Phoenix Connolly plays a backpacker in William McKegg's short film, Medicine. Photo: Supplied
A New Zealand short film is making waves on the international film festival circuit.
Medicine, a 15-minute short directed, produced and written by William McKegg, tells the story of two young backpackers as they navigate various challenges while travelling on a bus through rural India.
The film picked up the prestigious best short form prize at the 2024 Asian Academy Creative Awards in Singapore earlier in the month.
The annual awards celebrate works from across Asia-Pacific, including Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asian nations.
"It was a phenomenal occasion," McKegg told RNZ after the awards ceremony.
"The people behind this film worked so hard on it, and it's resonating with audiences in the festival market around the world."
William McKegg receives the best short form prize at the 2024 Asian Academy Creative Awards in Singapore. Photo: Supplied
McKegg said Medicine had been accepted into more than 20 international film festivals.
At the ceremony in Singapore, McKegg thanked his Indian crew and producers for their collaboration during the filming process.
The film has already won several awards worldwide.
It received the best world cinema award at the 2024 San Jose International Film Festival in the United States, the jury prize at the 2024 Seahorse Film Festival in Australia, the best social change award at The Short Film Factory Film Festival in Romania and the best short award at the Copenhagen Film Festival in Denmark.
Filmed entirely in Raipur, India, Medicine features a blend of Indian and New Zealand crew members.
One of the lead actors is Sumitra Sahu, an accomplished performer from Chhattisgarh.
The film has also been well received in India, with screenings at the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival and the Goa Short Film Festival.
"We did a cast and crew screening in Raipur, and I received some lovely messages from them about how the story resonated," McKegg said.
McKegg described filming in India as a rewarding experience, noting that other Kiwi producers were considering similar ventures.
"I'll do it again in a heartbeat," he said. "It was difficult at times, but we've proven that it can be done. Far from being a disaster, it was a very enjoyable experience."
He also highlighted India's appeal as a filmmaking destination.
"One of the compelling things about making a film in India is that it's probably the biggest film market in the world," he said. "It has all the resources you need."