DEMOCRACY

A short film written and directed by Finnius Teppett, produced by Bevin Linkhorn and Sadie Wilson

Made with the support of the New Zealand Film Commission

Logline: A dad is voted out of his family, and when he mounts a campaign for re-election, he finds out he's not the only one in the running.

Democracy was selected to feature in a UK short film programme specialising in comedy shorts. It screened in Edinburgh and London in November 2022, part of the Short Com Festival.

Synopsis:

Over breakfast one morning, Len’s family votes him out.

With nowhere else to go, he packs his bags and heads to the office. And as it turns out, he’s not the only one sleeping over. When Len finds out his colleague Mary has also been exiled, the two hit it off.

But when he launches his re-election campaign, Len discovers he’s got competition. Mary. The former confidantes become bitter rivals. Mary emerges as the family’s clear favourite and for the first time in his life, Len has to fight for something.

When the family sits down to vote again, Len wins—surprising everyone. But he’s exposed as a cheat, and is booted out again. This time he has another family to join though: Mary’s.

Project Type: Short film

Runtime: 14 minutes 28 seconds

Completion Date: 2020

Festival Laurels:

Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival

New Zealand
July 24, 2020
Premiere
Official Selection

Show Me Shorts Film Festival

Wellington
New Zealand
October 13, 2020
Official Selection