“It’s about honouring not just his legacy, but the community, culture and faith that shaped him – and sharing that with the audiences who carry that same pride” – Co-director Ve Mafileo
The release of a documentary following the life of former All Black great Jonah Lomu will premiere at the 2026 Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF) in August.
This follows its world premiere at the Dublin International Film Festival in February
The film, co-directed by award-winning film maker Vea Mafi’leo and Gavin Fitzgerald will make its Australian premiere at the Sydney Film Festival on June 13, before returning home to Aotearoa New Zealand where it will play as the festival’s Centrepiece film.
LOMU is described as a complex and deeply human portrait of Jonah Lomu – the most adored son of the Pacific and a legendary All Black – whose extraordinary talent and presence transcended rugby and reshaped the global game.
Through intimate interviews with family, friends, team mates and coaches, alongside rich archival material – including never-before-seen family footage LOMU reveals the personal cost of global fame.
Beneath his on-field dominance was a shy, deeply grounded young man shaped by Tongan values, strong Christian faith, and the pressures of representing both nation and culture on the world stage.
The film builds to the 1995 Rugby World Cup, where Lomu’s electrifying performances transformed rugby’s physical and cultural landscape. Yet even at the height of his success, he was quietly battling a serious kidney disorder – an unseen struggle that would profoundly shape the later years of his life and career.
Co-director Vea Mafile’o says bringing the film home to Tāmaki Makaurau is especially meaningful, “This story belongs to our people. To premiere LOMU at home, in Tāmaki Makaurau where so much of Jonah’s journey began, is incredibly special.
“It’s about honouring not just his legacy, but the community, culture and faith that shaped him – and sharing that with the audiences who carry that same pride.”
LOMU will premiere in Aotearoa New Zealand on Saturday 1 August at the Civic Theatre.
