The Kula Arts and Film Awards 2026 has also returned after a seven-year break, giving young Fijian filmmakers and artists a platform to showcase their creativity and storytelling.

Held at the Japan ICT Centre at the University of the South Pacific’s Laucala Campus, the awards brought together students and teachers from 35 schools, with more than 1,000 students taking part in the film, arts and dance competitions.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Industries, Commerce, Business Development and Public Enterprises, Manoa Kamikamica, highlighted that the Kula Awards is an investment in Fiji’s next generation of creative talent.

“This is, quite simply, an investment in Fiji’s next generation” Kamikami highlighted.

Kamikamica added that the sector contributed 255 million dollars to the economy between the 2022, 2023 and 2024 financial years, supporting around 1,200 jobs.

Film Fiji Chief Executive Officer, Jone Robertson said the return of Kula was made possible through the support of sponsors, partners, schools, teachers and parents, with Film Fiji now hoping the 2026 awards will mark the beginning of a stronger future for Fiji’s creative industries.

“Giving our young people a platform where they can be creative, tell their stories, express who they are and hopefully discover a passion that will one day become a career” Robertson said.

BY: JOELI RAGONELIWA