Experiencing Interruptions?

Forgotten Dawn Children

Ioane wakes up to another lonely, cold morning. He turns on his radio, makes his tea, and goes to work. In the middle of his daily routine, he starts to remember how things used to be. Before they came. When people knew.

  • Joshua Iosefo
    Director
  • Joshua Iosefo
    Writer
  • Corey Sio
    Producer
  • Jim Marbrook
    Executive Producer
    The Dark Horse, Jumbo, Mental Notes
  • Valentino Maliko
    Key Cast
  • Walter Matatia Marsters
    Key Cast
  • Levaula Matafai
    Key Cast
  • Kerynn Brannigan
    Key Cast
  • Diana Vao
    Key Cast
  • Elina Osborne
    Cinematographer
  • Hayley Becht
    Cinematographer
  • Maria Pahi
    Directors Assistant
  • Alisha Tairakena
    Sound
  • Jannah Hibberd
    Sound
  • Joshua Iosefo
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama, Historical
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 18 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 30, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    567 NZD
  • Country of Origin:
    New Zealand
  • Country of Filming:
    New Zealand
  • Language:
    English, Samoan
  • Shooting Format:
    Canon C100
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • Flavourz Film Festival
    Auckland
    New Zealand
    November 13, 2015
Director Biography - Joshua Iosefo

Joshua's interest in film making and storytelling started from his teenage years while acting for Massive Theatre Company. In 2012 Joshua, became a household name after a video of his high school prefect speech went viral. As a result he has appeared on television shows such as Campbell live, Q&A and Tangata Pasifika. In 2014 Joshua appeared in his first major play “My Name Is Pilitome” directed by Vela Manusaute from the Kila Kokonut Krew (The Factory). Joshua is a renowned motivational speaker who has spoken for Fuji Xerox, The Auckland City Council, Duffy Books in Homes, Auckland University, The Ministry of Education, TED X and AUT where he recently graduated from with a Bachelor in Communication Studies majoring in Television and Screen Production. Joshua was given the honour to give the valedictorian speech at his graduation which became another viral success and was featured in media outlets around the world. Joshua was awarded Graduate of the Year for his major and is currently completing his Post-Graduate Diploma in Communications.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Being a young Samoan/Niuean man, I was no stranger to the concept of ‘the minority’. Corey and I are young Pasifika, males between the ages of 18-28. When we are outside of South Auckland and walking the streets of Ponsonby, we definitely feel this way. And I have to ask myself - why. In Pasifika culture there is a concept called the ‘Va’, which describes the spaces in between. Not just spaces between objects, but spaces between people, between relationships, spaces of spirituality, respect and geographical space. Forgotten Dawn Children is my exploration of the Va between the past and the present-Ponsonby then, and Ponsonby now. It also explores the Va within Ioane, the deconstruction and reconstruction of Identity within him. And the sense of Isolation as a result from being disconnected to his Va. This film is more than a university project for Corey and I. It’s a bridge between spaces so that we remember the sacrifices and mistakes made by the people before us.

This film is dedicated to the wrongly accused victims of the Dawn Raids and our heroes The Polynesian Panthers.