‘My oldest child’: Pollywood Pasifika Film 22 highlights ‘true and honest’ work

“It’s almost like my oldest child, I suppose.”

That’s the Founder and Director of Pollywood Pasifika Film, Craig Fasi’s sentiments about celebrating 22 years of showcasing film-making talents.

This year’s event kicks off tonight, 7pm, at Ngā Tohu o Uenuku - Māngere Arts Centre.

Speaking to Khalia Strong on Pacific Mornings, Fasi reminisced on the two-decades-long journey it has taken to get here.

He says the early stages began with the promotional creative arts organisation, Moving Image Centre, which operated out of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland from 1993 to about 2011.

“At that stage, many moons ago, there was next to no resource material to work with.

“As the years have gone on, I’ve managed to build networks. Funnily enough, more Pasifika people are coming through in the screen production side of things - production, direction, writing.

“We’re becoming a bit more fluid in the movement of film and multimedia.”

He adds the pool of selection is deepening as more creatives across the region receive support or become more technologically adept at producing films locally.

When content is being released from places as far-reaching as Hawai’i and the United States, Fasi says he’s in a “blessed position”.

Fasi has handpicked the lineup of five films for the screenings, three of them award-winning like Butterfly/Bataplai, The Red Room, and the Oscar-nod Lea Tupu’anga/Mother Tongue.

Along with the other two shorts, Yeah Pare and My Brother, Fasi says these are all unique grassroots stories that depict “honest and true Polynesian film talent”.

“Although it was very humble beginnings and still humble continuations, I’m still at the helm of trying to make that a very important part of this (Pacific) film fabric.”

Albert Rounds and Luciane Buchanan in the Tongan shortfilm "Lea Tupu'anga/Mother Tongue".

Fasi chose to opt for an invitational line-up instead of the usual submission process saying it was about “life’s timing”.

“I’m a little bit older than I was when I started and it does get a bit harder to get these things done.

“This time around it was the case of having so much films out there already, I made it much more of a streamlined process. And fingers crossed, the outcome that I’ve come up with will be a crowd-pleaser as well.”

Michael Falesiu in "The Red Room".

The festival is Auckland-based and next week will be showing at the Corban Estate Arts Centre - Opānuku Studio in Henderson before its final stop at Toi o Tāmaki - Auckland Art Gallery - in the CBD on 30 November.

The attending audiences are in for a treat as film directors will be at each venue to speak on their work and hold Q&A sessions.

“It’s not just directed at Pacific people as such, it’s more of an open platform. But just identifying that we are a force to be reckoned with within the film area. And the stories that are yet to be told are huge.”

Tickets can be found here.

"Yeah Pare" young actors Mories Cruz (left) and Jhordan Tui’nukuafe-Jackson.

Films synopses

Yeah Pare

Co-Directors and Co-Writers: Albert Latailakepa and Sean Dioneda Rivera

Producer: Danny Aumua

Lost at the Auckland night markets, Janjan tries to find his parents. While searching, he befriends Kiuga, a child of a family working the stalls, who takes him on a fantastical journey to find his loved ones.

My Brother

Writer/Director: Misa Tupou

Producer: Jana Park Moore

Stunning Hawai’i backdrops frame this touching drama about a Tongan brother and sister at rugby practice. Recovering from a recent injury and being rejected from another University, Alofa is ready to give up. Meanwhile, her brother, Malu, races against time to encourage his sister and pass on valuable life lessons before it’s too late.

Tuapasi Toetuʻu and Maima Savusa (foreground) in "My Brother".

Butterfly/Bataplai

Writer/Director/Producer: Veialu Aila-Unsworth

Raya loves makeup but her family does not. She’s torn between her secret of being a makeup artist and her family’s strict religious beliefs. In a nightmare, she receives a profound message from her Papua New Guinea ancestor who encourages her to look at her indigenous culture for answers.

The Red Room

Writer/Director: Alex Liu

Producer: Jacob Vale

After a particularly bad day, timid office worker, Stanley, decides to attend a slap clinic - a pseudo-health centre that allows customers to blow off steam by slapping counsellors. But when the session doesn’t go as planned, Stanley realises he should have read the fine print.

Lea Tupu’anga/Mother Tongue

Director: Vea Mafileo

Writer: Luciane Buchanan

Producers: Alex Lovell and Eldon Booth

A young speech therapist disconnected from her Tongan heritage lies about her Tongan language skills to get a job. Out of her depth, she must find a way to communicate or risk her patient's life.

Joana Mate stars in "Butterfly/Bataplai".