SAILAU
Is a three-time award-winning documentary film and social impact campaign based on The World’s First Circumnavigation of the Island of New Guinea in a Traditional Sailing Canoe.
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PRESS RELEASE: SAILAU is coming home
The record-setting crew that captured the hearts of the nation are back.
The highly anticipated documentary SAILAU is set to premiere in Papua New Guinea at the National Kenu and Kundu Festival in Alotau 2 November 2024.
Featuring Milne Bay master sailors – Sanakoli John, Justin John, Job Siyae – and Danish adventurer Thor F. Jensen, the film follows the world’s first circumnavigation of the island of New Guinea island in a traditional sailing canoe.
The documentary sets sail from Tawali Resort and follows the expedition all the way around PNG and West Papua (Indonesia).
The film had its world premiere at the DocEdge Festival in New Zealand and has already won prizes internationally – including the Maritime Film of the Year 2024 and Nordic Adventure Film of the Year 2024.
Sanakoli John expresses, “I have travelled to Canada, Germany and United Kingdom, everyone wants to hear the story of our circumnavigation and learn about PNG traditional culture. I have so much joy in my heart that now our brothers and sisters can finally watch our film.”
Thor elaborates, “This is a film for PNG, we want to find partners to share the film far and wide and hope to find the funding to screen the film in other parts of the country as well.”
The production team are offering corporate sponsorship packages and exclusive screenings of SAILAU.
Audiences in Sydney, Canberra and PNG will now be able to watch the exhilarating voyage of the Tawali Pasana and her daring crew. We are so excited to be part of this well renowned festival with so many amazing stories from all over the Pacific. Tickets for the Sydney screening can be found here Dates: …
PRESS RELEASE: SAILAU is coming home The record-setting crew that captured the hearts of the nation are back. The highly anticipated documentary SAILAU is set to premiere in Papua New Guinea at the National Kenu and Kundu Festival in Alotau 2 November 2024. Featuring Milne Bay master sailors – Sanakoli John, Justin John, Job Siyae …
SAILAU premiered in a sold out cinema at Nordic Adventure Film Festival on the 1st December 2023 in Copenhagen. Here are some of the comments from the audience after the film. “A film made with love and respect“,” I wanna go to PNG“, “Insane adventure!” SAILAU was awarded Best Nordic Film 2023 by the judges …
This documentary seeks to inspire young Papua New Guineans to value their traditional knowledge and the campaign activities will be used for educational programs in schools across the Pacific.
Internationally, we aim to challenge outdated colonial stereotypes of the Pacific by telling a contemporary and positive story from the second largest island in the world.
So far, an expedition book has been published titled Salt Water and Spear Tips, Pegasus Publishers UK 2020.
The voyage and book have been featured several media outlets such as:
7NEWS Australia
Australian Geographic
EMTV Papua New Guinea
Marie Claire Magazine Australia
Jakarta Post.
Master Sailors Sanakoli and Justin John has established Papua New Guineas first traditional canoe building school, Pasana Group.
Danish filmmaker Thor F. Jensen, under the apprenticeship of three Papua New Guinean master sailors, Justin John, Sanakoli John and Job Siyae, sets off from Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, on the 30th of August 2016 on a world-first circumnavigation of the island of New Guinea in a traditional sailau (sailing canoe) called the Tawali Pasana.
While Thor wants to tell a contemporary story of the island, the sailors wish to inspire new generations of sailors, but the team soon realise that the journey is much more difficult than first anticipated. Thor is forced to rethink his position on the canoe and the sailors have to adapt their traditional skills as they face the deadly North West Monsoon.
Over the course of 13 months and 21 days and 6300 km – dodging trecherous reefs, witchcraft and crocodiles – the fellowship of the Tawali Pasana captures the imagination of the island. But to reach the finish line they must all make sacrifices.
During this world-first circumnavigation, we established several partnerships with organizations in Papua New Guinea that will inform project development and social campaigns.
We have established connections with the PNG Tourism Authority, Pacific Maritime Training College, the Massim Museum and the Kenu and Kundu Festival Association who can provide guidance and local context. In terms of financial and in-kind resources, we have sponsorship arrangements with Vanimo Surf Lodge and Tawali Leisure and Dive Resort.
We have already received support from the PNG Ambassador to Europe and the Danish Embassy in Jakarta, which may be used to promote the film to diverse audiences. The sailors and their communities in Milne Bay will be central advisors throughout the process.
Do you want to become a partner?
Contact us at: info@thordox.dk to receive a project brief.
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Renowned Canoe builder and spear-fisher. Lives on Dawson Island with his wife and six children.
Expert fisherman and tourist guide. Lives in Nuakata isl. With his wife and four children.
Know for his solo canoe journeys and food donations to the health centre. Lives on Normanby Isl. with wife and four children.
Award winning filmmaker and member of the Adventurers’ Club of Denmark. Lives in Alice Springs, Australia.
Director Thor F. Jensen
Producer Dr Sophie Pascoe
Sailor Justin John
Sailor and production advisor Sanakoli John
Sailor Job Siyae
Drone footage by Paul Kerrison
Drone and film photography Robert Weber
Map graphics Sam Moore
Editor Oskar Fanta
Sound design Rob Davidsson
Score SÍmun Mohr
Colorist Nanna Dalunde
Promotion Kevin Alo from M&K Talents
