of seminars will address issues important to them as they staircase into an industry that is evolving all the time and they need to adapt to these changes."
More guest industry speakers and a full Uni Shorts 2013 programme will be confirmed shortly.

Register Now to attend Uni Shorts 2013 - Early Bird Specials!
$50 general, $30 students/guild members, $20 Unitec students (until 15 March)
* Registration fee includes free morning tea and lunch on both days! Early Bird special expires 15 March so be in quick! (standard rate applies after 15 March $60 general $40 student/industry member)
* Credit card/Direct Credit (Bank Transfer) and Invoice your school/company group payment options available. Conditions apply.

Register online at www.unishorts.unitec.ac.nz
Register via email: unishorts@unitec.ac.nz or call (09) 815 4321 ext. 7284.

ENDS

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