Mafile’o Named Woman to Watch at 2026 WIFT Awards

DEGANZ member Vea Mafile’o has been named the recipient of the Hinterland Woman to Watch Award at the 2026 WIFT Awards, held on 12 March in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

Vea was working overseas at the time of the ceremony, so her son and mother accepted the award on her behalf.

In recognising her achievement, WIFT described Vea as:

[A]n award-winning Tongan filmmaker whose work bridges art, drama, documentary, and social impact. Her dramatic short film Lea Tupu’anga / Mother Tongue was selected from 17,000 submissions for the Sundance Film Festival, while her feature-length documentary For My Father’s Kingdom premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Established in 2004, the WIFT Awards celebrate and support the achievements of women working across film, television, and digital media.

Congratulations to Vea and to all of this year’s finalists and winners.

Last updated on 25 March 2026