Due to this year's peculiar circumstances and the restrictions enforced in Tonga, we have had to decide on major changes to this year's festival:

- We are only opening to submissions by locals and the Tongan diaspora

- We have cancelled all plans for public screenings and will be moving online and hopefully on TV Tonga (which is to bear in mind for copyrights and licensing)

- We are working on more opportunities for our Tongan filmmakers and aspiring filmmakers, so keep an eye open for further announcements

Any entry under 30 minutes of duration from Tonga or the Tongan diaspora.

PLEASE READ THE RULES!

Email us for the code if you are Tongan or represent a Tongan filmmaker. Entering is free.

We aim to maintain the "public and open to all" spirit, and therefore all entries must be respectful of Tongan cultural restrictions (no nudity, no intimacy, no unjustified swearing).

If the movie is not in English, subtitles must be provided -even if it is in Tongan.

If selected, entries will be shown online and possibly on TV Tonga and potentially in a pan-regional event still being defined, and could be screened locally or in the outer islands for secondary events when possible again, unless specifically forbidden by the director.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Sebastian J. Lowe

    Fantastic communication throughout the whole festival. Unfortunately, I could't make it but appreciated our film being included. Ngā mihi.

    October 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you very much for your kind words!
    It's been fantastic to share your work, that was such a wonderful sensorial experience on the big screen in the dark. Thank you so much for submitting and contributing to the diversity of Moana stories we can share here in Tonga.

  • jeremy macey

    I didn't attend but great communication from the friendly team. Good work!

    December 2018
  • Isack Hoppitt

    Unfortunately I couldn't attend, but communication was very clear and friendly. The festival's focuses are very important to the realities and needs of our Pacific Islands.

    June 2018
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Isack! We only wish to be able to share more stories from around the ocean. Keep up the great work, and hopefully see you soon!

  • Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu

    As one of very few film festivals in the Pacific Islands, this is an amazing opportunity to screen and view films about this beautiful and culturally rich part of the world. The organizers are doing an amazing job of bringing a rich collection of short and feature films to Tonga, aptly named as the "Friendly Islands." Worth a trip!

    October 2017