Peter Burger directed tele-movie Until Proven Innocent, which won five Qantas awards in 2009. The sometime editor found early success as director of quirky tele-movie Fish Skin Suit and short film Turangawaewae, which was selected for the Cannes Film Festival in 2003. He also helmed Samoan horror tale The Tattooist, and multiple episodes - including the pilots - of Burying Brian and Maddigan’s Quest.
Becoming a matai is a really major thing that goes way beyond the making of this film. It was really a massive honour for me. It’s a symbol of trust from our Samoan advisors.
– Peter Burger, on being bestowed the Samoan title of matai (chief), while making The Tattooist