FIFO 2025. Toa Fraser is a member of the jury for the 22nd edition of the festival. This week, he had the opportunity to share his journey with the public during a masterclass on theater, cinema, television, and streaming platforms. Toa Fraser is internationally recognized and was recently awarded at the Emmy Awards for Sweet Tooth on Netflix.
Touching, emotional. Toa Fraser is an extraordinary personality. Radiating a kind and serene aura, the director of the Daredevil series is a fighter. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease almost nine years ago, he kept the secret for five years but remains strong. “I was so scared that I didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t know how I was going to work with this disease, or how people would perceive it,” he shares with a smile. He continues, “Today, I’ve made the decision to talk about it openly because it’s important to me. It helps me, but I also think it can help others suffering from the same condition. It’s a way to challenge mindsets and foster open-mindedness. It’s an opportunity to say that it’s entirely possible to continue working in our conditions with this disease. That’s very important.”
His being bears the marks of his condition, but Toa Fraser does not let it weigh him down. He was recently the producer and director of the Emmy Award-winning series Sweet Tooth on Netflix. However, what truly defines him as a filmmaker are the stories of the Pacific.
“I grew up in New Zealand, I’m passionate about the stories of the Pacific, and I love telling Pacific stories. I made a film about Māori culture and language, but in general, what matters most to me is highlighting the identities and languages of the region. To me, the connections are very important.”
Another cause he champions is minority rights. “We must defend the oppressed, the underprivileged, and minorities,” he insists.
“We have a unique voice in the Pacific.”
Versatile and resilient, Toa Fraser’s professional and personal journey makes him an exceptional jury member for the FIFO. “Today, I’m proud to be a jury member for the FIFO and part of the festival family. I believe this is the first time I’m part of a jury, and being a jury member at FIFO is an honor. It’s an exercise I really enjoy. It’s a great pleasure for me to be here in French Polynesia.
I really love this festival for many reasons. I enjoy the hospitality of the people, the diversity of the people, the diversity of the films, and the topics… and I also love the food in Tahiti,” says Toa Fraser.
With great sensitivity, Toa is happy to participate in the festival because it opens a door to Oceania. “What makes Oceania, the Pacific, and this festival unique compared to other festivals elsewhere, is that we have a unique voice in the Pacific, and we have a unique way of telling our stories,” explains the playwright.
He emphasizes, “I think we have a lot to offer other cultures, especially in the way we tell our stories differently from other regions. For me, documentaries from Oceania are the best way to convey our messages, and it’s also our duty to pass them on to future generations. It’s our work because we are in a fragile time in our history, and it’s very important to continue making documentaries. In the age of new technologies and consumption habits, it’s easy for the new generation to make TikToks with very short formats. It’s fine, but I think we must preserve documentaries as a legacy for them.”
Meticulous, he pays close attention to the works presented this year. He leaves nothing to chance and carefully analyzes each feature film. “What I look for in a good film is emotion, the context of the film, the story, one that invites the audience to see the world like they’ve never seen it before and offers a better vision of the world. It’s also the message within the documentary that interests me. For me, what characterizes a good film is the subject, the characters, a film with a certain artistic visual taste. It must have style, but also good sound and quality music. If all the ingredients are there, then it will be a good film,” the expert dissects.
With the audience votes counted and the jury having deliberated to separate the competing films, Toa Fraser hopes that the 2025 awards meet everyone’s expectations.
Toa Fraser :A jack-of-all-trades in audiovisuals
A renowned New Zealand dramatist, filmmaker, and television director, Toa Fraser was born in the United Kingdom to a Fijian father and an English mother. He has been acclaimed for his work across various artistic and audiovisual genres. Internationally recognized for his versatility and resilience, Fraser is well known for his feature films, including The Dead Lands (2014), an action film praised for showcasing the Māori language and culture. His stories often highlight themes related to identity and community bonds, resonating with audiences in Aotearoa and around the world.
In addition to his work in cinema, Toa Fraser has also directed television programs, including episodes for popular series such as Penny Dreadful, Daredevil, and The Affair. More recently, he served as producer and director for all three seasons of the Emmy Award-winning series Sweet Tooth on Netflix.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2016, Fraser continues to pursue his passion, blending creativity with his personal journey.
Jenny Hunter & Vaikehu Shan
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