The 12th edition of the Pacific International Documentary Film Festival (FIFO) came to a close yesterday at the Maison de la culture in Tahiti.
FIFO, established in 2004, has quickly gained public interest and in its 12th edition, has offered the FIFO pre-selection team the honour of choosing from a total of 115 authentic documentaries that entered the competition.
The pre-selection team narrowed the list down to a little over thirty films, with 16 competition films and 18 non-competition films, where the latter was in competition only for the Public Prize.
The official ceremony to honour the winning documentaries was held in The Big Theatre, Maison de la culture on February 6th led by Mr Jan Kounen and the FIFO international Jury.
The Grand Prize of the Jury FIFO – France Televisions was awarded to ‘Tender’, directed by Lynett Wallworth andproduced by Scarlet Pictures with a prize of 500 000 XPF (PGK12,433). The documentary centres around a ‘feisty’ Community, NSW’s Port Kembla, who set out to bypass the corporate drivers of the funeral industry and set up their own non-profit funeral business.
The Special Prize of the Jury was awarded to ‘Black Panther Woman’, directed by Rachel Perkins and produced by Blackfella films. The film tells the story of an Aboriginal Woman Marlene Cummins who fell in love with the leader of the Black Panther Party in 1972 and fought alongside him against discrimination. Marlene at the end of their relationship got caught in a cycle of drug addiction driving her to the streets. After 40 years, she’s ready to face her demons and reveal her secrets.
First Prize of the Jury was awarded to ‘The Chimerical Horizons’ directed by Gilles Dagneau and produced by AAA Productions et Polynésie 1ère
Hawaian film ‘Kumu Hina’ was awarded with Second Prize of the Jury as well as The Public’s Choice Award. The film was directed and produced by Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson.
The Prize of Scan was awarded to an authentic film ‘Tatau, the Culture of an art’, directed by Jean-Philippe Joaquim and produced by Emotion et Polynésie 1ère. The film follows the history of the beautiful tattoo designs in French Polynesia
Grand Prize, Special Prize, First Prize, Best Short Film prizes were offered by the Organizing Committee.
