Short film | Documentary | European premiere | 2024 | New Zealand | 10 min | English with German subtitles | Directed by Chantelle Burgoyne

This screening will take place at Colosseum.

Synopsis

As his tenth birthday approaches, Luka prepares for the Hifi Ulu ceremony, a Niuean rite of passage that will mark his transition into young manhood. Navigating this milestone in his own unique way, Luka’s journey is quietly mirrored by his father’s unresolved feelings. As the day draws near, anticipation builds, leaving everyone to wonder how Luka truly feels about this pivotal moment in his life.

Director’s Bio

Chantelle is a filmmaker of Samoan, Tongan and European heritage with a first-class MA in Screen Production specialising in directing drama from the University of Auckland. She has written and directed several short films that have screened in festivals in New Zealand and internationally. Most recently, she directed one of the chapters of the anthology feature film We Are Still Here which opened the 69th Sydney Film Festival in 2022 and won the prize for best dramatic feature film at the imagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival.