SAMOAN SAOFA'I - WOMEN IN POWER // A DOCUMENTARY BY SANELE CHADWICK // (DIRECTOR'S CUT, 2023)

A short documentary follows four women from Australia and New Zealand as they embark on a return journey to Samoa to receive their Matai Titles in a traditional Samoan Saofa'i ceremony. Less than 15% of Samoa's Matai population (traditional Chief) are women. Part of the reason for the low number of women Matai is because some villages don't allow women to receive Matai Titles. It's also meant a lack of women representation inside Samoa's Parliament, because holding a Matai Title is a prerequisite. Despite this, there is still a strong desire for Samoan women to become Matai. Director/Editor/Cinematographer: Seinafolava Sanele Chadwick A special thanks to the village of Falease'ela, Lefaga and all the wonderful women who appear in this documentary. Keywords: Samoa, saofai, saofa'i, falease'ela, lefaga, mata, chief title, documentary, seinafolava sanele chadwick