02 Oct 2018
The fifth annual Siapo Cinema: Oceania Film Festival returns to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision from 12-20 October 2018.
The festival programme showcases vibrant stories of the Pacific on film with a range of Pacific features, short films and unique events. Highlights include the premiere of Lisa Taouma’s Marks of Mana, and a special evening celebrating the achievements of award-winning actor, director, writer and producer, Nathaniel Lees.
Siapo is the Samoan word for tapa cloth and a friend of the festival aptly suggested the name as a play on the word ‘sepia’ used to describe the colour tone of early film. The festival continues its tradition of showcasing the earliest to the latest in moving image culture from around Oceania. There are also various associated workshop and discussion events.
Mishelle Muagututi'a, Documentation Archivist at Ngā Taonga and lead curator of the festival programme says: “Each year Siapo Cinema throws up fascinating, challenging, intriguing and surprising films from around Oceania and the 2018 programme has done it again. From student film-makers to living legends, the range and diversity of films, artists and events is staggering.”
This year's festival opens with a special evening introduced by Arts Council of New Zealand member Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban, dedicated to the work of the Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision archive. Among the highlights of the festival programme are: a selection of dance works recorded on film curated by Pacific Dance NZ & Pollywood; a short film programme from emerging to classic short films; tertiary Pacific Studies engagement in our Cinema; the premiere of documentary Marks of Mana; a workshop with artist Jasmine Togo-Brisby; and a Polysexual discussion around gender and sexuality with local filmmakers.
Siapo Cinema: Oceania Film Festival runs from Friday 12 October until Saturday 20 October at the Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision cinema, Taranaki Street, Wellington.
Follow the hashtag #siapocinema2018 on social media, Siapo Cinema Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/SiapoCinema/) and keep up with the latest happenings at the festival by clicking 'interested' on the Siapo Facebook Event. The full programme list is below. Screening dates and times are on the Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision website.
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