Tongan short film eyes Oscars

The red and white of Tonga’s flag may soon feature on the red carpet of Hollywood.

This comes as Tongan short film Lea Tupu’anga (Mother Tongue) has qualified for a bid at the Academy Awards.

Lea Tupu’anga (Mother Tongue) tells the story of a speech therapist disconnected from her Tongan heritage who is challenged by a client who will only speak in lea faka-Tonga.

Earlier this week, the 17 minute short film took home the coveted Department of Post Best NZ Film Award. The jury chose the film “for its emotional impact, artistic excellence, and cultural significance”.

“The director has guided a talented cast and crew who delivered an authentic and emotionally rich story with themes that resonate widely.”

Director Vea Mafile’o said the global reception of the film is heartwarming.

“It’s just super awesome, this whole journey has been so randomly amazing and very unexpected.”

The Best NZ Film award is Oscar accredited, meaning the winning film is eligible to enter the Academy Awards.

“That’s the top level, but it’s early days,” said Mafile’o.

“It was funny because we also won another award on the same night, which was for Oregon Festival, which was also a qualifying festival as well, so it was like, ‘OK, that's a sign’.

“So I think that that might be something that we're going to explore. I'm not sure what that looks like, but yeah.”

The short film premiered at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in Utah in January, and has been selected for short film festivals in Hawai’i, Adelaide, Melbourne and Edinburgh.

The feedback from Oregon’s BendFilm festival, where the film took out Best Indigenous Short with plaudits from judges.

“This film beautifully captures the struggle to maintain cultural identity in a world of shifting values. From an Indigenous perspective, it speaks to the importance of preserving language and traditions, not just as symbols, but as lifelines that connect us to our ancestors.

“It’s a timely reflection on how we must protect and pass down our ways to ensure they endure for the next generations … its message resonates deeply with our mission to keep our stories alive.”

Telling Tongan stories

The screenplay for Lea Tupu’anga was written by Luciane Buchanan who also played one of the lead roles.

Mafile’o said the film was made possible thanks to the New Zealand Film Commission Fresh Shorts programme and crowdfunding.

“I think we raised 25K, which is pretty amazing for a Boosted campaign, so I think it just goes to show, Tongan content is really wanted, but also supporting Luciane and I as filmmakers is really important for people.”

Mafileo’s filmography includes For My Father’s Kingdom and Beneath the Surface, about paralympian Tupou Neiufi.

She has just returned to New Zealand for her next project, co-directing the Jonah Lomu documentary film alongside Gavin Fitzgerald.