New Zealand short film selected for Cannes festival

For the third year running, a New Zealand short film has been selected to screen at the Cannes Film Festival in the line-up for the short film Palme D'Or award.

Nature's Way, directed by Jane Shearer, was selected as one of 10 international films in competition for the award, which is given by a five-member international jury.

With absolutely no use of dialogue, Nature's Way tells the story of the murderer of a young girl who leaves her body in a forest. Initially he fears his capture is inevitable, but as time passes he thinks he has got away with it.

Shearer co-wrote the film with Steve Ayson while the pair were artists in residence at Chateau de la Napoule in France. It stars New Zealand actor Matthew Sunderland and child actor Katrin O'Donnell.

Shearer said it explored the ideas behind karma.

"The tale intends to spook, while inviting the viewer to decide whether the murderer is getting haunted or is it all in his mind?"

The film was made with funding from the New Zealand Film Commission.

Chief executive Ruth Harley said it was an honour to have another New Zealand film selected for what was the world's most coveted short film award.

It is not the only film with a New Zealand touch to appear at Cannes this year. Jane Campion's film The Water Diary will screen, as will an Australian film, Suburban Mayhem, that stars In My Father's Den actor New Zealander Emily Barclay.

The festival is next month.