WITH the right support, investment and training, Solomon Islands can develop feature films where Solomon Islanders can tell their own stories in ways that resonate locally and internationally, the Director of Culture Division in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Dennis Marita says.
Mr Marita was speaking at the opening of the two-day Chinese Film Festival at the University of the South Pacific (USP) Honiara Campus on Thursday, 6th March.
He said perhaps this is an area where Solomon Islands Government and the Chinese Government and through its diplomatic mission in Honiara can explore future collaborations.
“Maybe this is the beginning of a collaboration where we can be able to produce Solomon Islands feature films, not short films, but feature films. Perhaps this is an area where the Solomon Islands government and the Chinese government through the Chinese embassy, can explore future collaborations or cooperations.
“With the right support, investment and training, we can develop and enhance our film industry, ensuring that Solomon Islanders have the skills and resources to tell their own stories in ways that resonate both locally and internationally,” Mr Marita said.
Mr Marita said whilst the Solomon Islands film industry is still in its early stages and therefore not yet fully captured in government plans, events like the film festival offers our young people a glimpse into a world of endless possibilities.
He said the film industry is not just an entertainment industry, but a global economic powerhouse that creates opportunities in roles such as directing, acting, cinematography, production and even tourism.
Mr Marita said he always regarded Solomon Islands as one of the unexplored parts of the planet, except when the biggest coral in the world was found in the country, but film is one avenue to expose and put Solomon Islands on the map.
“I was in Dubai for six months during the world expo between 2021 and 2022, and when they come across the Solomon Islands pavilion, they look at the name Solomon Islands and they ask where is Solomon Islands? And that is probably the biggest question a lot of you have encountered when you’re overseas.”
“As the ministry responsible for culture and arts, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism recognises the potential of film as an avenue for cultural preservation and economic growth.
“Our stories, our traditions, and our way of life in the Solomon Islands deserve to be captured and shared with the world. Through film we can document our heritage, promote our tourism industry and inspire future generations to embrace the arts as a viable career path.”
Mr Marita told the Chinese Festival Film audience that whilst they enjoy watching the Chinese film screened, he would like to encourage students and aspiring filmmakers to seize the opportunity and learn from the film, be inspired and dream big.
“Who knows, the next great filmmaker maybe sitting in one of these chairs this afternoon. Let us celebrate this moment as a step towards cultivating our film industry in the Solomon Islands. Let us embrace storytelling not only as a form of entertainment but as a means to preserve our identity and share our unique perspectives with the world,” he added.
The film screened on the first day of the Chinese Film Festival was ‘The Wandering Earth 2’. It is a prequel of the ‘Wandering Earth 1.’
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
