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JustineSimei-Barton

  • Director
Justine-Simei-Profile.jpeg

Porirua-born Justine Simei-Barton formed the Pacific Theatre company in 1987, while doing a Bachelor of Arts in Auckland. It was the first of its kind in Aotearoa. Later she directed three episodes of pioneering Pasifika drama series Tala Pasifika, then turned one of them, Matou Oma, into another breakthrough showcase of Pasifika talent. Good Hands: Lima Lelei  — about a South Auckland netball team — was nominated for Best Drama at the 2005 NZ Screen Awards. Simei-Barton spent seven years trying to get it made. Two of her shorts have competed at the Berlin Film Festival: The Trophy, and Snow in Paradise (co-directed with Nikki Si'ulepa).

Screenography

Snow in Paradise
2011 Co-Director Short film
The Trophy
2008 Producer, Director, Writer Short film
Daughters of the Pacific
2005 Camera, Research Television
Good Hands - Lima Lelei - First Episode
2003 Producer, Writer, Director, Creator Television
Good Hands - Lima Lelei
2003 Director, Director, Writer, Producer Series

Awards

2013 Festival International du Film d'Environnement (France)
Best Short Film (shared with Nikki Si'ulepa): Snow in Paradise

2013 Tribeca Film Festival (United States)
Nominated for Jury Award for Best Narrative Short (with Nikki Si'ulepa): Snow in Paradise 

“The creative process brought my soul to life, and that was the deciding factor.”

— Justine Simei-Barton on deciding to leave law studies behind after staging a hit play, The NZ Herald, 15 November 2007