Whau Pasifka Festival: Dream. Weave. Navigate

FRIDAY 10 JULY, 9AM - 9PM
THE HOLLYWOOD, AVONDALE
*FREE. No Bookings Required. Times may vary slightly from schedule.

SESSION 1: 9.30am
KAPAEMAHU (8 mins)
2020, Hawaii/USA
Directors: Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, Daniel Sousa (Animation Director)
Long ago, four extraordinary beings of dual male and female spirit brought the healing arts to Hawaii and imbued their powers in four giant boulders. The stones still stand on Waikiki Beach, but their true story has been hidden - until now.v

LILO & STITCH (Live Action - 1hr 48mins)
2025, USA
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
A lonely Hawaiian girl befriends a runaway alien, helping to mend her fragmented family. The 2025 live action version of the hit animation film.

SESSION 2: 11.45am
*Session 2 is audio described in partnership with Audio Described Aotearoa.
KÜĪ - MOTHER (11mins)
2024, Languages: English, Sāmoan, Èo Ènana
Writer: Carrisse Utai, Director: Kahu Kaiha
In the face of her mother's absence and her father's alcoholism, 12 yo girl, Küi, rises above her age, caring for her brothers and confronting life's harsh realities. Based on a true story.

THREE WISE COUSINS (1hr 29mins)
2016, Aotearoa, Samoa
Writer/Director: Sallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa
Romantic comedy about a 22-year-old Samoan-Kiwi looking to impress a woman who only wants to go out with a 'real island guy'. So, he journeys to Samoa to get advice from those who can teach him best - his cousins.

SESSION 3: 2.00PM
FIRST BORN (9mins)
2025, Aotearoa, Tonga
Writer/Director: Veisinia Moalapau'u
A young Tongan woman must navigate the birth of her first child and death of her beloved grandma.

FIRST PLACE (1hr 14mins)
2025, Aotearoa
Writer/Co-Creators: Bianca Seinafo-Tuilaepa, Mario Faumui, Leki Jackson-Bourke
Directors: Damon Fepulea'i, Bianca Seinafo-Tuilaepa
All eyes are on St Gabriel’s after they went full flop on the PolyFest Samoa stage. Enjoy the wild ride through heartbreak, hustle, and hallways — a love letter to siva Samoa, school pride, and the chaos of teenage life.

SESSION 4: 3.30PM
DAUNITUKUTUKU (14mins)
In 1800s Fiji, a young Fijian woman must battle man and nature to carry an important message necessary to save her village from invading forces.

TONGAN NINJA (1hr 23 mins)
2002, Aotearoa
Writers: Jason Stutter, Jemaine Clement, Director: Jason Stutter
The Tongan Ninja is sent by his master to the island of New Zealand to help a floundering Chinese restaurant, but the mysterious Mister Big sends numerous villains to prevent the eatery's success.

SPECIAL EVENT: 5.00PM
PACIFIC ISLANDS SCREEN ARTISTS (PISA) MIXER & CROSS INDUSTRY PANEL
The film industry crosses multiple arts disciplines and Pasifika creatives are across them all. Join facilitator PISA General Manager Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa and working professionals who cover film scores, animation and hair and makeup.

SESSION 5: 7.00PM
NOT MY DUSKY MAIDEN (16mins)
2025, Aotearoa
Screenplay: Nora Aati
Director: Vea Mafile'o
When a young Samoan woman living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) enters therapy she must navigate a series of alter egos protecting her from painful childhood memories.

Tenor: My Name Is Pati (1.40mins)
2026, Aotearoa
Director/Writer: Rebecca Tansley
Starring: Pene Pati, Amitai Pati
Before finding fame on some of opera’s grandest international stages, brothers Pene and Amitai Pati called Magele home. Shot across 7 countries the film follows the pair's rise from singing in church halls to success with trio Sol3 Mio and international opera debuts.

*12HR Polyfilms Marathon 2026 has been curated Pacific Island Screen Artists (PISA). Fa’afetai tele lava team!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This event is part of the Whau Pasifika Festival: Dream. Weave. Navigate - Thu 2 July to Sat 11 July. For all event details check out
www.whaupasifika.nz/2026-whau-pasifika-festival