7th October 2025
Alice Pearce’s short film Basket is on an extraordinary journey, collecting international recognition and festival accolades. Produced by Deadpan Folly and directed by Dea Doglione, Basket was recently awarded Best Short Short at the Broad Humor Film Festival in Los Angeles, a festival dedicated to celebrating comedy written and directed by women.
The win in Los Angeles is a major milestone, affirming the strength of Basket’s storytelling and placing Alice among a new generation of New Zealand talent breaking through internationally.
Closer to home, Basket is part of the official selections at the NZ Indie Film Festival 2025, NZ Web Fest 2025 and the SWAN Perth International Women in Film Festival 2025. Each screening highlights the film’s ability to resonate with audiences both near and far, showing how a story rooted in humour and humanity can find its place on the global stage.
The story, written by Alice, follows Helena, a character who won't leave her laundry. Helena’s brother and flatmate Zeke becomes more and more concerned the longer she remains focused on her washing machine. Is she solving a basket case or becoming one herself? The film is a fun black comedy short with a twist, that also touches on themes of mental health and how we view the world - including the ways we think and interpret the mysteries of life.
Behind the project is a skilled creative team including cinematography by Aidan Rogers, editing by Heidi Watson, music and sound by Clarissa Chai, and standout performances from Alice Pearce and Josh McGowan. With additional support from the full talented crew, Basket is a showcase of collaboration and craft.
At Collaborate we are proud to represent Alice Pearce and celebrate her festival success. Basket’s growing international recognition is just the beginning, and we look forward to seeing where this witty, original story travels next.
© 2025 Collaborate NZ
