Solomons' film premieres at FIFO

Transcript

A Solomon Islands documentary has premiered at the Pacific International Documentary Film Festival, or FIFO, in Tahiti.

One of 15 films in the competition, The Test centres on a boy fishing for tuna as part of a traditional rite of passage to prove his manhood.

The initiation ritual has not been practiced in over 30 years in Makira province but is now experiencing a revival.

The film's producer, Anouk Ride, told Amelia Langford that The Test is the first film directed by a Solomon Islander to be screened at such an international level.

ANOUK RIDE: The Test is a true story that follows a community in the Solomon Islands which had an ancient initiation ritual where a boy must go out to the open sea and fish for tuna and if he can bring it back to shore then he will be proclaimed as a man. Now, the tradition was lost around 30 years ago and they have just bought it back in the community of Aoriki in Solomon Islands. So we have filmed the first boy to successfully do this process. So the film has been selected for the official selection for competition here at FIFO and we have got a bit of feedback already from audiences and we are looking forward to more.

AMELIA LANGFORD: So there are 15 films in the competition and this film has an indigenous director?

AR: Yeah, this film is the first film to be directed by a Solomon Islander that has gone to this level in an international competition. So it is really exciting for the Solomon team. The music, the direction, the filming, the story is all done by Solomon Islanders so it is kind of a unique experience for us.

AL: And what does it mean to take this film to the FIFO festival?

AR: It's great because we actually came to FIFO in 2013 and we were in a pitching competition and we pitched the concept for The Test and we were up against some really experienced documentary companies and we were just fortunate that we got the support we needed and won the competition.

AL: And what do audiences think of this film?

AR: The feedback so far is that people really engage with the story. Especially Pacific Islanders of course but also people from other regions. Because it is quite complex - when you are reviving a tradition you have to make a lot of decisions along the way, you know, are you going to incorporate modern influences like religion and school education? A whole range of different issues come up in the film and that raises questions for the audience and they can talk about it after.

AL: Does this film have a message?

AR: It doesn't have an obvious message like an advocacy film but the passion of the team is really for Solomon Islanders to tell their own stories. In the Solomon Islands, you often get documentary teams from say the BBC or you know, any of the big production and TV companies coming in, but the story is always narrated and directed by outsiders. Whereas what we are hoping to achieve and start with this film is to have more Solomon Island stories told by Solomon Islanders.

AL: And do you think there will be more of that in the future?

AR: I think so. I think there is building excitement not only in the Solomon Islands but around the Pacific from young film makers, from elders who are getting involved in filmmaking because they want to preserve traditions so I hope it is the start of a much broader trend and over time we will see change.

This year's festival also includes a film about the impact of Exxon Mobil's liquefied natural gas project in Papua New Guinea.