FILM DAYS limited edition – 21 – 23 April 2023

FILMS 2019: A – E | F – L | M – P | Q – S | T –  Z | Feature Film | Short Film
FILMS 2018: A – E | F – L | M – P | Q – S | T –  Z | Feature Film | Short Film
FILMS 2017: A – E | F – L | M – P | Q – S | T –  Z | Feature Film | Short Film
FILMS 2016: A – E | F – L | M – P | Q – S | T –  Z | Feature Film | Short Film
FILMS 2015: A – E | F – L | M – P | Q – S | T –  Z | Feature Film | Short Film

Tanna (2016 Feature Film)

Martin Butler | Bentley Dean | Australia | 2015 | 104 min | Nauvhal | e.s.

On an island in the Pacific, two young lovers rebel against old customs, causing tensions to rise high. Enthrallingly photographed drama about the necessity of change and a desire to break the chain of violence. Based on a true event and performed with brio by the local population.
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“By holding on to our traditions we’ve been able to withstand colonialism, Christianity and money”, reflects a worldly-wise chieftain on the tropical island Tanna. But suddenly traditions don’t seem to suffice any more. To defuse a violent conflict, the young girl Wawa is married off to a neighbouring tribe, as a result of which she can’t marry the boy she loves. The enamoured couple refuses to comply with this custom and elopes, with drastic consequences. Impressive images of a paradisiacal jungle and the infernal crater of an active volcano form the background of this drama about a forbidden love. This is the first feature film by documentary makers Butler and Dean. They spent seven months among one of the tribes on Tanna that actively upholds the traditional way of life. Together with them they developed the scenario, which is based on an event that took place in 1987 and includes an unexpected role for the British royal family.

Place: CINEMA 2

Date: 7 April 2016

Time: 14:00

Duration: 1:30

Place: CINEMA 2

Date: 8 April 2016

Time: 19:00

Duration: 1:30

Place: CINEMA 3

Date: 9 April 2016

Time: 14:45

Duration: 1:30

Year in
Festival

2016

Director

Martin Butler
Bentley Dean

Camera

Bentley Dean

Cast

Mungau Dain
Marie Wawa
Marceline Rofit
Chief Charlie Kahla
Albi Nangia
Lingai Kowia
Dadwa Mungau

Country

Australia

Editor

Tania Michel Nehme

Language

Nauvhal

Length

104 min

Music

Antony Partos
Lisa Gerrard

Producer

Martin Butler
Bentley Dean
Carolyn Johnson

Production Company

Contact Films

Sales

Visit Films

Scenario

Bentley Dean
Martin Butler
John Collee in collaboration with the people of Yakel

Sound Design

Emma Bortignon

Year of Production

2015

Website

www.facebook.com/TannaMovie

Martin BUTLER studied Politics and Economics at Oxford University. In 1981 he emigrated to Australia and since then he has been producing reports for the Australian television channels ABC and SBS. Together with Bentley Dean he made the documentary Contact (2011) and the television documentary series First Footprints (2013). For their first feature film Tanna (2015) they received the Audience Award, as well as the prize for Best Cinematography in Venice.

Bentley DEAN (Australia) is a filmmaker and cinematographer. He studied Philosophy and Politics at the University of Sydney and Film and Television at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne. Together with Martin Butler he previously made the documentary Contact (2010) and the television documentary series First Footprints (2013). For their first feature film Tanna (2015) they received the Audience Award, as well as the prize for Best Cinematography in Venice.

 

Filmography

Martin Butler

(all co-dir) Contact (2010, doc), First Footprints (2013, TV doc series), Tanna (2015)

Bentley Dean

(all co-dir) Contact (2010), First Footprints (2013, TV doc series), Tanna (2015)