Pasifika Films to be screened at the ImagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival in Toronto, Canada

ImagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival in Toronto, Canada is the biggest indigenous film festival in the world, and this year Pasifika films represent hard!

There will be at least 9 Pasifika made stories from Aotearoa at the festival and it is the international premiere of the CoconetTV documentary ‘Marks of Mana’ - which is the only feature film from Aotearoa on the big screen Programme at the festival. ‘Marks of Mana’ looks at female Tatau in the Pacific and how these ancient marks are being worn again by women today. Coming soon to the Coconet TV!

Check them out below and look out for when they'll be showing at a Film Festival near you!

MARKS OF MANA

In pre-colonial times, tattooing in the South Pacific was the art of women - made by women and worn by women as stories inscribed in skin for protection and power. But after colonialism this art form was lost.

Lisa Taouma is a Samoan film and television producer and director currently living in Aotearoa. She has worked extensively in the Pacific for over 25 years and is passionate about telling the many diverse stories of this region. She produces various series for TV, but her own work specializes in documentary storytelling including 'Taualuga' which you can watch here and 'Adorn' - a collection of stories from women around the Pacific about their relationship with their hair.

Check it out below: -

FAN GIRL

The third gender of fa’afafine has always existed in Samoan culture. When a young fa’afafine experiences societal rejection she finds strength in her identity through dance and the spirits of her ancestors.

Mario Faumui is a writer, director, editor, choreographer and dancer. His experience at Fresh (TV2) and www.thecoconet.tv has seen him be part of a new generation of storytellers that impact Pacific pop culture in Aotearoa and around the world.

He has directed a number of Fresh episodes including the Comedy series 'FRESH Housewives of South Auckland' which he also wrote. Check out one of the Coco Series episodes he directed for The CoconetTV - 'Portraits of Poly Pastors Kids - the Mika Sisters' below ...

WEAVING RAINBOWS

This touching series presents a portrait of the real worlds of modern day LGBTQI people in Aotearoa. Each episode presents a very personal look at their joys and celebrations as well as their challenges and the negotiations they make daily.

Elizabeth Koroi has been in the film and tv industry in the Pacific for over eight years and produced the five-part series Weaving Rainbows on LGBTQI people in the Pacific for the Coconet TV.

Twayne Laumua is a filmmaker from Samoa who is passionate about the authentic representation of Pacific people on screen. He directed and edited this mini doco piece for the Coconet TV.

Watch the full series here & Asia Stanleys story below:

TAONGA

As a young girl prepares for her big Poi performance, she must make a difficult decision about going to the show or staying with her ailing mother. Taonga was created as part of the third Native Slam.

POI - HOPES & DREAMS

Explore Poi (the Maori performing art, dance and music) in this series of visual portraits reflecting the relationship between a mother and child through the craft of Poi. Each portrait reflects something different about the world of Poi.

Lanita Ririnui-Ryan is a freelance producer/director/writer/presenter across multi-platforms in screen production. Director of Through the Fire Ltd, she is a creative storyteller of Maori (Tauranga Moana, Ngapuhi/Ngati Wai) & Cook Islands decent. An independent producer, director, writer and presenter/MC, she has delivered various projects across screens of all sizes for the past 20 years and is inspired by stories of identity and cultural connection in contemporary society.

She has 3 projects in this film festival, the 2 above as well as Fan Girl (2nd to top) which she wrote and produced. She gives us Fresh Tips for when you're at the Marae and shows us how to make her favourite Cook Islands platter below.

MY FRIEND MICHAEL JONES

MJ’s obsessive compulsive need to avoid cracks in the pavement and finger-tap door frames makes him a target for relentless bullying by the “cool kids,” including his neighbour Selena.

Ian Leaupepe attended the New Zealand Film and Television School in Wellington, since that time, Ian has directed and edited music videos for a range of South Auckland-based recording artists. My Friend Michael Jones is his first professional short film project.

Samson "Rambo" Vaotu'ua won Best Music Video at the 2018 Pacific Music Awards for Here to Stay by General Fiyah. Samson has worked as a director, camera operator and editor on broadcast content for network television platforms. My Friend Michael Jones is his first professional short film project.

Check out his directorial debut for FreshTV in this parody of Taika Waititi's 'Boy' written by Nua Finau.

THE MESSIAH

After running away from an abusive home, a young teenage boy falls in with a group ruled by a Christ-like figure. At first willing to blindly follow this charismatic leader, he slowly begins to realize this new reality - or saviour - may not be all t

Vela Manusaute has been writing and directing for the stage for over 20 years. The Messiah is Vela’s film directorial debut and inspired by his own experiences growing up.

Check out one of the theatre productions Vela directed here (Girl on a Corner)

FAFSWAG VOGUE.COM

Jump into the LGBTQI vogue dance scene of Auckland in Aotearoa New Zealand. Choose your dance style and battle location and watch as two dancers square off. You are the judge, who did it best?

Tanu Gago is a new media artist whose practice involves film, photography, moving image and graphic design. Informed by a deep Pasifika cultural and social political motivation, Gago’s practice delivers innovative approaches to narrative storytelling within an international fine arts context. His LGBTQI photographic series Avanoa O Tama was awarded the 2014 Auckland Festival of Photography Annual Commission. Tanu Gago manages the LGBTQI Pasifika arts collective FAFSWAG which has grown NZ’s underground vogue scene and community since 2012.

He shared his Ink story with us here:

MOA MA LE PINKO (CHICKEN & BINGO)

Two random strangers at a cemetery have an unlikely connection recounting the deaths of their loved ones and sharing stories of chicken and bingo. Moa Ma Le Pinko was created as part of the third Native Slam

Amberley Jo Aumua is a writer and director, she has a few short films under her belt: Enough (2015), Kopurapura (2016), and Waiting (2017) .

Check out Amberleys Humans of the Islands profile here