FIFO reveals the program for its 20th edition

The 20^e Oceanian International Film Festival, which takes place from February 4 to 12 at the Maison de la culture, presented its program this morning. Miriama Bono, president of Afifo, which organizes the festival, was the guest of the editorial staff of Radio1 this Tuesday to tell us about this flagship event of Pacific culture.

Twenty years, the beautiful age… created in 2003 on an idea, a bit crazy at the time, of Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu and Wallès Kotra, FIFO is now well established in the international landscape of documentary film. Not only is the public there, but the festival has given rise to vocations and films in the region, says Miriama Bono.

This flowering of films from the Pacific region, and their promotion by FIFO, has sparked an “awakening of consciences, with themes that are asserting themselves”, observes Miriama Bono. Several evenings will illustrate these recurring themes, with the screening of films that have won awards over the years: duty to remember, nuclear, environment, aboriginal peoples, transgender or even awareness raising.

This 20^e edition presents 13 films in competition, including only one from French Polynesia, Motu Haka, the battle of the Marquesas Islands, by Raynald Mérienne, and 12 films out of competition, four of which are local productions. It is the pre-selection committee, made up of both professionals and enlightened amateurs, which determines in which category to place the films; Miriama Bono explains that the films in competition are those which have a stronger “universal resonance”, and are thus likely to make the festival shine beyond its geographical area.

In films out of competition, she continues, “We find films with a greater educational impact, a lot of history films in general, or on the environment. Well, it’s not an exact science, but the pre-selection committee is sovereign. » Fifo will also present a selection of short films, a Night of Fiction, a screening of pacification by Albert Serra, in the presence of the local film crew, and the documentary The forgotten of the atom by Suliane Favennec.

An atypical jury president for “a fresh look”

The FIFO 2023 jury is made up of award-winning directors from previous editions, and chaired by the Franco-Congolese writer Alain Mabanckou – a proposal by Wallès Kotra to bring a fresh look at Oceania.

Youth in the spotlight

The creation, three years ago, of the FIFO digital platform gave it a new dimension, which can be found in the workshops offered to the school public: this year, it is a novelty, there will be a question of creations for new media, vlogs and podcasts. FIFO has created a “20-year-old jury” made up of 7 young people, who will award a special prize of the same name. Finally, to celebrate its anniversary, all screenings will be accessible free of charge to young people born in 2003, upon presentation of an identity document.

A documentary film market

FIFO also has an important “business” dimension: several broadcasters meet there, first and foremost Polynesia The 1^time, historical partner. As proof that the stakes are high, the president of France Télévisions, Delphine Ernotte, will be present throughout the Fifo. Polynesia The 1^time provides more than 10 hours of live TV, radio and Internet, and for the first time, the award ceremony will be broadcast simultaneously in Polynesia, New Caledonia and Wallis-and-Futuna. “You will have a hard time missing the FIFO this year! » exclaims Miriama Bono.

The festival is also an opportunity, particularly for television stations in small island countries with limited means, to forge partnerships so that they too can offer their viewers productions from the region. The subtitling work carried out by FIFO, and which represents a substantial part of its budget, also contributes to the influence of Oceanian films.