Expanding the world of cultural storytelling explored in FALE SĀ / SACRED HOUSE, Talanoa presents a thoughtful programme of public events including discussions, workshops and film screenings.
Taking its name from a Samoan term meaning conversation or dialogue, Talanoa invites audiences into a space of open exchange—where stories are shared, challenged and reimagined through collective voice and cultural practice.
In Talanoa, conversation becomes ceremony. Rooted in Indigenous frameworks of knowledge-sharing, the programme draws on Pacific traditions of storytelling to host a series of artist-led events throughout MIF25. It’s a chance to engage directly with the artists of FAFSWAG and their collaborators—exploring how movement, memory, language and ritual are used as tools of expression, resistance and healing.
The cinema strand of Talanoa is curated by Elyssia Wilson-Heti and features work by filmmakers and moving image artists from across the Moana. The film programme includes documentaries, experimental works and short films that trace powerful personal and political narratives through Pacific landscapes and identities. These screenings offer insight into contemporary Indigenous life—its challenges, its beauty and its creative responses.
Talanoa also offers a series of public discussions, panels and participatory workshops. Join the exhibiting artists and the cast of SAUNIGA for events centred on Indigenous performance, ceremony, community and collaboration. Whether through storytelling, dance or dialogue, these sessions make space for reflection, curiosity and shared learning. They offer a chance to deepen understanding and celebrate the interconnectedness of culture and practice.
Together, these events form the living, breathing heart of FALE SĀ / SACRED HOUSE. Talanoa is not just a programme—it’s an invitation. An opportunity to step into conversation with artists, elders and each other, and to reimagine the ways we gather, speak, listen and grow. Full event details, including schedules and guests, will be announced soon. Watch this space.
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