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LIFE IN THE WARD: Family Planning

This documentary is about the challenges faced by pregnant women in Papua New Guinea, and the health risks involved. It portrays some of the life-threatening conditions that most of these women undergo during labour, due to limited access to better facilities, the inadequate health workers throughout the country, and most importantly, the lack of awareness on the significance of family planning among many Papua New Guinean couples. The Family Planning episode features the story of Deshley - a mother of two, who experiences a very risky third pregnancy; going into a premature labour, and how she and her baby miraculously survived the ordeal.

  • Marco Venditti
    Director
  • Marco Venditti
    Writer
  • Marco Venditti
    Producer
  • Janet Sios
    Producer
  • Deshley Mala
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    43 minutes 14 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 5, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    50,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Papua New Guinea
  • Country of Filming:
    Papua New Guinea
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Full HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Florence International Film Festival
    Florence
    Italy
    December 2, 2022
    Finalist
  • CEBU International Film Festival
    CEBU
    Philippines
    Best Long Documentary
Distribution Information
  • TV WAN PNG
    Distributor
    Country: Papua New Guinea
    Rights: Free TV
Director Biography - Marco Venditti

A native of Rome, Italy, Marco has over twenty-five years’ experience as a journalist, editor, TV presenter and filmmaker.

During his decade as a freelance journalist for major international publications, he worked in over 30 countries and interviewed former heads of state such as President Lech Walesa of Poland, Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek of the Czech Republic, Prime Minister Peter O’Neil of Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister Basdeo Panday of Trinidad and Tobago, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and President James Michel of the Seychelles.

In the years between 2008-2011, he created and co-edited "High Profile", a lifestyle magazine in the Philippines, and started "Qultura", a culture and arts magazine about Qatar as managing editor.

As country director for the Oxford Business Group (OBG), he produced three yearly business guides about Papua New Guinea and presented "The OBG Corner" on EMTV (Papua New Guinea's oldest and largest television station): a program where he interviewed political and business leaders of the country.

A graduate of the London Film School, he has collected several prizes and accolades for his documentaries in Europe and Asia.

Joining EMTEK, which is the Commercial Production arm of EMTV, in 2016 as head of the documentary department, he directed and produced "Driving the Change" in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program. The documentary won the 2017 World Television Award.

Other productions like "Fuzzy Wuzzy: Beyond the Legend" and "Farming PNG" broke new ground in Papua New Guinean television.

He has visited over fifty countries and speaks five languages.

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