Alofa Mai, Alofa Atu

KAKAIA PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS: "ALOFA MAI, ALOFA ATU" Short Film

OUR STORY
A young woman grapples with her repressed sexuality when she reconnects with her childhood friend and must navigate her growing affections.

WRITER/DIRECTOR | Giselle Ilaoa

PRODUCER  | Carrisse Uta’i

THEMES:

Self-Discovery and Acceptance: A young queer Pacific woman's journey to embrace her authentic self while maintaining connections to her family and culture

Gentle affirming love: A story that emphasises tender, affirming and healing forms of love

Our journey began at a Pacific Islands Screen Arts workshop in 2023, where we first met. After collaborating on Giselle's "Teine" and Carrisse's "KÜĪ," we discovered not only a great working dynamic but also shared the same star sign—Pisces. This natural connection evolved into a creative partnership. Now, this project represents our first official collaboration as a filmmaking team, as we seek to amplify our unique creative voices in the industry. 

• Giselle Ilaoa (Alafua - Sāmoa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Raukawa) is a motivated and aspiring filmmaker with a passion for telling stories that positively represents her Pasifika/Māori communities. Born and raised in Pōneke, Wellington, Giselle briefly spent five years living in Australia before moving to Tāmaki Makaurau to pursue a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Screen Production and Global Studies. She later expanded her craft by completing a Diploma in Film and Television Production (Level 6) at Yoobee South Seas Film School. At a young age, Giselle noticed a lack of meaningful representation of her community, and she hopes to bring about positive change and understanding through the power of storytelling. Giselle’s debut and student short film, Teine, went on to screen at festivals such as: Cannes Independent Shorts and Hawai’i Interntional Film Festival, among others.
• Carrisse Uta'i (Si'umu, Aleisa) is a NZ-born award-winning producer,  writer, and actress of Sāmoan, Tuvaluan, Fijian, Cook Island, and German descent. Her first produced short film, "Find Where I Belong," won Best Short Fiction Film at FIFO Tahiti in 2023 and had a successful festival run; aquired by France TV. Her second short film, "KÜĪ” (awaiting premiere) marks her debut as a screenwriter. Carrisse's passion lies in development and storytelling. Currently, co producing Kahu Kaiha’s debut feature length documentary, “KAKAIA - Children of Tiki, producing an upcoming short film “Alofa Mai, Alofa Atu” and co producing “Strange Brew” web series. As co-founder of KAKAIA Productions, she champions Indigenous and Pacific Islands storytelling. She received the 2024 Day One Vista Foundation Spirit Award.

Your contribution will directly support this important story through:

• Professional cast and crew fees
• Production equipment (camera lenses, lighting etc)
• Original music composition
• Catering and unit expenses
• Location fees and filming permits

We're so grateful and honoured to be working with an incredible crew of diverse, Pacific, Pan-Asian and LGBTQIA+ creatives! Our team brings together amazing talent from different walks of life, each adding their own unique magic and skills to bring this story to life.

"Alofa Mai, Alofa Atu" is a short film that delicately explores queer love and self-discovery through a Pasifika lens. The story follows Manaia, a young woman navigating her growing feelings as she reconnects with her childhood friend Ata.

For our autalavou/rangatahi/youth who have long sought to see themselves reflected in media, our film offers a familiar embrace—a narrative that speaks their language, honours their journey, and celebrates their unique place at the intersection of tradition and authenticity.

Giselle Ilaoa: In a time when diverse voices and stories are being amplified like never before, I want to show that love in its tender, affirming, and healing form can bridge even the deepest divides between tradition and self-acceptance. By telling Manaia and Ata’s story, I hope to offer a narrative that resonates with those navigating the complexities of culture, faith, and identity, while celebrating the beauty and resilience of Pasifika traditions and queer love.

Carrisse Uta’i: 'Alofa Mai, Alofa Atu' isn't just a title - it's the heart of our story. This film explores the journey of self acceptance, kind of like what RuPaul always says about loving yourself first. As a producer, I feel excited to help tell this story of quiet courage, where romance blooms across cultures and Manaia discovers she can honour both family and her authentic self. It's a gentle reminder that sometimes the bravest thing we can do is choose our own path.

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