Opening Night Gala: 10th Anniversary Party

The 2025 Samesame But Different festival weekend begins with our Opening Night Gala, this year celebrating 10 years of the festival and presented in collaboration with Dead Bird Books!

The gala will begin with the announcement of the winners of the 2025 Peter Wells Short Fiction Contest. For the 2025 competition, we’ve asked for stories which have elements of celebration and acknowledgement, milestones and achievements, struggles and victories. The 2025 contest is organised by Michael Giacon and judged by authors Pip Adam and Jeffrey Buchanan.

Following this, a line-up of Dead Bird authors from across Aotearoa will share new works they’ve written, following a similar prompt to the short fiction contest and in recognition of the gala being held on Valentine’s Day. We will hear new work from Isla Huia, Jenny Rockwell, Josiah Morgan, Liam Jacobson, and Liz Breslin.

Free to attend, no reservation required.