September 5, 2019
Dear friends,
It’s always an honor when one of our films is selected for a major festival, and we’re are proud that we can draw attention to the struggles of the people in Melanesia with a screening at the Visa pour l’Image festival in Perpignan, France, one of the greatest photojournalism festivals in the world!! Our film WANTOKS: dance of resilience in Melanesia will be showing this Saturday—highlighting the difficulties of island residents who see their homes disappearing due to climate change.
I will be there to talk about the film, and I’ll be pleased to see you if you can make it. Please help spread the word! Entrance is free and the film will be shown in English with French subtitles.
‘WANTOKS: dance of resilience in Melanesia’
with the presence of filmmaker iara lee
Saturday Sep 7, 14:00 – 14:45
Visa Pour L’image
Cinema Castillet
1 Boulevard Wilson, Perpignan
More info available in French: https://www.visapourlimage.com/festival/rencontres/calendrier/projection-de-wantoks-dance-of-resilience-in-melanesia
And in English: https://www.visapourlimage.com/en/festival/rencontres/calendrier/projection-de-wantoks-dance-of-resilience-in-melanesia
More about WANTOKS:
In 2018, the Solomon Islands, in the South Pacific, hosted the Melanesian Arts & Cultural Festival, celebrating the country’s fortieth anniversary of independence. On neighboring island states, the struggle for freedom continues, as West Papua resists Indonesian occupation and the residents of New Caledonia still live under French rule. In all Melanesian countries, residents face the common challenge of climate change, as rising sea levels threaten to swallow both land and tradition. In this charged context, captivating performers are using their talents to celebrate local culture and draw international attention to their islands’ plight, with the hope of spurring international solidarity and prompting collective action against the perils of a warming world. Featuring striking footage from the South Pacific islands, WANTOKS: Dance of Resilience in Melanesia, profiles the artists and activists who are fighting for self-determination while trying to defend their homes against the rising sea.
Yours,
iara lee and the whole team