Lea Tupu'anga/Mother Tongue

Siaosi resents Katherine’s presence and is resistant to her speech therapy sessions. Anxious for progress, Katherine enlists her Tongan boyfriend Maka to translate. During this exchange, Katherine unwittingly offends Siaosi, who sternly...

New Zealand Production

Short 2024 Drama 17.00 minutes

01 Lea Tupuanga Siaosi Katherine20copy 0

Katherine, a young speech therapist of Tongan and European heritage has lied about her Tongan language skills to work with Siaosi – an elderly Tongan patient with aphasia who has lost his ability to speak English.

Sydney Film Festival – In Competition

First Nations Award

Māoriland Film Festival

Winner Best Short Film (Drama)

Show Me Shorts Film Festival

Winner Department of Post Best New Zealand Film (Vea Mafile'o, Eldon Booth, Alex Lovell)

Pacific Island Film Festival New York City

Winner Best Short Film

Bend Film Festival

Winner Best Indigenous Short

VC Film Fest (Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival)

Winner Special Jury Mention

2024: Sundance Film Festival - International Fiction Short Film Competition

Palm Springs International Shorts Fest

Edinburgh International Film Festival

Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival - New Zealand’s Best

Atlantic International Film Festival

Hawai’i International Film Festival

Adelaide Film Festival

Melbourne International Film Festival

San Diego Asian Film Festival

Rotorua Indigenous Film Festival

FIFO Oceanian International Film Festival Tahiti

Melbourne International Film Festival

2025: Cleveland International Film Festival Runner-Up, Best Live Action Short Jury Award

Best of NFMLA Awards Nominee - International Drama, Performance Drama (Luciane Buchanan)

Directors

Vea Mafile'o

Producers

Alex Lovell

Eldon Booth

Screenplay Writers

Luciane Buchanan

Executive Producers

Frankie Adams

Cast

Luciane Buchanan
Katherine

Albert Rounds
Siaosi

Mikey Falesiu
Maka

Michael Koloi
Michael

Elizabeth Thomson
Susan

Crew

Ian Leaupepe | Associate Producer

Samson Rambo | Associate Producer

María Inés Manchego NZCS | Cinematographer

Lisa Greenfield | Editor

Anastasia Doniants | Editor

Frankie Lolohea | Costume Designer

Emily Mafile'o | Art Director

Stephen Gallagher | Composer

Production Company

Other featured productions

Discover the powerful stories and breathtaking visuals brought to life by our talented New Zealand and International filmmakers.

Full film library

Kōrero mai

Ready to connect and collaborate? Our team is ready to support your next steps.