In late October 2024, I will travel to the Solomon Islands to facilitate the first-ever Native Lens Film Festival Filmmaker Lab. This is particularly special because I get to go back to my island home to support new and emerging filmmakers to tell their stories.

I am collaborating with two truly phenomenal women, twin sisters Regina Lepping and Georgianna Lepping, founders of NLFF. I first met them many years ago and Regina was part of a film project I co-produced called Wantok Stori in 2012. She then starred in our short film BLACKBIRD in 2015.

Georgianna Lepping, Amie Batalibasi and Regina Lepping, Honiara, 2024.

CUT TO… 12 YEARS LATER, it’s a dream to be able to run this Filmmaker Lab with them. It’s grassroots, it’s community-led and it will (hopefully) be a pilot program for years to come.

Solomon Islands filmmakers APPLY NOW! See details in the flyer and contact the Native Lens Film Festival.

Thanks to some wonderful supporters who are helping to make this happen. If you’d like to support the NLFF Lab 2024, please get in touch with me. 🙂 Tagio tumas!