Private Project

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.

  • Tim Cole
    Director
    Vanuatu Women's Water Music
  • The Featured Indigenous Musicians of the film
    Writer
  • Alena Murang
    Writer
  • Airileke Ingram
    Writer
  • Benjamin Hakalitz
    Writer
  • Charles Maimarosia
    Writer
  • Gus Teja
    Writer
  • Horomona Horo
    Writer
  • Jerome Kavanagh
    Writer
  • Kekuhi Kealiikanakaoleohaililani
    Writer
  • Sandy Sur
    Writer
  • Markham Galut
    Writer
  • Mau Power
    Writer
  • O Tahiti E
    Writer
  • Piteyo Ukah
    Writer
  • Rajery
    Writer
  • Sauljalui
    Writer
  • Tarika Sammy
    Writer
  • Waimihi Hotere
    Writer
  • Yoyo Tuki
    Writer
  • Tim Cole
    Writer
  • BaoBao Chen
    Producer
  • Sauljaljui
    Key Cast
    "From the Paiwan nation of Taiwan"
  • Sammy Samoela
    Key Cast
    "Of the Merina people of Madagascar"
  • Yoyo Tuki
    Key Cast
    "From the Rapa Nui Nation of Easter island"
  • Kuana Torres Kahele
    Key Cast
    "Of Hawai'i"
  • Alena Murang
    Key Cast
    "From the Kelabit peoples of the Dayak Nation of Borneo"
  • Charles Maimarosia
    Key Cast
    "From the Are'Are nation of the Solomon Islands"
  • Horomona Horo
    Key Cast
    "From the Maori Nation of Aotearoa/New Zealand"
  • Tim Cole & BaoBao Chen
    Cinematography & Feild Recording
    Vanuatu Women's Water Music,
  • Tim Cole
    Post Production (Editing, Color Grading, Sound Design)
    Vanuatu Women's Water Music
  • Tim Cole
    Original Soundtrack
    Prison Songs, Proof, Bran Nue Dae, Satellite Boy & Vanuatu Women's Water Music
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Feature, Music Video
  • Genres:
    Enviromental, Indigenous, music
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 21 minutes 38 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 24, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    300,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia, Guam, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Taiwan
  • Language:
    Maori, No Dialogue, Other
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, 4K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Antenna Documentary Festival
    Sydney
    Australia
    October 19, 2020
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Balinale
    Denpasar
    Indonesia
    September 19, 2019
    Official Selection
  • Ânûû-rû Âboro Festival
    Noumea
    New Caledonia
    October 20, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Ishigaki International Film Festival
    Ishigaki
    Japan
    November 22, 2019
    Opening Night feature
  • Jeju Film Festival
    Jeju Island
    Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
    November 30, 2019
    Closing Night Feature
  • Asian Side of the Doc' 2018
    Bangkok
    Thailand
    Pitch Session
    Best International Project
  • Songlines Music Awards 2019
    London
    United Kingdom
    Best Album Asia/Pacific 2019
  • German Music Critics Award
    International
    Germany
    One of the 10 Best Music releases of 2019
  • Melbourne Documentary Film Festival
    Melbourne
    Australia
    August 1, 2020
    Official Selection
  • AACTA/AFI AWARDS
    SYDNEY
    Australia
    December 2, 2020
    BEST DOCUMENTARY
    IN COMPETITION
Distribution Information
  • Moonlin Film
    Distributor
    Country: Japan
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Tim Cole

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.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

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.