NZ short film 'Two Cars, One Night' collects another prize

New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi's Two Cars, One Night has won the Grand Jury Prize for the best international short film at the AFI Los Angeles Film Festival.

The film is an 11-minute story of two children who fall in love while waiting for their parents in the carpark of a rural pub.

Waititi, who was unable to attend the November 14 closing night gala, texted his acceptance speech to a friend, who received the award on his behalf.

Now in its 18th year, the festival is one of the longest-running and most influential film festivals in North America. This year's festival was held from November 4-14, beginning with the US premiere of Beyond the Sea, directed by Kevin Spacey. The festival showcased more than 136 films from 42 countries.

Only three prizes were awarded in the international short film category with Two Cars, One Night winning over 50 other short films.

Two Cars, One Night has won numerous prizes since its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January, including best drama at Aspen Shortsfest, best short film at the Berlin Film Festival Panorama and best fiction short at the Melbourne International Film Festival.

The film, produced by Wellington-based Ainsley Gardiner and Catherine Fitzgerald, is also eligible for Oscars consideration.

- NZPA