We're pleased to announce the winner of this year's Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts Wellington UNESCO City of Film Award for Best Film ($3000 cash prize) is Smog, directed by Alex Liu.

The award was presented to Liu at The Roxy Cinema, Wellington on Saturday 13 August following a screening of the competition’s six finalists’ films. The competition was judged by a three-member jury featuring broadcaster Claudette Hauiti, screenplay writer Tere Harrison and Māoriland producer Matilda Poase.

The jury said: “A multi-layered non-linear approach to a challenging kaupapa of tukino wāhine, me tukino whenua (domestic violence). The treatment of taiao and wahine were inextricably entwined and to abuse one is to abuse the other.”

The jury also awarded a Special Mention to the film A Morning with Aroha, written and directed by Nicholas Riini.

The jury said: “The joyous spirit of aroha is shared by a kotiro who experiences bullying. But aroha conquers all.”

In addition to Liu and Riini, Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts film competition’s 2022 finalists are Karin Williams (Burning of the Gods), Morag Brownlie (Perfect Storm), Jade Jackson (Raids), and Tajim Mohammed-Kapa (The Difference Between Pipi & Pūpū).

The six finalist films were selected by Ngā Whanaunga co-curators, Wairoa Māori Film Festival director Leo Koziol (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Rakaipaaka) and Pollywood Film Festival director Craig Fasi, and will screen in 13 centres throughout the festival.

The Letterboxd Audience Award (a cash prize of $1000), as voted by audiences at the Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts screenings in Tāmaki Makaurau and Te Whanganui-a-Tara, will be awarded at NZIFF’s Wellington closing night on Sunday 14 August.

New Zealand Films at Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival are proudly supported by Resene.

Jury citations:

 The Wellington UNESCO City of Film Award for Best Film Winner: Smog, directed and written by Alex Liu

 Jury comment: Mā te wahine, mā te whenua, ka ora ai te iwi. A multi-layered non-linear approach to a challenging kaupapa of tukino wāhine, me tukino whenua (domestic violence). The treatment of taiao and wahine inexplicitly entwined and to abuse one is to abuse the other.

Special Mention: A Morning with Aroha, directed and written by Nicholas Riini

Jury comment: He aha te mea nui o te ao, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata. The joyous spirit of aroha is shared by a kotino who experiences bullying. But aroha conquers all.