Film lovers will have the chance to enjoy some of the best short films from Aotearoa and around the world when the Show Me Shorts Aotearoa International Short Film Festival returns to Ōpōtiki this month.

The national festival runs throughout October, bringing a diverse selection of short films to cinemas and community venues across the country, with this year’s programme featuring 65 films selected from almost 2500 submissions.

In Ōpōtiki, the festival has become a popular fixture at the historic De Luxe Theatre, with Art House Movies organiser Ilmars Gravis bringing the festival back for another year.

“This is a really popular film festival that we have been running at the De Luxe Theatre for over five years,” Gravis said.

This year audiences will be treated to Aotearoa and The Sampler collections across four evenings, including captioned screenings.

The Aotearoa collection will screen on Sunday, October 18 at 6.30pm, with The Sampler following on Monday, October 19 at 6.30pm.

Captioned versions will be screened on Tuesday, October 20 at 5.30pm and Wednesday, October 21 at 1.30pm.

Gravis said the festival had continued to grow in popularity locally.

“We are getting more people coming to the festival each year, which is great as the more popular it gets the more we can grow it,” he said.

The Sunday and Monday screenings will open from 5.30pm, with Bridge Street Cafe supplying nibbles and drinks available before the films.

With previous screenings selling out, Gravis is encouraging moviegoers to book early through the De Luxe Theatre website.

The Show Me Shorts screenings form part of a particularly significant year for the De Luxe Theatre, which is celebrating its centenary.

The theatre, operated by the De Luxe Theatre Trust, is a not-for-profit organisation supported by volunteers who help keep the historic venue operating and bring a programme of films and events to the Ōpōtiki community.

The centennial celebrations will continue into November, with a Silent Film Festival on Friday, November 27 featuring two Charlie Chaplin classics, The Kid and A Dog’s Life, accompanied by live music.

Tickets for the Show Me Shorts screenings are available through the De Luxe Theatre website, with booking recommended.