Feature Documentary On Operatic Samoan Sensations, Brothers Pene And Amitai Pati Coming To Cinemas In 2026

• A feature documentary revealing the extraordinary journey of celebrated New Zealand Samoan tenor Pene Pati with his brother Amitai Pati, will release in cinemas across Aotearoa on March 5, 2026. 

TENOR: MY NAME IS PATI charts the against-the-odds journey of Pene, who is now widely recognised as one of the world’s leading tenors and Amitai - also a rising star in the operatic world - from their original family home in Samoa and childhood in South Auckland through to the most revered opera stages in the world.

Well-known to Kiwi audiences as part of the beloved trio Sol3 Mio alongside baritone Moses Mackay, Pene and Amitai’s story is one of music, family, faith, and determination. The film traces the brothers’ journey from modest beginnings in church halls and local competitions to sold-out concerts and solo international acclaim including Pene’s arrival at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and Amitai’s all-important German début.

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Rebecca Tansley, TENOR: MY NAME IS PATI blends soaring performances with intimate storytelling with warmth, wit, sweeping visuals and a richly varied soundtrack.

Pene comments: “I didn’t think our story was remarkable. When Rebecca first approached us I thought, ‘why would anyone make a film about us?’ But as production went on I realised how much has happened since Amitai and I started - the obstacles, the tests, the doubts, the tears, and ultimately, the success. Our journey wasn’t easy or obvious, but if it sparks someone else to chase their own dreams, then that’s the real win.”

“Pene and Amitai’s story is so much more than a story about opera singers,” says Tansley. “It’s about family and culture, and a beautiful testament to the transformative power of music - of all kinds. It was a privilege to be able to make this film, to access some incredible places, and to get to know not just Pene and Amitai but their aiga. I can’t wait to share the film with audiences in New Zealand, Australia and Samoa.”

Filmed across seven countries, including Samoa, the film takes audiences behind the curtain at some of the world’s greatest opera houses and captures rare, tender moments with the brothers and their family. It also features never-before-seen home footage filmed by their sister Torres Pati, offering a glimpse into the family life that shaped two of Aotearoa’s most celebrated voices.

Rialto Distribution CEO, Kelly Rogers says: “At Rialto, we’re passionate about supporting distinctive New Zealand stories with international resonance. TENOR: MY NAME IS PATI exemplifies that, a world-class film about artists who have reached the pinnacle of their craft while staying true to their roots. We’re honoured to be distributing this extraordinary documentary in 2026.”

TENOR: MY NAME IS PATI is produced by Minerva Productions with the support of the New Zealand Film Commission Te Tumu Whakaata, in association with Mercury Studios and in co-production with ARTE. It is produced by Tansley, along with co-producer Catherine Madigan and Executive Producer Taualeo’o Stephen Stehlin.

TENOR: MY NAME IS PATI will be released theatrically in New Zealand, Thursday March 5, 2026.

Distributed by Rialto Distribution.

TENOR: MY NAME IS PATI Synopsis
Charismatic Samoan tenor Pene Pati has been hailed as the operatic discovery of the decade. In just a few years he has captivated audiences around the world - and been hailed as the next Pavarotti - while his brother Amitai is also making his mark as a leading tenor. This music-rich documentary traces their remarkable journey from the islands of Samoa in the South Pacific and streets of South Auckland, New Zealand to the gilded stages of a traditionally European art form. With privileged access, the film weaves together intimate family archive footage, behind-the-scenes observation, cinematic visuals and a rich tapestry of music to reveal a story of talent and determination, and the power of family and cultural pride. Packed with humour, heart and soaring performances, it celebrates the resilience born of adversity and the rewards that come from chasing an unlikely dream. 

About Pene Pati
Newly named New Zealand Arts Laureate Pene Pati is revered for his “extraordinary gift for producing a golden thread of sound that can swell without strain to magnificence”. Instantly recognizable by his “round and sunshine-filled voice,” his warm and winning personality has endeared him to both audiences and critics around the world.

Following platinum-selling success in the crossover trio Sol3 Mio, Pene pursued a solo career in the international opera world, where he is now considered one of the world’s leading tenors – and has even been favourably compared to Luciano Pavarotti.

He is the first Samoan tenor to perform on the world’s greatest opera stages on both sides of the Atlantic including Royal Opera House, the Metropolitan Opera, the Opéra national de Paris, San Francisco Opera, Staatsoper Berlin, Teatro San Carlo di Napoli, Arena di Verona, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Dutch National Opera; Gran Teatre del Liceu, Staatsoper Hamburg; Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Canadian Opera Company, Bayerische Staatsoper and Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Pene boasts an exceptional versatility in a broad palette of operatic roles. Named Best Male Singer at the Opera Critics’ Awards and Opera Magazine Readers’ Award at the International Opera Awards, he is beloved by audiences at the opera, on the concert stage and on recordings.  An exclusive recording artist for Warner Classics, he has released three albums, recently winning a coveted Opus Klassik award for his second album, Nessun Dorma.

