A gripping tale detailing the struggle to overcome cultural barriers has taken out top honours at the New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF).
Wait won the Jury Prize for Best New Zealand Short Film, earning its writer and director Yamin Tun a cash award of $5000.
Acclaimed New Zealand director Lee Tamahori placed Wait on his six-film shortlist, describing it as a "tense and absorbing narrative with an intentionally enigmatic finale".
The Once Were Warriors director also noted its "good tech credits and finely tuned performances".
In making its decision, the jury that whittled Tamahori's list down to one winner said they were impressed by the film's "authorial vision and use of visual language to carry the emotional story".
And it's not the only accolade the film has picked up - it's also earned the Wallace Friends of the Civic Award, which sees Tun receive another $3000.
Meanwhile Ursula Grace Williams-directed short film The King has won the 2016 Audience Award, and the movie's creators will receive 25 percent of its box office takings as its prize.
Newshub.
