NZ short film misses out on Oscar

New Zealand film Two Cars, One Night was filmed over four nights with East Cape local children.

New Zealand film Two Cars, One Night has missed out on the Oscar for the short film live action category at today's Academy Awards.

The Oscar went to Wasp, English Andrea Arnold's 23-minute film about a young mother of four whose chance meeting with an old flame offers her a temporary escape from her bleak life.

Described by critics as "painfully real", Wasp has won seven international festival awards, including the top short film prizes at Sundance and Toronto. Arnold worked as a TV actor in Britain and has made one other short film.

The movie trade paper Variety had tipped the New Zealand film by Taika Waititi, to win its category.

The 11-minute black and white movie was filmed in the Te Kaha Hotel carpark in the East Cape over four nights in 2003.

The film tells of the friendship and romance that forms between two boys and a girl waiting for their parents in the carpark outside a pub.

It has won 10 international festival awards, including the short film award at the Berlin Film Festival.

The film stars three New Zealand children - Rangi Ngamoki (Romeo in the film), his cousin Te Ahiwaru Ngamoki (cast as his little brother Ed), both 10, and their friend Hutini Waikato (Polly), 12.

The youngsters were surprised to be selected by East Coast-bred actor and writer Taika Waititi, 29, to take part in the little movie he conceived and directed, based on his own childhood experiences.

The trio enjoyed the movie-making experience of working from 7pm to 3am for four nights of their school holidays.

The children were watching the Oscars on Sky with their agent in Auckland today.

Producer Ainsley Gardiner earlier today told Newstalk ZB from her hotel suite that she was feeling good about the film's chances.

She was wearing a frock from New Zealand designer Zambesi on the red carpet outside the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

Ainsley Gardiner believed the movie was nominated because it did such a good job of telling a strong story, despite its short time frame.

- Herald and Newstalk ZB