Ruatoki based film 'Ow What' won the Liklik Piksa (Little Picture) Award for best short film at the 2015 Pasifika Film Festival held in Sydney.
'Ow What' tells the story of a young Māori boy from Ruatoki who wants to follow in his father's All Black footsteps, but in one night, his whole world changes forever.
Set in the Ruatoki Valley, the idea came about after director Mike Jonathan was inspired by life in Te Urewera. Four years on, the film was created.
Lead actor, Timoti Tiakiwai, alongside other cast members have just recently departed New Zealand for Hawaii, where the film will be screened at the Hawaii International Film Festival this weekend.
Its been a successful past few months for all who have taken part in the 15-minute short film. Just last month, 'Ow What' screened at the imagineNATIVE Film Festival in Toronto and also featured at the New Zealand International Film Festival in July.
Timoti Tiakiwai who plays lead actor, Te Mauri, was only 11-years-old at the time the film was shot. Earlier in the year, Tiakiwai picked up the award for best actor at the Wairoa Māori Film Festival.