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Success follows Kiwis from Cannes to Palm Springs

Only a few days after picking up a few lions at Cannes, Saatchi & Saatchi’s creative director Corey Chalmers found himself among the winners at the Palm Springs Film Festival.


(Video credit: LLBonline)

Pitted against over 300 entrants from across the world, Chalmers’ film ‘Whisker‘, which tells the story of man trying to win a beard-growing competition, walked away with the prestigious Future Filmmaker Award.

Written by Chalmers and directed and produced by Steve Saussey and Yolande Dewey of Stuff and Nonsense Ltd, the film is a NZ Film Commission-funded premiere short and is the debut for all three Kiwi collaborators.

“We’re pretty chuffed to get an award at the film’s international premiere, in a major show just down the road from Hollywood,” said Chalmers in a release. “It’s been a labour of love for Steve, Yolande and myself for over a year and it’s great to see some major recognition for the hard work and skill our crew, performers and post-production guys put into this very Kiwi tale.” 

Given the quality of the entries and the prestige of the competition, Saussey saw it as a win for New Zealand’s film industry.

“For a New Zealand short film to be recognised by a major US festival jury is fantastic, given the amazingly high standards of the films in competition. For the film to get this kind of attention at its world premiere is especially encouraging.”

 Dewey added that this win will serve as the impetus to produce more great work in the future. 

“To be invited to Palm Springs and tap into the network of film makers and industry from all over the world has been fantastic, and the jury prize is a real honour for ‘Whisker’ at its first outing,” she said. “Stuff and Nonsense is coming home invigorated and inspired to do what we do best – making funny stuff that people like to watch.” 

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