‘Tenor: My Name is Pati’ promises a celebration of music, family and the power of dreaming big
A soaring new documentary is set to arrive in cinemas in 2026, capturing the extraordinary against-all-odds journey of two of Aotearoa’s most beloved operatic voices, brothers Pene and Amitai Pati. Tenor: My Name is Pati promises to be a cinematic experience rich with heart, humour, and the transformative power of song — and this first look has us deeply moved.
Well-known to Kiwi audiences as part of the world-renowned trio Sol3 Mio, Pene and Amitai’s story begins far from the grand global stages they now command. From the warmth and wonder of their childhood home in Samoa and the community heart of South Auckland, to the gilded spotlight of the Metropolitan Opera in New York and Amitai’s breakthrough performances across Germany, Tenor: My Name is Pati charts a path carved by faith, family, and unwavering determination.
Check out the brand new trailer below for Tenor: My Name is Pati:
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Rebecca Tansley, whose sensitivity to performance and personal storytelling is well established, the film blends electrifying operatic performance with deeply intimate, never-before-seen glimpses of the Pati aiga. Rare home footage, captured by their sister Torres, grounds the story in tenderness and authenticity, reminding us that before the ovations, the awards, and the international acclaim, there were just two brothers singing in church halls and dreaming of a bigger world.
And what a world they found.
This first trailer teases sweeping orchestral crescendos, backstage hustle in some of opera’s most revered houses, and the kind of emotional recollection that hits straight to the chest. Pene reflects on his own journey with disarming humility: “Our journey wasn’t easy or obvious, but if it sparks someone else to chase their own dreams, then that’s the real win.” It’s a line that encapsulates the spirit of the entire film: a story not just about success, but about meaning.
Tansley herself has called the project “a testament to the transformative power of music”, and that message resonates with power. This isn’t a story only for opera lovers, it’s a story for anyone who has ever fallen down, gotten back up, and dared to step toward something bigger than themselves.
Beautifully shot across seven countries, featuring a richly varied soundtrack and moments of real vulnerability, Tenor: My Name is Pati is poised to stand among New Zealand’s most resonant music documentaries; a celebration of whakapapa, talent, and the bold courage to stand in your gift.
Tenor: My Name is Pati will arrive in New Zealand cinemas March 5, 2026, before expanding to Australia and Samoa. Mark the date. This one is going to move people.
Image: Railto Distribution
