PNG Premiere 2024

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.

Pasifika Film Fest 2024

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: Sydney 3 Nov, PNG 9 Nov and Canberra 19 November.

Website: Pasifikafilmfest.com

Best Nordic Film of 2023.

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 and an extra screening was held the day after.

The NZ Audience Loves SAILAU

Vox pop at the world premiere of SAILAU

SAILAU want’s to redefine adventure by telling a positive story from the second largest island in the world: New Guinea.

According to the audience at the world premiere at the Doc Edge International Film Festival in New Zealand, SAILAU succeeded.

World Premiere dates in New Zealand

SAILAU will have its world premier at the Doc Edge International Film Festival in June 2023.

Director Thor F. Jensen will be hosting a Q&A following the screenings.

World Premiere
Saturday 3rd June, 12:00 PM 

The Capitol Cinema, Auckland. 
Followed by Q&A with the Director

Friday 9th June, 8:30 PM
The Roxy Cinema, Wellington. 
Followed by Q&A with the Director

Book your tickets here 

We can’t wait to see you there.