Hafekasi

A story about Mona, a ten year old Tongan-Australian girl and her palangi (white) mother navigating identity, family and belonging in Melbourne suburbia during the 90’s.At her first communion party, sitting amongst her grannie and aunties, Mona realises she’s kinda different to her single mother and extended family. Despite her Mum’s love and affection, Mona feels like she sticks out and feels the pull to something unknown.

Directed by Annelise Hickey
Produced by Josie Baynes

Director’s Bio: Annelise Hickey is a director based in Naarm, Australia. She has directed music videos for Australia’s biggest acts and won the 2021 ARIA Award for Best Music Video for Vance Joy’s single, “”Missing Piece””. In 2018, she wrote and directed the award winning piece “”50 Shades of No””, building awareness and starting a conversation about consent. Being of Tongan and Irish heritage, Annelise has always been drawn to stories about minority communities and tales of belonging. She demonstrates an incredible instinct for understanding people and an ability to connect with talent that results in pieces that are honest, compelling and beautiful. After years of telling other people’s stories, she now seeks to tell her own in a way that elevates the voices of her Pacifica community, while telling the story she’s always wanted to see on screen. Through her short film “”Hafekasi”” she hopes the next generation will see themselves reflected in Australian art, television and film.

Plays in

Moananuiākea: An Anthology of Us

Moananuiākea – the ocean, not only connects millions of miles between the islands of the Pacific, but connects the people who inhabit it. The Anthology of Us are the stories that tie people together across time and space. It aims to celebrate the diversity of human experiences from the Native Hawaii’an and Pacific Islander point of view, while also reflecting on the universal emotions and connections that define “us” as a community or society.