Filmmaker Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa is spearheading Pasifika On Air's Focus on Film Masterclass.
By Michelle Curran
Executive Communications Manager, Pasifika TV/PCBL
Expect to see more Pacific stories being told, new pathways being built, and some friendly island rivalry around the region as Pasifika On Air’s Focus on Film Masterclass and Shorts Film Fund 2026 is rolled out.
Pasifika On Air (POA) is a Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL) flagship initiative, reimagined under the leadership of Nicole Rex Taofinu’u, POA General Manager.
Focus on Film is a new initiative, where Pacific-based filmmakers, production teams, and affiliated Pacific broadcast teams are invited to submit proposals for the development and production of scripted short films.
Nicole says it is a highly selective initiative designed to support Pacific creative teams to develop, execute, and deliver original short films grounded in authentic Pacific storytelling.
“Our point of difference is we are combining capability building with content creation, which is future focused and exciting,” Nicole says.
“Five teams will be selected to participate in a structured programme combining an intensive masterclass with staged production funding of up to NZD $30,000 per team.
“All completed films will premiere on PCBL platforms while selected films will be entered into the Pacific Island Film Festival New York City, 2027.”
Spearheading the Focus on Film Masterclass is Aotearoa-born Samoan filmmaker and interim General Manager at Pacific Islands Screen Artists (PISA), Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa.
Having studied law and media studies at university, he followed his high school dream to become a filmmaker and has not looked back since.
The writer and director of Three Wise Cousins, Hibiscus & Ruthless, Take Home Pay and Mama’s Music Box says he has the honour of facilitating and designing the Film Masterclass for POA.
“The Film Masterclass is about laying out strong foundations to build upon both creatively and in terms of progressing through the industry,” Stallone says.
“It’s an opportunity for filmmakers in the region to have the time, space and resources to just be a filmmaker and to work alongside other filmmakers.
“Being in the screen industry can be an isolating experience so it will be a great opportunity to be able to delve into their own creative practices alongside their peers and have the freedom to take stock of what it means to create in their respective homelands and to think of how they can progress their own screen journeys.”
Story sovereignty is a vital part of the filmmaking process, and prioritises Pacific people, as the audience and holders of knowledge.
“As a creative you always have to ask yourself if you are ready and willing to present your work to your family, village or community – is it uplifting and or important – if you do not feel you can do that – then you have to check what are the Pacific values that are informing your work; or does the work reflect those values.”
Stallone is hopeful to see screen creatives throughout the Pacific applying to take part in the Focus on Film Masterclass and Shorts Film Fund 2026.
“If not as a producer, writer or director then even as any of the many other departments that required for a film production…especially creatives that have been holding onto a particular story that they want to tell.
“I think we are going to see some awesome films come out of this initiative.
“We are all in this together, but also keen to see our creatives across the islands start to be competitive and as a result we all start to raise our game; and our standard of storytelling starts to make waves into the rest of the world.”
A Requests For Proposals (RFP) is being released on May 1, with applications being accepted from May 8 via the Pasifika On Air portal.
Applications close on May 29 and successful teams will be notified on July 3, with the Film Masterclass scheduled for the end of July/August.
Final delivery of films is May 1, 2027.
Visit Pasifika On Air for more information.