Pene enjoyed great competition success in his formative years, taking top prizes and audience choice awards at several competitions including Operalia and Neue Stimmen. He received his master’s degree from the Wales International Academy of Voice and was an Adler Fellow at San Francisco Opera. 

About Amitai Pati
Following platinum-selling success in the crossover trio Sol3 Mio, Amitai began a solo career in the international opera world in 2022.

He is now considered one of the new lyric voices of the next generation. He is an alumnus of the Merola Opera Program in San Francisco, where he sang his first principal role as Ferrando in Così fan tutteand since then has made a string of acclaimed debuts, including at Opéra National de Paris, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin and the Royal Opera House Covent Garden.
 
In the recording studio, Amitai Pati joined Golda Schultz in an all-Mozart recording and he made a guest appearance on Pene Pati’s second solo album for Warner Classics. He also appears on Pentatone’s recent recordings of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly and La fanciulla del West.

Amitai is a graduate of the Wales International Academy of Voice where he studied under Dennis O’Neill. He was an invitee of the 2014 Young Singers Project in Salzburg, where he shared the stage with Elīna Garanča, Juan Diego Flórez, and Ludovic Tézier.

About Sol3 Mio
Sol3 Mio’s self-titled début album was the highest selling album in New Zealand in both 2014 and 2015 and the second highest selling in 2016. The album is certified 10× platinum and won the named award twice in a row at the New Zealand Music Awards.

The group's second album, On Another Note, was released in October 2015 and is certified 3× platinum. The album won the New Zealand Music Award for the highest selling album of 2016, being the third year in a row the group won the award.

About Rebecca Tansley
Independent filmmaker Rebecca Tansley is a writer/producer/director working with a focus on music and the arts. Her feature documentaries Crossing Rachmaninoff and The Heart Dances have screened at festivals around the world, in cinemas throughout New Zealand and on international platforms such as Netflix, Disney Plus and HBO, with The Heart Dances picking up Focus on the Arts award at Naples International Film Festival in 2019. Her film of a live opera, Semele, won a 2022 NZTV award for Best Entertainment Programme while her short film of the same year, The Finding, enjoyed more than a dozen international festival outings including Academy Award-accredited In the Palace and Show Me Shorts. Her second opera film, The Strangest of Angels, premiered in the New Zealand International Film Festival in 2023 and won Special Mention at the 60th Golden Prague International Festival for Extraordinary Artistic Achievement.

About Rialto Distribution 
Founded by industry veteran Kelly Rogers, Rialto Distribution is a leading, independent media company with over 30 years of experience across all facets of film and entertainment. Recognised as one of Australia and New Zealand’s foremost independent distributors, Rialto has built a global reputation for a diverse, award-winning slate, distributing titles across theatrical, home entertainment, pay TV, web series, and digital platforms, as well as engaging in feature film development and production. With an extensive catalogue of domestic and international features, Rialto continues to redefine independent entertainment through a passionate team and a commitment to excellence.

Rialto’s extensive New Zealand catalogue includes box office record-breaking Jacinda Ardern documentary Prime Minister (Audience Award: World Cinema Documentary, Sundance 2025), the highest grossing New Zealand film of 2022 Muru, Elijah Wood family action-adventure Bookworm, Dan Carter: A Perfect 10, as well as upcoming releases Not Only Fred Dagg, and SGT. Haane. 

Recent international releases range from Osgood Perkins’ genre defining Longlegs, Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light, (Grand Prix, Cannes 2024), the Sydney Sweeney horror sensation Immaculate, The Taste of Things (Best Director, Cannes 2023), The Promised Land (triple winner, European Film Awards 2023), to the Liam Neeson thrillers Honest Thief and The Ice Road.    

Forthcoming features will also showcase the latest Osgood Perkins thriller Keeper, Gurinder Chadha’s Christmas Karma,  Urchin  (Best Actor & FIPRESCI Prize - Un Certain Regard, Cannes 2025) The Secret Agent (Best Director and Best Actor, Cannes 2025),  Pillion (Best Screenplay - Un Certain Regard, Cannes 2025) and The President’s Cake (Caméra d'Or and Directors’ Fortnight People’s Choice Award, Cannes 2025).

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