Tala Pasifika - Talk of the Town (Tala o le Taulaga)

Directed by actor Lani Tupu (Country GP), this award-winning tale focuses on Cindy (Henry Ah-Foo Taripo), a fa'afafine living and working in Auckland. Cindy breaks the fourth wall from her dressing room, to tell the story of being a teenager named Sione (Sani Muliaumaseali'i) and immigrating from Samoa to Aotearoa. Across two timelines, the young Sione struggles with her new home and her gender expression, while adult Cindy enjoys a successful performing career. The story was inspired by beloved entertainer Cindy Filo (aka Cindy of Samoa). Taripo won an acting award at indigenous festival Dreamspeakers in Canada.