Having wrapped up entries to this year’s Monster Children Short Film Awards a couple of weeks ago, a list of films were passed on to the judges for the difficult task of shortlisting a top five.

When we say difficult we mean it because we couldn’t even near down to a top ten. We had one job of turning all the entries into a pretty, rounded list of ten and we couldn’t do it. All the filmers seemed to be able to respond to the brief of Regeneration just fine, but ask the staff of Monster Children to create a list of ten and their brains will implode. Literally brains everywhere, it was disgusting. So in order to save some of the office, we decided to just pass on the top eleven to the judges, making their already incredibly busy and important lives just a little bit harder. Sorry guys. Congratulations to the top five shortlist and top eleven highly commended films below.

2023 MCSFA Top Five Shortlisted Films

Never Wasted

Directed by Kauis Potter

‘Regenerating food waste footprints from businesses into positive changes.’

The Fading Kind

Directed by Tom Morales

‘Four Kiwi Kids trying to revive a forgotten norm, looking after the land and passing on the knowledge.’

Chef Num

Directed by Jason Tran

‘Chef Num's journey is not just about creating mouthwatering dishes but teaching people the importance of biodiversity and the role it plays in shaping our food systems and culture.’

Cry of the Glossy

Directed by Tim Brown

‘Poet and Gunai woman, Kirli Saunders, reflects on her efforts to save the endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo, which holds a special place in her heart and culture.’

Ngurrawaana

Directed by Kieran Satour and Produced by Ramona Telecican

‘A place of rejuvenation and recovery for Yindjibarndi and how being back on country helps First Nation people find their spirit and power amongst their ancestors.’

Now can you see why it was so hard for us? But somehow, the genius of Malia James, Clare Plueckhahn and Peter Berger managed to figure it out into a top five. Congratulations to the MSCFA Highly Commended Films below.

2023 MCSFA Highly Commended Films

Let’s Walk Together

Directed by Alex Brunton and Produced by Rye Gollan

‘An open conversation between Uncle Will & Whitney Ridgeway, documenting a Cultural Burn conducted on Biripi Country, as part of a collaborative conservation project.’

Sparks

Directed by Luke Tysoe

‘A story about north coast New South Wales local kid, Jesse, who regularly finds old boards in the council pick ups and fixes them up, giving life to boards that would otherwise end up in landfill.’

The Quarry

Directed by Rhys Warren

‘The legacy of leaving the world around us better than we found it.’

Where The Dreamings Come From

Directed by Matt Deavin

‘Where elders pass the knowledge onto the younger generation their Tjukurpa and share the dreamings of their ancestors.’

Regeneration

Directed by Danny Smith

‘Finding inspiration in the lines of the land, Yukipin shows the power of art in the process of regenerating Aboriginal culture using traditional materials and techniques.’

Kōrero ki ngā maunga

Directed by Eleanor Adams

‘Our whenua, our land, our home calls to those who will listen in an earnest plea.’

Keep your eyes peeled for the announcement of this year's official winner of the Monster Children Short Film Awards on July 30th, 2023.

The Monster Children Short Film Awards are presented by Wānaka and supported by Sony and Film Queenstown Lakes.