LEA TUPU'ANGA / MOTHER TONGUE

Lea Tupu'anga / Mother Tongue is a short film drama written by Luciane Buchanan and directed by Vea Mafile'o. It is the first time a professional short film has been made by a Tongan female writer-director team.

LOGLINE

A young speech therapist disconnected from her Tongan heritage lies about her Tongan language skills to get a job. Out of her depth, she must find a way to communicate or risk her patient’s life. 

WHY IS THIS PROJECT IMPORTANT?

This project explores contemporary issues related to cultural identity through the concept of language. What is it that makes someone Tongan? Or any culture for that matter? It speaks to that universal struggle as humans to find out who we are, what our place in the world is and more importantly, where we belong.

"The way language is addressed in this film is such a valid issue to anyone with indigenous ties, who were born in a western society or migrated to one.” – Vea Mafile’o

BACKGROUND

After two years of development, it was a special moment to have the project selected for Fresh Shorts. This means we receive partial funding of our project from New Zealand Film Commission and Script to Screen. While we are very grateful for the support of Fresh Shorts, we still need your help!

We need your support to raise more money to hire the best quality cameras and lenses, pay for location permits, traffic management and top up post-production costs – to give our project the best production value possible. Our goal is to take a short film with Tongan language to the global stage – one that our community and supporters can be proud of.

Every donation large or small is massively appreciated, especially in these difficult times. THANK YOU for your interest and support. Please connect with us on Facebook and Instagram to share in our journey! 

TEAM

Vea Mafile'o (Director)

Vea's debut documentary feature film For My Father’s Kingdom premiered in 2019 at the prestigious Berlin Film Festival with screenings at top tier festivals including Melbourne International Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival and Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival – where it was awarded the Special Jury Prize. For My Father’s Kingdom was the first Tongan feature documentary for cinema and the first directed by a Tongan female. Lea Tupu’anga / Mother Tongue will be Vea's first time directing a drama project.

Luciane Buchanan (Writer, Actor)

Luciane is an established actor and an emerging screenwriter in the New Zealand film and television industry. More recently, Luciane can be seen in the Netflix/ABC/TVNZ production The New Legends of Monkey in the lead role of Tripitaka. Lea Tupu’anga / Mother Tongue is Luciane’s first screenplay – an opportunity to write (and act) very personal material connected to her Tongan heritage.

Run Charlie Films (Producers)

Run Charlie Films has produced content selected to BAFTA and Academy Award-accredited festivals including Sheffield/Doc Fest, Outfest Los Angeles, ImagineNATIVE, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and Cinequest. Their previous short film production My Friend Michael Jones won the Audience Award at New Zealand International Film Festival, the Moon Jury Prize at ImagineNATIVE and qualified for the 2020 Academy Awards.

ATTACHED CAST:

Luciane Buchanan, Albert Rounds, Mikey Falesiu, Michael Koloi, Elizabeth Thomson.

ATTACHED CREW:

Alex Lovell (Producer), Eldon Booth (Producer), Suli Moa (Cultural Advisor), Halaifonua Finau (1st Assistant Director), Emily Mafile'o (Art Director), Frankie Lolohea (Costume Design), Jennifer Ward-Lealand (Intimacy Coordinator), Stephen Gallagher (Composer), Samson Rambo (Associate Producer), Ian Leaupepe (Associate Producer).