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New Zealand feature film The Orator (O Le Tulafale) has been selected to premiere in competition in the Orizzonti (New Horizons) section of the 68th Venice International Film Festival. Founded in 1932, the Venice Film Festival is one of the oldest and most prestigious film festivals in the world and is part of the Venice Biennale.

New Zealand Film Commission CEO, Graeme Mason, said “The Orator’s selection is outstanding and an important endorsement of New Zealand as a significant and relevant part of the global film industry. To have a film from New Zealand selected to compete against feature films by industry greats like Jonathan Demme, and for that film to also premiere alongside new works by world renowned directors, is an incredible honour. I congratulate Tusi, Catherine and all the cast and crew on their film’s selection.”

Written and directed by debut feature film-maker Tusi Tamasese, The Orator’s selection will place Tamasese in an illustrious group of New Zealand filmmakers - including Sir Peter Jackson and Jane Campion - whose films have screened at the Venice International Film Festival.

Filmed entirely on the island of Upolu, Samoa and in the Samoan language, The Orator is a contemporary drama about courage, forgiveness and love. It tells the story of Saili who lives a simple, humble life with his beloved wife and daughter in an isolated, traditional village in the islands of Samoa. Forced to protect his land and family, Saili must overcome his fears and find the courage to speak up for those he loves.

Produced by Catherine Fitzgerald (Rain of the Children, Two Cars One Night) with Associate Producers Maiava Nathaniel Lees and Michael Eldred, the film was shot by acclaimed NZ cinematographer Leon Narbey (No 2, Dean Spanley, Whale Rider, Illustrious Energy).

Tusi Tamasese and Catherine Fitzgerald will attend the premiere of The Orator with the assistance of the New Zealand Film Commission and the Venice International Film Festival, which runs from August 31st through to September 10th, 2011.

The Orator has been financed by the New Zealand Film Commission with assistance from the Government of Samoa. It will be distributed in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands by Transmission Films, who released Boy and The Kings Speech. NZ Film, the sales arm of the NZFC, is handling world sales of the film.

View the full list of selected films.

Further information:

Tusi Tamasese wrote and directed the Samoan language short film Va Tapuia (Sacred Spaces) which premiered at the 2010 New Zealand International Film Festival. The film tells the story of two grieving strangers who find comfort in each other in a cyclone-ravaged Samoan village. Va Tapuia has also screened at the Hawaii, ImagiNative; Show me Shorts, Clermont Ferrand, Oberhausen, All Roads Film Festivals; on Signes de Nuits and Arte TV. This short film forged the team which later formed the backbone of the crew for The Orator (O Le Tulafale). Catherine Fitzgerald produced with Leon Narbey as Director of Photography.

Only six NZ feature films have been selected to screen at the Venice International Film Festivals:

2002 Blessed (Writer/Director Rachel Douglas) – Official Selection

1996 Forgotten Silver (co-Writers/co-Directors Costa Botes and Peter Jackson) – Official Selection

1995 War Stories (Writer/Director Gaylene Preston) - Official Selection

1994 Once Were Warriors (Writer Alan Duff, Director Lee Tamahori) – Best First Film Award

1994 Heavenly Creatures (Writer/Director Peter Jackson) – Silver Lion Award

1990 An Angel at my Table (Writer/Director Jane Campion) – Special Jury Prize