The regional winners of the first Pasifika Youth Short Film Competition were announced for the Bay of Plenty at a red carpet awards ceremony held in Rotorua in July. 30 Pasifika high school students from across the Bay took part in the competition including students from Rotorua Boys High; Rotorua Intermediate; Kaitao Intermediate; John Paul College; Rotorua Girls High; Rotorua Lakes High; Katikati College; Mount Maunganui College; and Tauranga Boys College.
The competition was held by Poporazzi Productions,and the films were judged by an all-star line of Pasifika from the screen industry – Stacey Leilua, Jay Tauamiti, Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa, and Nicole Whippy.
11 winners were announced on the night. The Co-Founders of Poporazzi Productions, husband and wife team, Esera Tanoa’i and Tupe Solomon-Tanoa’i say, “We hope that the confidence our youth gained will stay with them for a long time. Regardless of whether they received a prize, completing a short film is a significant achievement, and telling your story is its own reward. The real competition is between the film you make this year, and the film you make next year.”
- BEST DIRECTOR SENIOR – Roman Tukimaka, Katikati College
- BEST DIRECTOR JUNIOR – Polaapau Akauola, Rotorua Intermediate
- BEST ACTRESS – Annie Peni, Katikati College
- BEST ACTOR – Desmond Mafile’o, Rotorua Boys High
- BEST SOUND – Lona Tautua’a, Katikati College
- BEST EDITING – Melina Pelesikoti, Katikati College
- BEST DOCUMENTARY – Joseph O’Connor, Mt Maunganui College
- BEST PASIFIKA LANGUAGE – Henele Akauola, Rotorua Intermediate
- BEST SCHOOL – Katikati College
- PEOPLE’S CHOICE – Desmond Mafile’o, Rotorua Boys High
- BEST FILM – Joseph O’Connor, Mt Maunganui College
