Small Island Big Song - An Oceanic Songline
Filmed over three years with over 100 first nation artists on 16 Island nations across the Pacific & Indian Oceans, this grassroots musical follows the ocean highways uniting ancient seafaring lineages. From Madagascar to Rapa Nui/Easter Island, Taiwan to Zenadth Kes/The Torres Strait.
A heartfelt musical plea for environmental awareness and cultural preservation from those on the frontline of the climate crisis.
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Tim ColeDirectorVanuatu Women's Water Music
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The Featured Indigenous Musicians of the filmWriter
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Alena MurangWriter
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Airileke IngramWriter
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Benjamin HakalitzWriter
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Charles MaimarosiaWriter
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Gus TejaWriter
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Horomona HoroWriter
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Jerome KavanaghWriter
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Kekuhi KealiikanakaoleohaililaniWriter
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Sandy SurWriter
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Markham GalutWriter
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Mau PowerWriter
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O Tahiti EWriter
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Piteyo UkahWriter
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RajeryWriter
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SauljaluiWriter
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Tarika SammyWriter
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Waimihi HotereWriter
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Yoyo TukiWriter
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Tim ColeWriter
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BaoBao ChenProducer
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SauljaljuiKey Cast"From the Paiwan nation of Taiwan"
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Sammy SamoelaKey Cast"Of the Merina people of Madagascar"
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Yoyo TukiKey Cast"From the Rapa Nui Nation of Easter island"
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Kuana Torres KaheleKey Cast"Of Hawai'i"
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Alena MurangKey Cast"From the Kelabit peoples of the Dayak Nation of Borneo"
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Charles MaimarosiaKey Cast"From the Are'Are nation of the Solomon Islands"
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Horomona HoroKey Cast"From the Maori Nation of Aotearoa/New Zealand"
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Tim Cole & BaoBao ChenCinematography & Feild RecordingVanuatu Women's Water Music,
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Tim ColePost Production (Editing, Color Grading, Sound Design)Vanuatu Women's Water Music
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Tim ColeOriginal SoundtrackPrison Songs, Proof, Bran Nue Dae, Satellite Boy & Vanuatu Women's Water Music
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Project Type:Documentary, Experimental, Feature, Music Video
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Genres:Enviromental, Indigenous, music
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Runtime:1 hour 21 minutes 38 seconds
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Completion Date:February 24, 2020
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Production Budget:300,000 AUD
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Country of Origin:Australia
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Country of Filming:Australia, Guam, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Taiwan
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Language:Maori, No Dialogue, Other
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Shooting Format:Digital, 4K
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Aspect Ratio:2.39:1
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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Antenna Documentary FestivalSydney
Australia
October 19, 2020
World Premiere
Official Selection -
BalinaleDenpasar
Indonesia
September 19, 2019
Official Selection -
Ânûû-rû Âboro FestivalNoumea
New Caledonia
October 20, 2020
Official Selection -
Ishigaki International Film FestivalIshigaki
Japan
November 22, 2019
Opening Night feature -
Jeju Film FestivalJeju Island
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
November 30, 2019
Closing Night Feature -
Asian Side of the Doc' 2018Bangkok
Thailand
Pitch Session
Best International Project -
Songlines Music Awards 2019London
United Kingdom
Best Album Asia/Pacific 2019 -
German Music Critics AwardInternational
Germany
One of the 10 Best Music releases of 2019 -
Melbourne Documentary Film FestivalMelbourne
Australia
August 1, 2020
Official Selection -
AACTA/AFI AWARDSSYDNEY
Australia
December 2, 2020
BEST DOCUMENTARY
IN COMPETITION
Distribution Information
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Moonlin FilmDistributorCountry: JapanRights: All Rights
Tim Cole is an Australian Filmmaker and Music Producer who has been creating cross cultural music driven narratives since producing ‘Not Drowning Waving’s’, landmark album & DVD ‘Tabaran’ in Papua New Guinea released in 1991.
FILM – Directing.
Vanuatu Women’s Water Music (Feature Documentary). 2014.
Countless Music Clips & Concert visuals
FILM – Soundtracks - Producing, Sound Design & 5:1 Dolby Mixing
Proof - Prison Songs – Australia (Main VO’s) - Bran Nue Dae - Satellite Boy,
Remote Area Nurse - Talking Language - The Circuit (series 2)
MUSIC – Producing & Engineering
Albums – Shellie Morris and the Borroloola Songwomen – Ngambala Wiji lu Wunungu, Frank Yamma – Countryman – Tjintu Desert Band – Tjamaku Ngura,
Lorrpu – Lorrpu, Blekbala Mujik – Greatest Hits, My Friend the Chocolate Cake – self tilted, Home Improvements & Fiasco. Not Drowning Waving – The Little Desert, Claim, Tabaran & Cold and the Crackle.
AWARDS –
CHURCHILL FELLOWSHIP – To research Austronesian Music Culture. 2015.
IAN POTTER CULTURAL TRUST – To Study Indigenous Film Making. 2015.
ASIA PACIFIC SCREEN AWARDS – Best Feature Documentary (finalist) Vanuatu Women's Water Music. 2015.
ICTV (Indigenous Television Australia) – Music Clip of the Year (winner) – Tjintu Desert Band – Tjamaku Ngura. 2014.
AACTA – Best Documentary Soundtrack (winner) – Land of the Morning Star. 2004.
NIMA (Australian Aboriginal Media Awards) – Best DVD (winner) – Nabarlek on tour. (Cinematography & Sound). 2006.
EDUCATION -
BEd. in Media Arts from Melbourne University.
A.D. in Music Production from the University of Victoria in Australia.
Directors note - Please don't expect a film with a conventional 'Western' narrative arc, this film seeks to connect the audience to an unspoken story of nature, carried in the cultural lineage of those who have lived for generations with their island homes, singing in the languages and played on the instruments shaped by that environment. Because I can't speak for these cultures and I wanted to find something beyond my understanding I also worked to keep my voice as the director out of the film, so I asked the musicians to choose what to contribute, where in nature to record and what to wear. This film is the result of that process.
For me a cinema experience comes down to an hour or so spent watching projected images and sound, as long as you leave feeling respected by the filmmaker and culturally richer that's a valid cinema experience. You will find parts of it challenging, but any worthwhile journey covers some difficult terrain. Tim Cole.