Open Looks
Directed by Mīria GeorgeCast: Evotia-Rose Araiti, Manea Sua, Rob Ringiao-Lloyd, Tearii Pilitati-Firmin
- Pacific Cinewaves
- Aotearoa New Zealand
- Action, Drama, International, Pacific Islander, Sci-Fi, Women
- Cook Islands Māori, English
- Subtitled
- 2025
- 14 mins
- International premiere
Far from their islands in Te Moana-nui-o-Kiva, three sisters are raised by their father in a small village in Aotearoa. Rei, Upokoina and Matilda G share a love of basketball.
After losing, defiant Upokoina challenges her older sister to another game. Rei refuses, storming away, leaving her younger sisters behind on the basketball court.
A cacophony of howling, metal on metal is heard. The sudden death of the eldest sister, takes the younger two to Havaiki Nui – the Underworld – where they’re forced to play ball to return home.
Opens Looks is a short film told in English and Cook Islands Māori. A story of love, redemption and basketball.
With a cast including Evotia-Rose Araiti, Manea Sua, Robert Ringiao Lloyd, Teremoana Yala, Tina McNicholas and introducing Tearii Pilitati-Firmin.
Featuring Cinematography by Tammy Williams, Edited by Alex Boyd, Composed by Karnan Saba with Sound Design by Trent Williams. Open Looks is co-produced by Hone Kouka, Sharlene George and Karin Williams and Line Produced by Mhairead Connor.
Directed by Mīria George,Open Looks is co-written by Hone Kouka and Mīria George, he mea whakamāori e Tupu Araiti me Peter Winchester.
Open Looks is funded by the New Zealand Film Commission’s He Kauahi Catalyst Short Film Fund.
Film Content Advisory: Grief, Basketball
Credits
Writer: Hone Kouka, Mīria George
Producer: Hone Kouka, Sharlene George, Karin Williams
Director of Photography: Tammy Williams
Editor: Alex Boyd
Production Designer: Tony De Goldi
Composer: Karnan Saba
Sound Designer: Trent Williams
Plays in
PACIFIC CINEWAVES: SITES OF MEMORY IN OCEANIA
For this year’s LAAPFF’s Pacific Cinewaves program, we invite you on a journey to witness the cinematic narratives of six Pasifika storytellers as they grapple with themes of family, grief, identity, dispossession and memory.
Dates & Times
PACIFIC CINEWAVES: SITES OF MEMORY IN OCEANIA
Directors Guild of America
May 2, 2025
6:00 pm