Short film | Drama | 2024 | German & Danish Premiere | New Zealand | 17 min | Directed by Vea Mafile’o

This screening will take place at City Kino Wedding.

Synopsis

Katherine, a young speech therapist of Tongan and European heritage has lied about her Tongan language skills to work with Siaosi - an elderly patient with aphasia who has lost his ability to speak English. Out of her depth, Katherine must find a way to communicate or risk her patient’s life.

Director’s Bio

Vea Mafile’o is a director of film and television who has worked extensively throughout the Pacific. Her debut documentary feature For My Father’s Kingdom (2019) had its world Premiere at Berlinale. It was the first Tongan feature documentary for cinema; the first directed by a Tongan female in the world. In 2021, Vea directed two episodes of the primetime New Zealand television drama The Panthers.

Lea Tupu'anga / Mother Tongue is Vea’s first narrative film.