Samoan Tenor Pene Pati Shares His Music, Family and Culture in TENOR: MY NAME IS PATI

Samoan singer Pene Pati shares his music and family story in TENOR: MY NAME IS PATI, screening at Vancouver and other international film festivals this autumn. Pati will also attend an October 11 cinema screening and Q&A at San Francisco’s Roxie.

Born in Samoa and raised in South Auckland, New Zealand, Pene has built an international opera career, followed by his brother Amitai. Their Samoan identity, affection for each other and pleasure in singing give the documentary its warmth and depth. Family archive footage and performances celebrate their achievements and the relationships that sustain them.

TENOR reached No. 1 on New Zealand’s daily box-office chart during its opening week and went on to gross more than NZ$1.2 million there. The film premiered at Santa Barbara International Film Festival, was selected for the Sydney Film Festival and was released theatrically in Australia in July.

Pati will appear in San Francisco Opera’s MANON from October 15–November 1. Director Rebecca Tansley will join him at the Roxie Q&A and attend the Vancouver and other upcoming festivals.

Samoan members of the production include Executive Producer Taualeo’o Stephen Stehlin, composer Andrew Faleatua and Associate Producer Abba-Rose Vaiaoga-Ioasa. Their involvement extended the family and cultural perspective behind the camera as well as on screen.

Early in development, Tansley and Stehlin formed Afa, a group of Samoan media and music professionals who advised the film from development through release. Named for the Samoan sinnet used to bind things together, Afa offered cultural guidance, supported the Pati family throughout the process and reviewed edits and promotional material. Tansley, who is palagi, approached the work with an awareness that this was the family’s story. The family embraced the completed film and now regards her as an aunty.

“The response in New Zealand has been wonderful. I hope these festival screenings and our Roxie event help more North American audiences discover the film and give it the chance to enjoy the same success here. Pene and Amitai’s music, humour and family story have brought people so much joy, and I’d love to share that more widely,” says director Rebecca Tansley.

North American screenings | 2026

Vancouver | Film festival screenings: Vancouver International Film Festival: October 8, 6:00 p.m., International Village 9; October 11, 10:30 a.m., International Village 10. Canadian premiere. Rebecca Tansley attending the festival.

San Francisco | Cinema screening and Q&A: 6pm, October 11, Roxie cinema. Pene Pati and Rebecca Tansley attending for an in-person Q&A. Showtime and tickets to be announced.