Under the Bridge

With this spare and affecting short film, actor/director Lauren Porteous became the first woman to take the top award at the 48Hours contest (she was also named Best Director). A runaway boy (Kayden Ngapera) crosses paths with a homeless man (Greg Smith, who also produced) under a bridge in Auckland. After the man helps the boy evade a truancy officer, a wary friendship develops. The two have more in common than either will admit. Under the Bridge attracted rave reviews for its masterly treatment of a burning social problem. That year, Porteous made award-winning short film Motel; she followed it with web series Loner.

You drink a lot, eh?

– The boy (Kayden Ngapera) challenges a homeless man (Greg Smith)

Key Cast & Crew

Jason Antoni Crane

Cinematographer

Greg Smith

Producer, As: Homeless Man

Kayden Ngapera

As: Boy

Edward Sampson

Editor

Vanessa Riddell

As: Truancy Officer

Lauren Porteous

Director, Writer