Private Project

Banabans of Rabi

During the second World War, the inhabitants of the Island of Banaba was forcibly displaced to Rabi Island in Fiji due to Phosphate mining by the British Phosphate Commission. The Island of Banaba was decimated and the Banaban's had to start fresh in Rabi. The documentary follows the people in Rabi and sheds light into the problems that they face now, especially that of climate change.

  • Blessen Tom
    Director
  • Hele Ikimotu
    Director
  • Jim Marbrook
    Producer
  • David Robie
    Producer
  • Blessen Tom
    Cinematography
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 18 seconds
  • Country of Origin:
    New Zealand
  • Country of Filming:
    Fiji
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • Nuku'alofa International Film Festival 2018
    Nuku'alofa
    Tonga
    November 23, 2018
    Pacific Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Pasifika Film Festival 2019
    Salt Lake City
    United States
    February 2, 2019
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Maoriland Film Festival
    Otaki
    New Zealand
    March 21, 2019
    New Zealand Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Blessen Tom, Hele Ikimotu

Blessen Tom and Hele Ikimotu are communication students from the Auckland University of Technology. They were in Fiji for an International Journalism project called 'Bearing Witness' and travelled to Rabi Island for the documentary.

Blessen Tom, originally from India, completed his Bachelor and Masters in Literature and is now pursuing his studies in Communication.

He is passionate about visual storytelling and documentaries.

Tom directed two short films and a drama, and is currently working on his new documentary on transgender community in India.

Of Niuean and Banaban descent, Hele Ikimotu completed his Bachelor of Communication Studies degree majoring in journalism last year and worked as an intern on the NZ Institute for Pacific Research project.

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