Winner of the 2010 FCCT Short Film Award was Sam Peacocke for his film Manurewa.

The film's story line is based around the shooting of Manurewa shopkeeper, Navtej Singh, in 2008.

The incident made headlines around the country because of delayed response time by emergency services as the 30-year-old liquor store owner, who eventually died, lay bleeding from a gun shot wound.

Peacocke describes the film as "emotionally powerful," it "grabs the audience by the throat".

At 20 minutes in length it also shows the trend of short films now being a little longer than the previously traditional 15 minutes.

The film was selected for various festivals around the world, culminating in a premiere at the Berlin Film festival.” It got by far the greatest applause of all the short films that showed," Peacocke says proudly.

Sam has been kept busy directing music videos and working on commercials.

“Manurewa” is based on a real murder of a South Auckland liquor storeowner.

Navtej Singh bled to death while the police and ambulance waited outside; hamstrung by bureaucracy. Meanwhile the public walked in and out of the store without helping; some even stealing alcohol.

The film doesn’t form its own conclusions, but it leaves a lot of questions to walk away with.

“Manurewa” was self funded by the filmmakers and relied on the generous support of sponsors FUJI FILM New Zealand, Panavision New Zealand and Park Road Post.

The film was shot on 35mm with a skeleton crew, utilizing available light as much as possible. It was shot on location in South Auckland and features mostly non-actors.