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.
Formats
WATCH NOW:
If you just watched Will Smith navigate the Papua New Guinea coastline in the new series Pole to Pole, you’ve already seen the stars of our film, Justin and Sanakoli John. The traditional Sailau canoe Will sails – and the master navigators who taught him how to handle it – are the talents of our award-winning documentary, SAILAU.
The canoe featured in the series is a replica of the Tawali Pasana, the vessel we used to complete the first-ever circumnavigation of New Guinea. While the National Geographic episode provides a beautiful glimpse of this craft, our film documents the actual 13-month odyssey that proved these traditional designs could handle the dreaded Northwest Monsoon and open sea crossings.
While the Pole to Pole episode is a fantastic introduction to PNG, SAILAU is the deep-dive “Director’s Cut.” It captures the grit, the danger, and the real-world sailing culture of the men who are now being celebrated on the global stage.
We have spent years documenting this world’s first voyage, and we are thrilled to see the story continue in a great mainstream production. If you want to learn more about the unedited, raw, and award-winning journey of these master sailors, you are in the right place.
You can watch the Pole to Pole show (Pacific Islands episode) here
The Story Behind the Vessels and the Men Featured on Disney+ If you just watched Will Smith navigate the Papua New Guinea coastline in the new series Pole to Pole, you’ve already seen the stars of our film, Justin and Sanakoli John. The traditional Sailau canoe Will sails – and the master navigators who taught him how …
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 …
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.
You can also stay updated through our newsletter here.
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
