Kalolaine “Kalo” Uechtritz Fainu, an avid advocate for Pacific representation in film, shares her motivations for creating the Pasifika Film Fest and offers tips for aspiring Pacific filmmakers. Born and raised in Australia, Kalo has family roots in Tonga, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa. She received a BVA Photography with a Photojournalist major from Griffith University and a Masters of Media Arts & Production from the University of Technology Sydney. She recently started a Masters in Asian and Pacific Studies from The Australian National University to learn more about Pacific cultures and communities.

Tell us Pasifika Film Fest’s origin story.

I met my co-founder Eli at uni. We happened to be the only Pacific students there, so we immediately connected. We remember asking ourselves — Wouldn’t it be great if there was a festival featuring Pacific films?

After graduation, in 2013, we received a local grant to host what turned out to be the first Pasifika Film Fest. At the time, I was living in a creative warehouse, so we decided to host the event there. The whole production was very low-key. We had a pulldown projector, beanbags, chairs, mats, and some Pacific artwork on the walls. For a low budget first-time festival, it was a really well attended event. Seeing the community’s positive response to the first festival was all the inspiration we needed to continue the festival and build space where Pacific stories could be told locally and around the world.

Why is it important to create spaces for Pacific people in film?

It’s difficult to find Pacific people, resources, and stories in Australia, and surely around the world. When you start noticing that we are invisible people on these big platforms, it makes you want to change that narrative.

Australia has a growing Pacific arts and entertainment community, but our representation has been dominated by football and rugby. It’s important for me to make stories that are for me and my community and to encourage others to do the same.

Who do you look up to in the film industry?

Many people are paving the way in the film world. Of course, we have people like Taika Waititi who have had huge and successful films, but we also have grassroots filmmakers — like the directors of Vai — and people developing other platforms, like CoconetTV, to share our Pacific stories.

I get especially inspired by our emerging storytellers who put tremendous time and effort into their craft. We have a new generation of storytellers, and their voices need to be heard.

What advice do you have for Pacific filmmaking students?

Reach out. One of the advantages of being part of the Pacific community is that we are community-oriented. You’ll be surprised by how generous our people can be with their time and responses.

Keep creating. Make, network, and share your work. Offer to help on sets, show your face, and make space for us in this industry.

CHECK OUT PASIFIKA FILM FEST.

Pasifika Film Fest is still open for submissions until May 31st.

Want to give back to the Pacific community? We are 100% volunteer-led nonprofit. Help keep our programs stay free for our Pacific scholars.