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My name is Thois Wanma, I am from Papua.
Papuan Voices, Sorong Region.

My name is Immanuel. I am from
Papuan Voices, Keerom Region.

What is Papuan Voices?

Papuan Voices is a community of
documentary film makers in Papua

Discussing the culture, environment,
social life, among others in Papua

Papuan Voices usually produces
short documentary films.

What issues are being raised
by the community?

Our films discuss issues like
local economy and womens' rights

among others.

Our films raise a lot of existing problems
and do not look for newer problems.

Also, they can be informative and
didactive for the Papuan people themselves

For example, making films about Merauke,
can be informative to friends in Sorong.

Because most Papuans don't know
what's happening in the other districts.

Educational films on how people in Sorong
deal with the forest and environment,

or in Merauke, such as large-scale
plantation investments starting.

Watching the films, at least people
in Sorong or Manokwari know.

Tell me about the other
initiatives of PV.

We screen the films we produced, on campus
Usually in dormitories in Jayapura

The Papuan Voices communities in other
regions also have screenings & discussions

That's what Papuan Voices does.

How about the social conditions in Papua?

We do talk about the conditions in Papua.
There are numerous problems.

Such as livelihood & women's rights
This year there are newer challenges

Through PV films, these problems are
featured and discussed among the audience

These films are produced with a focus to
discuss, respond, and solve these issues.

There are many bigger issues
in the society

For one, there is a large investment
on oil palm plantations coming in

The native people in the area do not know
What a palm oil company is & what it does

What are usually the problems
faced by the PV Community?

The use of language
affects film productions.

For example, the film I made in Mayalibit
Bay featuring the native tribe of Maya.

During filming, they spoke
in their native language.

So we faced difficulties in shooting
and editing pictures.

Because I did not understand
what they were talking about.

So, we had to find people to translate it
into Indonesian and English too.

I traveled from the Keerom Regency
and that was a long journey.

For shorter distances even it can take up
long. Local transport is also expensive.

Why are you interested in Papuan Voices?

I am interested in PV because of
my concerns for Papuans as a whole.

Papua is still lagging behind, so I want
to share with people outside the region

Who think that Papua is rich in gold and
other minerals. It is not like that.

When I went to see by myself, Papuans were
still left behind, faced with problems.

That made me feel sad,
That's why I want to tell other people

That Papua does not need anything from
the government, except love and care.

I am interested in PV because I think
I know how to solve these problems

problems that persist for long; and as
a young Papuan, I want to do what I can.

So when EngageMedia started the training
to help set up PV, it helped me too.

We produce films with a purpose,
to be watched and understood by people.