ANNOUNCING THE 2023 PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER!

We couldn’t be more excited to announce one of our most coveted awards… the 2023 People’s Choice Award Winner is…

Just Kidding I Actually Love You
Written and Directed By Anna Rose Duckworth
Written by Ali Burns
Produced by Casey Latch, Mikaela Rüegg

Just Kidding I Actually Love You is a Kiwi cringe comedy that was nominated for Best Screenplay at the 2023 Show Me Shorts Film Festival. It played at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch Opening Nights, as well as playing up and down the country as part of The Sampler. Director and Writer Anna Rose Duckworth presented the film and was part of the Christchurch Filmmaker Talk where she participated in a lively Q and A. Our audiences nationwide identified with the quirky rom-com, the loving way it looked at cringe behaviour, and Rhiannon McCall’s heartfelt and hilarious performance.

Anna said: “Our team is thrilled for our film to win People's Choice! We were totally floored by the overwhelmingly positive response to this film and all the kind and thoughtful feedback! It is a rare joy to be able to share a film with live audiences - hearing the audible cringing, laughter and the awws was such an honour. Thank you Show Me Shorts!"

The film was a huge hit with audiences, gaining the most votes. Fellow Kiwi filmmaker Maddie Dai’s Ministry of Jingle came in second place, while Kiwi documentary Buttons and Dumplings (directed by Calvin Sang and Mei Ling Lee) was a close third.

A huge thank you to everyone who made the effort to vote - the votes and comments were fantastic, and it was great to see so many passionate short film lovers!