Exciting Projects Unveiled: Discover the Inaugural Climate Story Lab Pacific Selections!

Pasifika Film Fest and Doc Society have announced the eight projects chosen for the first-ever Climate Story Lab Pacific. This exciting event will take place from August 11 to 15, 2025, at Pasifika Communities University in Suva, Fiji.

The Climate Story Lab aims to build a strong foundation for Pacific climate storytelling. It focuses on fostering partnerships, mobilizing support, and boosting confidence in social impact storytelling within the region. Participants will receive training in impact and pitching, which will help them prepare to present their projects at an event in Sydney this October.

Teams from Tuvalu, Tahiti, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Guam, the Northern Marianas, and Aotearoa New Zealand will workshop their stories with industry experts. Some selected projects include:

• “The Island Will Not Sink” by Aselu Vaguna O’Brien, which highlights Tuvalu, one of the first nations at risk from rising sea levels.
• “Waves of Knowledge: Oral Histories of Pacific Resilience” by Lavau Nalu, focusing on stories from Papua New Guinean elders.
• “The Plastic Pickers of Paradise” by Caleb Young, which explores the experiences of female plastic pickers in Fiji.
• “The Canoe is Our Future” by Sheila Babauta and Sylvia Frain, documenting a community’s canoe-building journey.
• “Anchored in Resilience: Life on Pam Island Amid Rising Seas” by Laurence Korup, showcasing how the Pam Island community adapts to climate changes.
• “Te Moana Nui a Hiva” by Virginie Tetoofa, amplifying the voice of cultural leader Hinano Teavai-Murphy.
• “COPE” by Tumeli Tuqota, examining how climate negotiations could shift if held in the Pacific.
• “The Island”, a six-part series by Fijian filmmakers Sharon and Nicole Whippy, focusing on the lives of Fijian climate survivors in Aotearoa.

Kalolaine Fainu, Director of PFF, highlighted that this initiative allows emerging storytellers to enhance their skills while engaging in crucial dialogues around climate narratives.

Doc Society’s Director of Special Projects, Hollie Fifer, expressed excitement about bringing the Climate Story Lab to the Pacific. She emphasized the importance of showcasing local narratives, which reflect the resilience and creativity of Pacific communities facing climate challenges.

As the event approaches, the participants have already engaged in two online sessions, connecting and sharing their project ideas. Dr. Lavau Nalu, a storyteller from Papua New Guinea, shared his enthusiasm for returning to the Pacific, noting the significance of this first CSL event for amplifying regional stories in the context of a global climate crisis.

By focusing on local stories and empowering Pacific voices, the Climate Story Lab Pacific is paving the way for impactful narratives that can inspire awareness and action around climate change.

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pasifika, film fest, doc society, climate story lab, fiji