tommyistheworst

Memoirs of a Teddy Bear

Well done Break the Mould! Memoirs of a Teddy Bear was super emotionally resonant in your heat and that showed in the audience voting for it as one of the top films. Really beautiful, clear message eloquently delivered with impact. Keep it up!

Jig's Up

AuroraVision consistently delivers on the cinematography and brings to the table some of the best VFX in a 48 setting. This story was really wonderfully anchored by a strong, committed lead performance and a nice twist ending that pulled the heart strings. Really fantastic work AuroraVision - you keep getting better and better!!!

Prank Monster

Well done SPLITelevision this film is hilarious. A fantastic attention to detail in your small editorial decisions that really made the comedy land in this camp af splatter film.

Clowning around

This was so quirky and fun team The Other Side!! Creepy and twisted ending haha. Loved the use of props and as a nerd, really appreciated that spontaneous booster box of Pokemon cards in the set dressing.

Unhinged

The strong, naturalistic performances and delicious world building sucked me into the film this team created and despite an edit that definitely needed work (and you should do that work now you're out of competition), cut you through to the shortlist this year. I want to know more about these characters! Please keep working on this film, and please come back and deliver to an even higher level next year. Much like Kākāpo did with their film in 2021 - Nutty Mosquitos show all the signs of a future finalist.

*#@

Thank you for submitting your film Raumati Anti-Social club. Made me LOL both when screening all the films, and when I got to play it at the heats in front of an audience of unsuspecting filmmakers. See you next year.

Sweet herats

Swan Ronson had the heats audience on the edge of their seat, reacting loudly and thoroughly invested in this story about an unfortunate rodent. You are a fantastic filmmaker with a strong vision and commitment to the competition. I love seeing what your mind comes up with year after year and I hope you keep smashing it for all of time. Or until you choose to quit. A highly considered film that fought hard to be a city finalist this year. Congrats on your nominations, keep killing it Eleanor.

Out Of This World

I am such a fan Salad Dressing!! This was such a cute, feel good animated meets live action creature feature. Loud emotive reactions to your fantastic design in the heat on Saturday which speaks to your capacity to create characters your audience are drawn in to. Keep it up!!

Katastrophe

A fantastic play on words, great performances and the creepiest cat puppet I've seen in 48 history. Fantastic work HD Play!

Laser Jet: Awakening

What a bold, silly and funny film from team Popecar. I was dubious to start with the mundane setting and some of the hammy comedy, but man, you committed and what really spoke to me about this film was the awesome script and great performances, especially from your printer Gatekeeper. This film had audiences laughing at every punch line, punch and surprise sandwich. Please keep coming back and smashing it. Congrats on making the shortlist, and congrats on your nominations.

Hold For Applause

This was a smart, hilarious take on comedy of errors. And so domestic. I totally understood the loneliness of the main character and enjoyed the ride we went on. Totally saw the ending coming as soon as the scissors entered, and that's not a bad thing at all. Audience was then on the edge of their seat anticipating it. Great twist at the end too. Come back and keep smashing it.

Bullseye

Team Just Us, you did such an amazing job of building suspense with some really committed performances from your cast. You should be so proud of yourself I was so scared!!! Keep smashing it.

Girl Dinner

I loved the delicious double twist in this film and the committed performances of your actors, the great technical craft. It was absolutely adored in the heats (despite the sound being a little low and therefore harder to hear!) With the boldness and fun in this storytelling, I can't wait to see what Just the Crust makes next year.

Carecrow

A richly original film, that felt very well put together and was one of the most cinematic pieces I found early in my watchthrough marathon. A couple of technical hiccups that are definitely forgiven when dealing with a world built and vision as exciting as this one. Great message and ending - congrats to Erin on her performance!! I'll long remember Care Crow.

