Vilsoni Hereniko
Encyclopedia
Vilsoni Hereniko is a Fiji Islander
playwright
, film director
and academic. He was the writer and director of Fiji's first ever (and so far only) feature film
, The Land Has Eyes
(Pear ta ma 'on maf).
, born in Mea village, Hapmak, Itu'ti'u District, Rotuma
, Fiji
. He was schooled in his native Rotuma, obtained a Bachelor of Arts
degree and a Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of the South Pacific
in 1997, a Masters degree in Education at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and, in 1991, a PhD
in literature and language at the University of the South Pacific. He is now a professor
at the University of Hawai'i's Center for Pacific Islands Studies, where he teachers literature, theatre and film.
, set in his native Rotuma, was his first feature film, in 2004. It was presented at the Sundance Film Festival
in 2004, and was Fiji's official submission to the 2006 Academy Awards. It received the "Best Overall Entry" award at the 2005 Wairoa Maori Film Festival
, and the "Best Dramatic Feature" award at the 2004 Toronto ImagineNative Film & Media Arts Festival
.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and academic. He was the writer and director of Fiji's first ever (and so far only) feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
, The Land Has Eyes
The Land Has Eyes
The Land Has Eyes is a 2004 Fiji Islander film written and directed by Vilsoni Hereniko. It is the first ever feature film from Fiji.-Plot:...
(Pear ta ma 'on maf).
Biography
Hereniko is a RotumanRotuman people
The Rotuman people are the indigenous inhabitants of Rotuma, a small island group forming part of the Republic of Fiji. The island itself is a cultural melting pot at the crossroads of the Micronesian, Melanesian and Polynesian divisions of the Pacific Ocean, and due to the seafaring nature of...
, born in Mea village, Hapmak, Itu'ti'u District, Rotuma
Rotuma
Rotuma is a Fijian dependency, consisting of Rotuma Island and nearby islets. The island group is home to a small but unique indigenous ethnic group which constitutes a recognizable minority within the population of Fiji, known as "Rotumans"...
, Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. He was schooled in his native Rotuma, obtained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree and a Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of the South Pacific
University of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific is a public university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting students...
in 1997, a Masters degree in Education at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and, in 1991, a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in literature and language at the University of the South Pacific. He is now a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the University of Hawai'i's Center for Pacific Islands Studies, where he teachers literature, theatre and film.
Literary
Hereniko published his first plays in the mid-1970s, including Don't Cry Mama, A Child For Iva, Sera's Choice and The Monster. In 1997 he received the Elliott Cades Writing Award for his overall contributions to literature.Film
Hereniko has served on the jury and selection committee of the Hawai‘i International Film Festival. The Land Has EyesThe Land Has Eyes
The Land Has Eyes is a 2004 Fiji Islander film written and directed by Vilsoni Hereniko. It is the first ever feature film from Fiji.-Plot:...
, set in his native Rotuma, was his first feature film, in 2004. It was presented at the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
in 2004, and was Fiji's official submission to the 2006 Academy Awards. It received the "Best Overall Entry" award at the 2005 Wairoa Maori Film Festival
Wairoa Maori Film Festival
The Wairoa Māori Film Festival is New Zealand's premiere Māori and indigenous film festival.The festival is held annually in the small coastal town of Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, during the Matariki celebration period....
, and the "Best Dramatic Feature" award at the 2004 Toronto ImagineNative Film & Media Arts Festival
Toronto ImagineNative Film & Media Arts Festival
The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is an indigenous film and media arts event, held annually in Toronto in the month of October, with the first festival in 1999. The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is an international festival in Toronto that celebrates the latest works by...
.