The third annual Alofa Awards were held in Auckland on Saturday 24 August to recognise young Pasifika film makers.
This year 230 students from high schools in Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Wellington joined the Pasifika Youth Short Film Competition this year. Over 500 guests came out to support and celebrate the students’ stories.
Poporazzi Productions, a Pacific media company, has been running innovative Film making workshops for Pasifika secondary students since January 2022.
The third annual Alofa Awards were held in Auckland on Saturday 24 August to recognise young Pasifika film makers.
The initiative aims to encourage Pacific learners to explore their identity, and express these learnings through film. It also aims to create a pipeline for Pacific students into the screen industry and give the students a taste of the career options available.
Poporazzi co-foudners Muagututia Esera Tanoa’i and Pulotu Tupe Solomon-Tanoa’i say the calibre of the films produced in the last three years has been exceptional.
“Every year we get to see an incredibly diverse range of films from our students. It’s been a privilege to walk with these young storytellers and see how much they’ve grown over the years”, says Solomon-Tanoa’i.
“Some of our students have been on this journey for three years and it’s been great to see how they lift their game year on year. We’re also delighted to see new talent submit films and start their filmmaking journey,” says Solomon-Tanoa’i.
The films were judged by an all-star line-up of Pasifika from the screen industry – Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa, Tusi Tamasese, Marina McCartney and Bailey Poching. A number of high-profile actors, directors and creatives from the Pacific community were there to present the awards and provide words of encouragement to the youth.
PRIZEWINNERS:
- MINISTRY OF EDUCATION BEST SCREENPLAY – Marius Leituala of Liston College for Who stole the cookie?
- MINISTRY FOR PACIFIC PEOPLES BEST DIRECTOR SENIOR – Joey Schuster of St Pauls College for TOA
- MARTIN HAUTUS FOUNDATION TRUST BEST DIRECTOR JUNIOR – Azariah Brown of SDA Balmoral School for Pacific ID in NZ
- NZQA BEST ACTRESS – Kaylah Matano of Sancta Maria College for TAIMI
- INDEPENDENT TRAFFIC CONTROL BEST ACTOR – Joshua Kasawaqa of ASDAH School for TOA
- PACIFIC MEDIA NETWORK BEST SOUND – Regina Taie of Mt Maunganui College for The Story of Felehuhuni
- POPORAZZI BEST EDITOR – Braiden Leituala of Liston College for Who Stole the Cookie Pt 2
- SOLOMON TANOAI AWARD – BEST SPIRIT – James Fidow of De La Salle College for The 3 people you meet in heaven
- POPORAZZI BEST MENTOR – Claire Wilson of Mt Maunganui College
- CENTRE FOR PACIFIC LANGUAGE BEST PASIFIKA LANGUAGE – Jojo Petelo-Titi of Mt Maunganui College for The Story of Felehuhuni
- DOVE FAMILY BEST DOCUMENTARY – Milina Selau of Mt Maunganui College for Stereotyping as a Pacific Islander
- MINISTRY FOR PACIFIC PEOPLES BEST SCHOOL BOP / POPORAZZI CUP – Mt Maunganui College
Zade & Caelan Pitkeathly for Tukufakahol
Milina Selau for Stereotyping as a Pacific Islander
Jojo Petelo-Titi for The Story of Felehuhuni - MINISTRY FOR PACIFIC PEOPLES BEST SCHOOL AKL / POPORAZZI CUP – Liston College
Marius Leituala for Who stole the Cookie?
Braiden Leituala for Who stole the Cookie? Pt 2
Elijah Leituala for Who stole the Cookie? Pt 3 - MINISTRY OF EDUCATION BEST SCHOOL AKL – Joey Schuster of St Pauls College for TOA
- MOANA CONNECT PEOPLES CHOICE AWARD – Iosua & Nagorry Perelini of St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College for Decisions
- MINISTRY OF EDUCATION BEST SCHOOL BOP – Lute Takau of Tauranga Girls College for Mind over matter
All films can be viewed here
