PNG to enter Oscar Awards
PAPUA New Guinea has been accepted to participate in the prestigious Oscar Academy Awards in United States. The affiliation follows an acceptance by the Academy and formed PNG Oscar Awards Selection Committee in November last year. This committee was formally recognized by the Minister for Tourism Arts and Culture, Isi Henry Leonard, in Port Moresby on Friday (25th March, 2022).
The PNG Oscar Awards Selection Committee members include the director of national film Institute, Michelle Baru, as chairperson, Director of Institute of PNG Studies, Prof. Don Niles, UPNG Pro Vice Chancellor, Prof. Betty Lovai, film producer, Ms Liane Munau, research coordinator and ABC media development Initiative Ms Joys Eggins and the founder and chairman of IBS University, Sir Mick Nades.
This is yet another milestone achievement by the National Cultural Commission in partnership with the Native Arts and Fashion Academy (NAFA). The affiliation with the Oscar Awards means that Papua New Guineans can now submit its films of various categories for consideration of their excellence awards, more specifically for the international Feature Film category thereby paving a way forward to blossoming of another big industry in Papua New Guinea. Some of those films included Wakabaut Blong Tonte, Maribe and Tukana, which won several international awards.
Tin Pis Run was a feature film written and produce by the National Cultural Commission through its agency, National Film Institute in 1990s. The then Director of the NFI, Pengau Nengo, was the film director of Tin Pis Run, and he won several film awards. Sadly, it was the last full length feature film produced by NCC. Minister Leonard his ministry through NCC and its agency, NFI, would now become the driving force behind reviving, developing and promoting the filming Industry in PNG. This industry has the greatest potential in contributing towards nation building and increase economic opportunities of this nation,” he said.
The Minister said the National Cultural Policy 2022 to 2032, which went through its validation process earlier in the week, has captured and considered film-making as a priority program for NFI, and added that the policy will create a pathway to develop a Film Policy for the country to further encourage develop, protect and create accessible market opportunities for Papua New Guinean filmmakers. Minister Leonard thanked NCC executive director Steven Kilanda for taking up this great initiative.