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
Let's Talk ->

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

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest industry news, insights and funding opportunities
By clicking the ‘subscribe’ button, you agree to NZFC’s Privacy Policy