Jayapura Jubi – A documentary titled Insar Sasewar Kombrof (Grandma who catches the octopus), directed by Ones J Msen, came out as the winner at the Papua Film Festival (FFP) V competition in Biak. The 20:52 minute film tells the daily life of Mama Mina Mayor from Insrom Village, Biak Numfor, catching octopus in the sea.
“Insar is an old woman from Biak. People in her village refer to Mama Mina as Sasewar Kombrof (octopus catcher),” said director Ones J Msen to Jubi on Wednesday, August 10, 2022.
Msen said, as a woman in her old age, Mama Mina was still strong and able to paddle her boat to shore for molo (diving) and catching octopus. “The octopus is usually sold to the market to meet the needs of her family,” he said.
Meanwhile, the runner-up of the competition is “Church” by director Andreas Wahyu. This 08:35 minute film tells the story of the role of the Catholic Church in the Agats Diocese, which provides a wide space for culture in church life.
“The film tells about residents who express their traditions and culture in church life in Agats Diocese so that local traditions and the Church go together and complement each other,” he said.
The third place was won by Bony Lanny with his film Sa Pu Bahasa Sa Pu Jati Diri (My Language My Identity). The film, which lasts 11:50 minutes, tells the story of how young people are trying to save their local language.
“This young community living in the Baliem Valley in Wamena feels that their local language is increasingly being displaced by foreign languages. So there must be efforts to protect and maintain the local or regional language,” he said.
Lanny said his party had its own way to preserve the Baliem regional language by requiring the use of Baliem language at home.
“They apply it to elementary to high school children so that in their daily life, they still speak the Baliem language,” he said.
Meanwhile, fourth place went to the film titled Sago Caterpillar Festival, directed by Yosep Levi. The film, which has a duration of 14:27 minutes, tells the story of the people in Yoboi Village, Jayapura Regency, who attempts to maintain local food.
“One of the local foods is sago caterpillar so they hold a sago caterpillar festival. The festival is not only ceremonial but also raises awareness of the people outside Yoboi on the importance of sago in the community’s lives,” he said.
Committee chair of the Papua Film Festival V Timothy Rumansara expressed his gratitude to all parties involved in the making of the documentaries. “I congratulate all the winners of the competition. Don’t be satisfied with the results of the competition and please keep working to document the lives of Papuans in films,” he said. (*)
