Congratulations to the team of Lea Tupu’anga/Mother Tongue!
At the NZIFF Awards, director, and WIFT Member, Vea Mafile’o was awarded the NZIFF Patrons Award for Best Film and $7500 cash prize!
The short film screened at part of New Zealand's Best 2024, after an already successful run on it's festival circuit: Sundance Film Festival - International Fiction Short Film Competition, Sydney Film Festival – In Competition, First Nations Award, Palm Springs International Shorts Fest, Māoriland Film Festival – Winner Best Short Film (Drama), and Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Vea Mafile’o shared on receiving the award, “I feel incredibly honored and proud to receive such a prestigious award, especially on the eve of Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e lea faka-Tonga – Tonga Language Week. This film represents the different cultural journeys we are all on. There are many paths and different experiences. Everyone's cultural identity and sense of belonging looks different. But it’s what you feel in your heart that counts the most. This is loto-māfana.”
May this film continue to be viewed and celebrated amongst audiences worldwide!