Fijian filmmaker and climate activist Fenton Lutunatabua participated in Film Fiji’s Fiji Producers Accelerator Program (FPAP) funded by the ACP-EU Grant through SPC, where he gained valuable insights that greatly benefited the development of his short film, Vakaraitaka. Premiering at the Maoriland Film Festival, the world’s largest indigenous film festival, the film is a cinematic poem that explores themes of climate justice, activism, and Pacific identity.
Vakaraitaka weaves together four of Lutunatabua’s original poems—Tinaqu (Mother), Matagi Mālohi (Strong Winds), Kawa (Descendants), and Luvequ (Child)—each reflecting on heritage, place, and the impact of climate change. The project, developed over three years during the COVID-19 pandemic, involved collaborations with local Fijian dance group Wehi, fashion designer KuiViti, and a musician from Guam to ensure authentic Pacific representation.
Filmed in locations of deep personal significance, including the mountains where Lutunatabua and his wife were married, Vakaraitaka is more than just a film—it is a call to action. By bringing indigenous storytelling to the forefront, Lutunatabua hopes to inspire a new generation of Pacific climate activists to use their voices and art to address the urgent challenges of climate change.