ʻATENISI INSTITUTE

'Atenisi was privileged to host the launch of the second annual Nuku'alofa Film Festival on the quadrangle of its campus 19 October. Greeting those attending were royal patron HRH Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tuku'aho and 'Atenisi director Sisi'uno Helu, who has served as one of the festival's supervisors since its inception last year. HE Sarah Walsh, New Zealand High Commissioner in Tonga, was the evening's diplomatic guest.

On the programme were an entry from Tonga, an entry from New Zealand, and two entries jointly produced in both nations. There were two films directed by Tongan women: Tui Emma Gillies directed ‘Falevai Flava’ on the printing of tapa in Falevai, Vava’u ... whilst Alice Lolohea directed ‘Pukepuke ‘o Tonga', a short documentary on national preservation. A particularly charming moment came when 13-year-old Alexander Veronesi personally introduced his animated short on tobacco abuse, promising to improve the quality of future submissions.