• Trailer
  • Synopsis
  • Map
  • Statement
  • Team
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  • Living on a disappearing island

    ONTONG JAVA

    A community living under existential threat of climate change in one of the most isolated places on our planet.

Synopsis

The Ontong Java atoll, isolated from the rest of the world, remains an enclave untouched by modernity. Tribally governed and pristine, these undocumented islands are presented through the eyes of filmmaker Guus Schuijl and the close friendships he develops with the inhabitants. We discover a world filled with rich cultural traditions that have developed over 2000 years. These customs and values are the cornerstone of the Ontong Javan identity.

As our explorations of this culture continue, a silent tragedy begins to unfold. Over the years, our friends have witnessed the rising sea slowly submerging their islands. Many houses have washed away and harvests have waned. The food production is in ravenous decline while the population continues to grow. Realizing the finite nature of their hidden paradise, the villagers’ anxieties swell as they contemplate their futures.

The only way these islanders are currently managing survival is with the support of their families on the mainland. One quarter of the community has already relocated to a dirty, disease-ridden, and overcrowded settlement in the capital city. The Ontong Javans struggle to adjust to their new life in the city, but with their atoll disappearing, they will have to find a way to adapt to this foreign world.

Director's Statement

My friends on the atoll feel a deeply rooted, almost spiritual connection to their ancestral islands. Even after having lived several decades in Honiara, they still refer to Ontong Java as their home. They often talk about their islands with an air of surreal awe. It is the foundation of their identity, and it is quickly disappearing.

This is a story about people who are losing their culture and sense of identity. I want to take the viewer into the minds of the Ontong Javan people to share their cultural experience of the current environmental changes. I want to investigate how their relationship with the islands change when they relocate to the city, and their traditional way of living has to make room for a modern city life. It is a film that first takes the viewer to a dreamy world where their imagination roams free, and gradually presents them with political contention.

I want this film to be a reminder of the natural and cultural beauty of our planet, and I hope it will increase our understanding of how climate change is affecting livelihoods in the South Pacific.

Guus Schuijl

Guus Schuijl

Director / Producer

Schuijl has impressed the film community with his intimate directing style and his intuition for storytelling. His narrative short film, Part Ways (2017), was selected for two Oscar-qualifying festivals and has made appearances at many others. Life Away From Home (2018), Schuijl’s doc short film about Venezuelan refugees is currently making its way around festivals and has already been selected as the ‘Runner Up’ during the Shortcutz Film Festival in Amsterdam.


Geoffrey Alacky

Executive producer

When his family house washed away, Alacky had little choice but to migrate from Ontong Java. After moving to the capital city, he started a church and began to use his newly-attained network of high-ranking politicians to create a positive impact for his community. He is actively involved with the film’s pre-prod and distribution, hoping Ontong Java will shed light on the plight of his people.

Armando Barrios

Executive producer

A full-time producer and production coordinator. His skill in project management has been re ned by his time at IMAX, where he assisted in managing features through the post pipeline. He currently works on a production team dedicated to Tumblr’s new video initiative.


Kris Gathman

Associate Producer

Gathman has worked in the film industry for seven years now, often taking assistant directing and producing jobs on independent projects. She was the 1st AD for a Spirit Award nominated director where she handled scheduling and logistics regarding the feature, and one short film Gathman worked on has recently entered the festival circuit, winning Best Dramedy in the 2020 Sunny Side Up Film Festival.

Chris Keungi

Field Coordinator

Chris Keungi was born and continues to live in Pelau village on the Ontong Java atoll. As the secretary to the house of chiefs, and with his excellent command of the English language, he has the perfect skill set and motivation to lay the productional groundworks for shooting on the atoll. He is a consultant to the international crew members and serves as a local spokesperson.

Iggy Pacanowski

Drone Pilot

Multidisciplinary designer and creative director Pacanowski has joined design teams all over the world producing motion design projects for global brands, short documentaries, concert stage productions, and AR projects. Additionally, Pacanowski has extensive experience directing commercials, filming music videos, and most notably, shooting aerial photography.

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For inquiries of all kinds:

+31 6 833 65 646
hello [at] ontongjava.com

© Guus Schuijl. All Rights Reserved.