Calvin Sang's short film The Whole Thing won two big awards at this year's New Zealand International Film Festival: Best Short, and the Audience Award. One comes from a jury and the other comes from the room, and the room is the part you can't plan for.

Directed by Calvin Sang, written by Jake Mynatt, produced by Briar Collard and shot by Will Prosor, it's a drama-comedy short film which has been praised for its portrayal of grief and humanity.

The film is about two strangers meeting at a crematorium while picking up their loved ones' remains. They decide to spend the day together, killing time and watching the world go by.

Beyond NZIFF, the film has been an official selection at over 20 other international film festivals, including SOHO International Film Festival in New York, El Paso, Oxford and Richmond. It also won Best Short at Sydney Webfest and Best Short at Melbourne Webfest.

Thanks to the New Zealand Film Commission for backing the film, to the cast and crew who made the days work, and to every festival audience who sat down with two strangers at a crematorium and laughed anyway.