KIEL MCNAUGHTON

Trust me when I say this: You never know what gems you’ll find at a local community film festival.Kiel McNaughton is an incredible filmmaker of Māori, Chinese, and Scottish descent in the local New Zealand film scene. I caught his first feature, THE LEGEND OF BARON TO’A, at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival a few years ago, and it blew me away. Set in an Aotearoa cul-de-sac, the film stars Uli Latukefu (Young Rock) as a young Tongan man returning home to confront his father’s legacy. For a small film, the action and stunt work are incredible. But more importantly, Kiel is able to really capture John Argall’s script and bring to life the heart and humor (universal, but quite Kiwi!)—honestly, it was so much fun. (And yes, it’s available on most platforms in the US to rent/buy—so go support!)

—Jes Vu, Manager, Communications/Consulting, CAPE