Amberley Jo Aumua is of Samoan and Māori descent from Manurewa, New Zealand. She is a writer/director who holds a Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts. Her first short film WAITING (2017) won the Jury Prize for Best Film at the New Zealand International Film Festival, Best Student Film at the Show Me Shorts International Film Festival and was in competition at the Toronto International Film Festival. It has currently screened in over 20 film festivals, most recently at the BFI London Film Festival. Her recent short film MOA MA LE PINKO (Chicken & Bingo) made with two other indigenous key creatives, was created as part of the Native Slam film challenge at Māoriland Film Festival where it won the Audience Award and was selected to screen at ImagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival.
She is currently researching and writing her feature film and working on other projects.
“I hope Vai will achieve an insight and understanding into the beautiful, yet conflicting world of Pasifika women.” Amberley Jo Aumua