Please Do Not Feed the Animals

This was such a great interpretation of the Animal Body Swap with 48 themed gorilla and a great ending that made for a satisfying gut punch. A technical polish would have really elevated the film to the next level. Under Funded Thunder were my FAVORITE team to meet in the heats because of the joy and hype you brought to the screening - please come to ALL THE SCREENINGS. Can't wait to see what you do next year!!

S.W.A.P.

Another really strong outing from team Lamps and Plants. I'm a huge fan of your storytelling and your weird ambitious brains. This film was a really nice honing in and progress from your last entry with a focused story that really engaged audiences. Keep smashing it!

Danger éstrange

Team Mooning the Sun!! This film has so much potential and I hope you refine some of the technical bumps because its shot beautifully and has a great, funny script and performances. Well done and come back next year!!

Wildersong

This film was delicious from a technical craft stand point, with beautiful evocative cinematography, great location, design and great edit. You should be super proud of it. I think the story - and ultimately where we come to with the ending, needed to be planted throughout the film to really nail the mystery and suspense. Can't wait to see what's next from Wetter Workshop!

Make-A-Man

A slow burn beginning that pays off in a big way. Well done Talking in Timecodes this was a really good film. Technically strong and your story built unease really nicely, disgustingly gory effects and killer performances. Literally wanted to vomit when I watched it. I think the ending would've landed better if you sped up the disclosure credits. Come back next year!

Jimm.

The audience lapped this film up in the heats which wasn't surprising considering the beautiful expression it was of the voice of Daiso Ran (formerly Daiso Run). I love the messages of feel good hope and tranquil contemplation I've taken from the two entries I've seen so far from this team. I think this film was a little slow to start and get us as an audience in on the world you were building, because ultimately it was a funny, enjoyable one with a powerful and pertinent message. Can't wait to see you come back swinging next year team!!

Stalemate

One day I will write a memoir on why this is a masterpiece of queer homoerotic cinema, but for now I just want to congratulate Team Infinity Pup on a bold, delicious first outing in the competition. Stalemate is a beautifully, distinctly directed piece of art that had me melting in my seat with it's cinematography and unabashed queerness. I was gripped throughout, left wanting more and pondering on meaning. Plus there's a cute af dog! Great take on the Pavlova Western genre and making amends for the depression that was Brokeback Mountain.

Night Whispers

This was so much fun team Beige Menace, great to see a veteran team handing the reigns to the next generation. So many laughs and great monster ideas, with a fun ending that made for a nice surprise!! Well done.

Immortal Wounds

Congrats team Dog & Wolf for making a film 100% on a phone that looks like it was shot on a premium kit. This really shows your eye for framing and cinematography. Also a great use of many of the elements, the film was really enjoyed in the heats. Well done Sticky and team!

Beginner's Luck??

Really technically top notch and some great grounded performances. There's something about the Sharesies sponsored teams that have resulted in great films every year I've been involved and this is no different. Appreciated your unique take on the DnD subgenre of fantasy films, the stakes really felt high there - because those films are so common in this setting its really tough to make a film in that subgenre that stands out against more unique films.

Chasing the Horizon

Rumour has it this film was made in 10 hours. If I had a future finalist award this year, TW99 would be a nominee in strong consideration. This film was an incredibly entertaining watch from a smart storyteller with an instinctual understanding of comic form. Absolutely smashed the audience over with laughs in the heats. Quit your job and clear your calendar next year TW99, we all want to see what you can do with an extra 38 hours.

We Scream

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS Evil Cutlery on the best school team winner for Wellington.

We Scream is absolutely, absurdly hilarious. Paced perfectly and landed every single joke - the response from the crowd in the heats was evidence of this, and the team should also feel super proud of their tight edit, great camerawork and fantastic performances from the cast. The comic timing of We Scream out paced the comedy in most adult entries and I can't wait to see what's next from these rangatahi! So, so proud of you all!

Forbidden Fruit

Such amazing cinematography and performances Red and Austin. That final scene is pure cinematic epicness. LEGENDS.