TIAKI MOANA, GUARDIANS OF THE OCEAN
Client: Blue Cradle Foundation
Ocean Conservation in the Pacific
I directed a creative documentary following the journey of two Young Pacific Leaders during the Tiaki Moana event held in March 2025 across Tahiti, Mo'orea, and Ra’iatea, organized by the Blue Cradle Foundation.
Synopsis
Anuata and Ihirau are two young Tahitians for whom the ocean is both a vital source of life and a living connection to their ancestors. In March 2025, they join a landmark gathering that brings together youth from 24 Pacific nations — a rare opportunity to forge bonds, explore marine conservation efforts beyond their home island, and rekindle a shared sense of Polynesian identity. Deeply moved and inspired by the experience, Anuata and Ihirau return home with new friends and allies in their mission to protect their ocean.
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Brief
In March 2025, the New Zealand–based Blue Cradle Foundation organized a landmark gathering: the first cross-regional event dedicated to OECMs in the Pacific. More than 40 young leaders from over 20 Pacific nations came together in French Polynesia for dialogue and exchange on ocean protection. I was commissioned by the Blue Cradle Foundation to create a character-driven documentary capturing the event through the perspectives of two participants.
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Filmmaking Strategy
To meet this brief, I adopted a creative documentary approach centered on two protagonists, each with a carefully developed narrative arc. This structure allowed for both impactful storytelling and a strong sense of empathy, inviting the audience to experience the event through the participants’ eyes. The film is built around a series of powerful cinéma vérité sequences that unfolded organically before the camera, while also embracing the poetic and spiritual tone of the event.
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Distribution
The film premiered at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, on June 8, 2025. It is currently being shown at in-person screenings in Christchurch and Wellington, with upcoming presentations planned across the Pacific.
Behind the scenes
The shoot took place across three islands in French Polynesia in March 2025, demanding the utmost flexibility and endurance, with an intensive schedule under particularly hot and humid conditions.
