Fifty years of political independence and the signing of a Treaty of Friendship between New Zealand and Samoa will be celebrated with a New Zealand Film and Television Festival broadcast on Samoa’s TV3 channel.  The station is received by 90% of Samoan households.

Fifty years of political independence and the signing of a Treaty of Friendship between New Zealand and Samoa will be celebrated with a New Zealand Film and Television Festival broadcast on Samoa’s TV3 channel.  The station is received by 90% of Samoan households.

A collaboration between the New Zealand Film Commission and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Festival will take place over two weeks from the 18th to 31st July and play between 9 – 11pm every night. 

It will launch with South Pacific Picture’s Polynesian comedy Sione’s Wedding, and close with Tusi Tamasese’s Samoan-language feature film, The Orator.  The Festival will also screen film and television classics such as The Gibson Group’s popular comedy programmes Skitz and The Semisis; and feature films Flying Fox in the Freedom Tree, Whale Rider and The Silent One. 

On January 1st 1962, Samoa became the first South Pacific country to gain independence.  This followed 63 years of foreign administration – first as a colony of Germany then as a trusteeship of New Zealand under a mandate from the League of Nations.  On August 1st 1962, Samoa and New Zealand signed the unique Treaty of Friendship, which underpins our relationship to this day.

The Festival schedule is below.  The New Zealand Film Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade would like to acknowledge the support of the filmmakers and distributors who have agreed that TV3 may screen these films and television programmes in Samoa.

Wednesday, 18th July: Sione’s Wedding, A Day in the Life

Thursday 19th July: Children of the Migration, Va Tapuia, A Day in the Life

Friday 20th July: No. 2, Skitz, A Day in the Life                                

Saturday 21st July: Sons for the Return Home, Skitz, A Day in the Life

Sunday 22nd July: Laughing Samoans

Monday 23rd July: BOY, Tangaroa with Pio, A Day in the Life                             

Tuesday 24th July: Black Grace, Tangaroa with Pio, A Day in the Life

Wednesday 25th July: The Silent One, Tangaroa with Pio, Skitz                                                             

Thursday 26th July: Tangaroa with Pio, Skitz

Friday 27th July: Staunch, Hunting Show, Skitz

Saturday 28th July: Flying Fox in the Freedom Tree, Hunting Show, Skitz

Sunday 29th July: Whale Rider        

Monday 30th July: The Semisis

Tuesday 31st July: The Orator            

Media Release: NZFC