Experiencing Interruptions?

Taonga An Artist Activist

Mike’s life story is a journey of art, his connection to artistic expression in all its forms is what wakes him up in the morning and sees him retire to bed late at night. This short documentary seeks to capture Mike’s connection with art and teaching. How he experiments and pushes boundaries when others will remain cautious. How he provokes and questions the status quo always seeking knowledge and answers to questions that others may be too conservative to ask.

  • Glenda Tuaine
    Director
    Atui Akaou - Reconnect , Stop the Scam, Kia orana Modules
  • Leanne Ferrer
    Producer
    Pacific Islanders in Communications
  • Cheryl Hirasa
    Producer
    Pacific Islanders in Communications
  • Raed Teariki Ra
    DIrector of Photography
    Atui Akaou- Reconnect, The Language of War, The Marionette, Silent
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 1, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    42,217 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Cook Islands
  • Country of Filming:
    Cook Islands
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital - pro res H:264
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16.9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Maoriland Film Festival 2022
    Otaki
    New Zealand
    New Zealand
  • Paris Short Film Festival 2022
    Paris
    France
    September 24, 2022
    France
    Best Short Documentary
  • Pasifika Film Festival
    Sydney
    Australia
    November 27, 2022
    Australia
  • Brussels International Film Festival
    Brussels
    December 22, 2022
    Best Short Documentary
  • Melbourne Women in Film Festival 2023
    Melbourne
    Australia
    February 25, 2023
  • Geneve Awards
    Geneva
    Switzerland
    March 18, 2023
    Switzerland
    Official Selection
  • Dona Paula International Film Awards
    Goa
    India
    April 2, 2023
    India
    Official Selection
  • Dona Paula International Film Awards
    Goa
    India
    April 2, 2023
    India
    Best Short Doco, Best Director, Best Editor, Best Sound Engineer, Best Sound Design, Best Producer
  • Short Circuit Pacific Rim Film Festival + CINSPARK
    Victoria
    Canada
    May 5, 2023
    Canada
    Official Selection
  • Festival de Indie
    Chennai
    India
    April 29, 2023
    Official Selection, Best Doco Film, Best Director, Best Sound Design, Best Sound Engineer
  • International Cinema Prize
    Kerala
    India
    May 1, 2023
    Official Selection, Best Doco Film, Best Director, Best Sound design
  • Liber Films International Festival
    Athens
    Greece
    March 4, 2024
    Greece
  • Travancore International Film Awards
    Trivandrum
    India
    August 2, 2023
  • Sydney World Fest
    Sydney
    Australia
    June 4, 2023
  • Lion International Film Festival
    Florence
    Italy
    August 4, 2023
    Italy
  • Lonely Wolf #23
    London
    United Kingdom
    July 31, 2023
    London
    Semi Finalist
  • Cinesis Independent Film Fest

    July 7, 2023
    Nominee
  • Sensei Film Fest
    Tokyo
    Japan
    September 1, 2023
    Japan
    Nominee
  • MUZZLE
    Muzzle
    February 9, 2023
    Kurdistan
    Nominee
  • Golden Laurel International Film Festival
    Athens
    Greece
    August 8, 2024
    Official selection
  • Liber Films International Festival
    Athens
    Greece
    March 4, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Matariki Korekore Film Festival
    Rarotonga
    Cook Islands
    June 17, 2024
    Official Selection
  • PlanetCinema
    Austin, Texas
    United States
    August 29, 2023
    Official selection, Nominee
  • Dubai International Cine Carnival
    Dubai
    United Arab Emirates
    September 9, 2023
    Award Best Short Doco
  • Hawai’i International Film Festival
    Hawaii
    United States
    October 19, 2023
    Official Selection
  • MAGMA Online Film Awards
    Madrid
    Spain
    September 15, 2023
    Official Selection, Nominee
  • Your Way International Film Festival
    Valletta
    Italy
    October 31, 2023
    Official Selection
  • FilmHaus
    Berlin
    Germany
    October 27, 2023
    Official Selection, Nominee
  • C L I M A X
    Madrid
    Spain
    December 8, 2023
    Official Selection. Semi-Finalist
  • Film Olympiad
    Athens
    Greece
    November 21, 2024
    Offical Selection, Nominee
  • Nocturna
    Brooklyn
    United States
    November 29, 2024
    Official Selection, Semi-Finalist
  • FIFO 24
    Papeete
    French Polynesia
    February 5, 2024
    French Polynesia
    Official Selection
Distribution Information
  • Motone Productions
    Distributor
    Country: Cook Islands
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Glenda Tuaine

Glenda Tuaine is a Producer, Director, Scriptwriter, and occasional actor that lives in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Glenda works on film projects that span artistic and corporate in the Cook islands. She develops and produces those through her company Motone Productions which she has with her husband and sound engineer Maurice Newport. She also develops creative events and runs KukiCre8tive a film and performing arts programme for youth. Glenda collaborates with many creatives in the Pacific on a variety of digital and live products. Taonga An Artist Activist was Glenda's first movement in short documentary making and she loved every minute of it including the long hours of editing! Glenda co- directed and scripted Atui Akaouanga - Reconnect - a TV feature on Cook Islands during Covid, scripted a short film on domestic violence called NO MORE SILENCE and has directed many community and corporate videos for a variety of clients. Her future dream is to make her film on Cook Islands music heroes of old, and to create her drama short film that de-bunks our attitude towards disabilities. She is also working on the Kukicre8tive TV show for youth. In 2023 she began researching a feature documentary on Art Theft in the Cook Islands. Her approach is if Covid has taught us anything it is to 'Seize the Day'.

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Director Statement

Telling a story or the stories of others through film is a privilege. Taking the time to listen and understand the connections and translate that is a honor.