The Orator submitted for an Oscar!View Gallery Hide Gallery

Latest news on The Orator (O Le Tulafale), which Nathaniel Lees (Senior Tutor of Acting & Screen at Toi Whakaari) worked on as one of the producers - the Academy Awards Selection Committee has announced that it has been accepted for consideration as Best Foreign Language Film for the 84th Academy Awards, to be held in Hollywood on the 28th of February 2012.

By debut film maker Tusi Tamasese and funded by the New Zealand Film Commission, The Orator is a contemporary drama about courage, forgiveness and love, spoken in the Samoan language and filmed entirely on the island of Upolu, Samoa. It tells the story of Saili who lives a simple, humble life with his beloved wife and daughter in an isolated, traditional village. Forced to protect his land and family, Saili must overcome his fears and find the courage to speak up for those he loves.

Nathaniel Lees was one of the Associate Producers for the film and is of Samoan descent himself, with a 30-year acting and directing career throughout Aotearoa and the Pacific including such productions as The Songmaker’s Chair by Albert Wendt and Awhi Tapu by Albert Belz, as well as John Kneubuhl’s Think of a Garden and the Kightley/Fane play A Frigate Bird Sings (both winners of Chapmann Tripp awards for Production of the Year and Director of the Year).

He is also known for his many acting roles, from NZ television series and productions such as Xena: Warrior Princess and 30 Days of Night, to blockbusters such as The Matrix Trilogy and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. He works with acting students at Toi Whakaari on acting for stage and screen.

The Orator played at the Venice Film Festival at the beginning of September and is now showing around the country – don’t miss it. And keep your fingers crossed for an Academy Award!