Show Me Shorts is an Oscar®, BAFTA and Goya Awards qualifying festival. Each year, it selects a country or region as its focus, presenting over a hundred screenings and industry events. This year marks the first time the festival has chosen China as its Country of Honour, showcasing eight Chinese short films. During the Festival, the "Nihao! China" promotional video will be featured in 127 screenings and events nationwide.
Ambassador Wang Xiaolong writes in a message to the Festival: "I am delighted that China is the 2025 Country of Honour on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Show Me Shorts Film Festival. Film plays an important role in boosting cultural exchanges, deepening mutual understanding, and fostering stronger people-to-people bonds. I look forward to watching the short films selected for this year’s China Focus at Show Me Shorts, and believe that they will offer the audience in Aotearoa New Zealand a vivid and authentic window on China and Chinese people."
On October 9, 2025, Counselor Tang Jun, responsible for educational, scientific, and cultural affairs at the Chinese Embassy, delivered remarks at Wellington Opening Night of 2025 Show Me Shorts Film Festival on behalf of Ambassador Wang Xiaolong, who was on a business trip. Nearly 600 guests, including Festival Director Gina Dellabarca, film industry professionals from both China and New Zealand, and members of the audience, were present at the event.
Photo by Meng Tao
Counselor Tang expressed her appreciation to the Show Me Shorts Film Festival for selecting China as the Country of Honour on the occasion of its 20th anniversary and extended a warm welcome to film professionals from around the world. She noted that although short films are brief in length, they transcend cultures, connect hearts, spark curiosity, and promote mutual understanding among people. She emphasized that short films play an unique role in promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges. She expressed hope that film, as a medium, would further deepen cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and New Zealand.
Photo by Meng Tao
Festival Director Gina Dellabarca noted that Show Me Shorts is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. She recalled the festival’s beginnings—starting in a single cinema with a small but passionate group of friends and volunteers—and how it has grown over the years into a nationwide beacon for storytelling and creative exchange, establishing itself as one of the top short film festivals. Through its Oscar®, BAFTA, and Goya Awards qualifying status, Show Me Shorts provides filmmakers with a pathway to achieve international recognition at the highest level. To mark this milestone, the festival will present a retrospective collection of films by iconic local filmmakers, alongside a vibrant selection of new short films from around the world, including a special “Focus on China.”Dellabarca expressed her delight in sharing the spotlight with China, and warmly welcomed distinguished international filmmakers and industry leaders to participate as guests, speakers, and mentors.
Photo by Meng Tao
That evening, the cinema was packed with guests. The event screened eight short films, including one from China, and was met with rounds of enthusiastic applause.