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UPDATE – Current script round: entries closed 5pm, Friday 31 August 2018
Local writers are asked to submit their original scripts to Short Film Otago (SFO) as the latest production funding round opens. Submissions will now close on Sunday 31 August 2018.
A registered charitable trust, Short Film Otago aims to invigorate screenwriting in the region by generating quality writing, and overseeing full production of two or three of the best scripts each year.
Short Film Otago is a “first step” initiative for local film makers. Similar to the New Zealand Film Commission’s $10,000 Fresh Shorts scheme, Short Film Otago offers budgets of up to $10,000 to produce films by writers and film makers early in their career, to help build experience and talent. Prior film making experience is not required, and mentoring is provided.
Short Film Otago uses a “blind” assessment process to determine which scripts will proceed to production. A Selection Committee (appointed by the SFO Board) is provided with copies of all scripts with an identifying number attached and no details of the author/s.
The Selection Committee makes recommendations to the full Board on which scripts will proceed to further development and potential production. Writers of scripts approved for further development will be provided with a $500 grant.
Short Film Otago Board Chair Al Baddock says the panel is looking forward to receiving scripts from the region’s fresh writing talent.
This is always an exciting time of year for us and we’re looking forward to seeing some great stories from Otago’s aspiring screenwriters. I encourage anyone with a short film idea to get it in to us.”
Entries are open to anyone living in, or with a strong connection to, the Otago region and can be anything from fully finished scripts to one-page outlines – or works in between. The scripts themselves must be strong, original stories that are visually interesting and have an ideal length of 10 to 15 minutes.
More information about the initiative is available on the FAQ section of this website or by email to contact@sfo.org.nz.
For any further information about Short Film Otago please contact Al Baddock 021 588 545.
Dunedin film with dark edge wins
8 November 2017
A Dunedin-made short film with a morbid twist has won a top award at an Italian film festival celebrating the darker side of life.
The Short Film Otago-funded Cold Fish has won the best international short film award at the Ravenna Nightmare Film Festival in Italy.
Shot almost entirely at Smails Beach in Dunedin last year, the film centres on an elderly man who wants to kill himself after a life-changing event, by drowning in the ocean…
Inc’d wins multiple awards
The Short Film Otago production, Inc’d, took three prizes at the 2014 Wairoa Māori Film Festival – including the Te Nati Film Fest top prize, Best Actor & Best Short Film Audience Award.
The Te Nati Film Fest prize wins automatic entry to next year’s Te Nati Film Festival in Tahiti & a free trip to Tahiti for the film makers.
Inc’d was one of four productions Short Film Otago premiered at Dunedin’s Rialto in May.
A Māori man enjoying the corporate life he has carved for himself in Sydney returns home for his father’s funeral. Amidst the mourning, a challenge is laid before him.
Writers: Neil Durrant & Darren Simmonds.
Director: Darren Simmonds.
Producers: Darren Simmonds & Ian Bowmer.
Cast: Rob Mokaraka, Juanita Hepi, Paul Gittins.
Dunedin Short Film Excels
10 February 2011
Eden produced by Short Film Otago has received another endorsement to add to its growing list of successes.
Written and directed by Rebecca Tansley, and filmed by Mike Single in 2009, Eden has already been selected for screening at the ION International Film Festival 2009, the New Zealand International Film Festival 2010, and the Africa International Film Festival 2010.
Now it’s been selected by the Auckland Council to screen as part of the Movies in the Park, Auckland Festival programme on Saturday 12 March from 8pm in the Auckland Festival’s festival garden in Aotea square.
Eden is one of 8 films (6 of which can now be viewed online produced by Short Film Otago, which is a registered charitable trust, funded by the Otago Community Trust.
The mission is to generate well-written and edited scripts, and then over-see full production on two or three of the best scripts each year.
Filmed in a remote vineyard in Central Otago, Eden portrays the bond that forms between a young Scottish man escaping a difficult past and a mysterious African refugee.