Sima Urale

The father of a deeply troubled household that endured tragedy both from without and within, seeks to reconcile with his youngest daughter by making a journey to both symbolically and culturally lay the family "ghosts" to rest.

Lorsqu'une tempête emporte un canot transportant un jeune garçon à terre sur une petite île du Pacifique Sud, il est d'abord bien accueilli comme un cadeau du ciel, au point même que le chef de tribu l'adopte comme successeur. Cependant, avec le temps, alors que les difficultés sont imputées à Tama (comme il est nommé), il est finalement banni pour vivre avec les personnes les plus pauvres de l'île, Mahana et son père ivre. Mahana est considérée comme accueillante et indésirable, mais Tama se sent différemment, alors quand il sera assez vieux pour construire un bateau pour s'enfuir, il jure de revenir la chercher un jour. Un coup de chance l'amène à débarquer sur l'île du légendaire Johnny Lingo, le commerçant le plus riche des îles, et après des années à son service, Tama a beaucoup appris sur la vie et sur lui-même alors qu'il rêve d'honorer son engagement envers Mahana.

Celebrity Chef Anita hasn't seen her family for twenty years. That is until her son Michael decides to do some soul searching and track down his aunt.

In 2011 the startling news broke around New Zealand that Sharon Armstrong, a middle-aged grandmother and public servant who worked for the Maori Language Commission had been arrested in Argentina with 5kg of cocaine in her suitcase.

A homage to Dusky Maiden images as well as a playful take on the low art of velvet painting, Sima Urale’s Velvet Dreams provides a tongue-in-cheek exploration of Pacific Island stereotypes. Part detective story, part documentary, an unseen narrator goes in search of a painting of a Polynesian princess that he has fallen in love with. Along the way he meets artists, fans and critics of the kitsch art genre, as well as the mysterious Gauguin-like figure of Charlie McPhee. Made for TVNZ's Work of Art series, Velvet Dreams played in multiple international film festivals. - NZ On Screen

Teine Sā - the ancient spirits of the Pacific are stirring. Revered and feared in equal measure, these sacred gods have crept back into the modern world to engage with five different women facing their own demons.. Teine Sā is a series of stories of modern day issues impacting Pacific women who look to the atua of the past for guidance. Teine Sā are the ancient spirit women, with the ability to bless and curse in equal measure. From the notorious goddess Telesa to the Hiama of the Solomon Islands, these tales of the unexpected take age-old stories on many twists and turns.

Not just another night in the city, a tale untold revealed; perhaps helplessness is a disguise.

A husband struggles to care for his ailing wife and refuses their children's demands that they move into care.

Shot in black and white and filmed in the Samoan language, Sima Urale's debut short film was the first film by a Samoan woman director. O Tamaiti is the story of a young boy forced to play parent in devastating circumstances. According to NZ On Screen, "O Tamaiti marked a powerful debut, winning an impressive trolley of awards, including best short at the Venice Film Festival, Best NZ Short, and another at the Chicago Film Festival".

When a cup of coffee is a gift from Allah.

In the fresh, funny and heart-warming prequel to Sione's Wedding, Pacific Island teenagers and best friends Michael, Albert, Sefa and Stan come of age in inner-city Auckland in 1984.