New Zealand short film ‘Meathead’ directed by Sam Holst set to compete in Cannes Film Festival

TheSweet Shop and The New Zealand Film Commission are proud to announcedirector Sam Holst’s short film ‘Meathead’ has been selected for aworldwide premiere at the 64th Cannes Film Festival to compete for thecelebrated Palme d’Or. The only New Zealand film in this category, itwill be screened along with eight others from all corners of the globe.This year Robert De Niro heads the main jury, with Michel Gondryjudging the short film category.

Australian Sam Holst (picturedleft) has been directing films and commercials for several years with’Meathead’ being his latest major project. ‘Meathead’ is atension-fuelled, universally appealing drama set in rural Waikato NewZealand about a 17-year-old boy’s first day on the job at the meatworks. Shot entirely on location in a fully operational factory, thecombination of real life layered with a dramatic narrative (based onMike Robinson’s original story) is visceral.

Authenticity is important to Holst, he predominantly cast non-actorsfrom the region and stayed true to the factory’s daily processing. Heattributes much of the film’s success to his team, especially producersDesray Armstrong and Chelsea Winstanley, editor Peter Sciberras fromThe Butchery and funding from NZFC.

The Sweet Shop’s CEO/founding partner, Paul Prince comments “Sam Holstis an extraordinary young film maker. His ambition to tell stories thathold authentic truth to ones context, revealing truths universal, evenin the gritty reality, only confirms him as a filmmaker to watch. Thisis great recognition for Sam and confirms his beliefs. We congratulatehim and his team.”

This accolade marks a positive milestone in Sam’s career as hecontinues to work solidly in both film and commercials. The festivalruns from May 11th until May 22nd.

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