It has been years since we’ve seen Papua New Guinean-produced films and over the years, the PNG National Film Institute has stopped producing local films.
This year, it’s a little different. Pawa Meri, the latest film produced by the Center of Social and Creative Media, based at the University of Goroka, plans to bring the film industry back to life.
Producer of the 6-part series, Dr. Verena Thomas, said “all the Pawa Meris come from a wide range of different backgrounds… because we wanted to cover a wide range in Papua New Guinea, telling different stories, [be it] urban, rural…”
Pawa Meri unpacks yet another series of untold stories from 6 ordinary Papua New Guinean women. The film stars Susil Nelson from Port Moresby, Gina Baidam from Daru, Sister Lorraine Garasu from Buka, Miriam Potopi from Manus, Jennifer Baing Waiko from Morobe, and Rita Kare from Goroka.
The 6 women’s biographies are aimed at encouraging other young women to realize their full potential. Not only that, the project also aims to train upcoming filmmakers to revive the defunct PNG film industry that went obsolete over the years.
It’s a film that centers on passion, enthusiasm and overcoming difficulties. Given the high illiteracy rate in PNG, Verona Thomas says conveying information in visual form is convenient and effective.
Tuesday saw the film launch in Goroka to a standing ovation. Tomorrow, the movie premieres at Paradise Cinemas, Port Moresby.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=YHEaQgHoPqs%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
