The Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies is set to host a special two-day event featuring acclaimed filmmaker, playwright and cultural advocate Dr Vilsoni Hereniko next week Monday and Tuesday, 27-28 January at the Oceania Centre Pavilion, University of the South Pacific. 

Dr Hereniko, a native of Rotuma and a professor at the University of Hawai’i’s School of Cinematic Arts, is renowned for his work in preserving and promoting Pacific heritage through film and storytelling. 

The event will include a range of activities, starting on 27 January with a Weaving Master Class from 9:00am to 12:00pm, where participants can learn the traditional art of coconut leaf basket weaving. 

In the afternoon, Dr Hereniko will lead a Directing & Acting Master Class from 2:00pm to 5:00pm, offering hands-on guidance in directing and acting for both film and stage. 

The following day, 28 January, will feature a film screening from 7:15pm to 9:30pm, showcasing three of Dr. Hereniko’s acclaimed short films: A NIU Way (2021), Sina ma Tinirau (2022), which has won multiple awards and the Oceania premiere of Woven (2024). 

The screening will be followed by a special performance by Rako Pasefika and a post-screening discussion. 

The master classes are limited to a small number of participants and those interested can register by emailing [email protected]. 

The film screening is open to all, with no registration required. 

This event provides a unique opportunity to engage with one of the Pacific’s most celebrated cultural figures and deepen one’s understanding of Pacific arts and storytelling.