A celebration of local talent, local stories, and our beautiful region with a diverse programme of shorts from recent years by Otago and Southland creatives.

The philosophy of Little Cinema is an open and inclusive showcase where the work of students, hobbyists and pros alike is celebrated without competitiveness. This initiative gives filmmakers the fantastic opportunity to put their work on the big screen, and invites audiences to experience our region through the eyes of the people who live and create here.

Little Cinema’s first season under SFC’s guardianship kicks off November 2025!

See more about the first season of films below…

NEW DATE: DEC 12th
due to a power cut, our Wanaka event was postponed

Sold out

Have a film you’d like to screen?

Little Cinema is open to narrative, documentary films or music videos under 15 minutes by a director, producer or writer living in, or who is closely connected to, Otago or Southland, and completed within the last 2 years. 

Little Cinema is not a competitive film festival, but a grassroots screening celebrating local filmmakers of all levels. We will however need to make selections of films for the screening's program should there be too many entered. 

Our first programme of films is now confirmed for screenings in November 2025 across Queenstown, Wānaka and Dunedin.

Stay tuned for future opportunities - including an Invercargill event early in 2026!