Entertainment · Film · 18 hrs ago
Papua New Guinea’s Most Expensive Film Wraps Production
Papua New Guinea’s most expensive film has finished filming after a 40-day shoot.
The $4.5 million historical drama, “Mussau: The First Song,” was filmed on Mussau Island and in Goroka.
The story follows Taula Livovoa, a young islander in the 1930s who leaves tribal violence and adopts a new faith, setting off wider social change.
The film uses six languages, including Indigenous languages with few speakers, and many cast members come from local communities.
Its producers aim to share the country’s cultural heritage with audiences around the world.
They hope the film will premiere at a major international festival in 2027 and become Papua New Guinea’s entry for the 100th Academy Awards’ international feature race.
Papua New Guinea’s most expensive film to date, the $4.5 million historical drama “Mussau: The First Song,” has wrapped principal photography.
The 40-day shoot took place on Mussau Island and in Goroka, across two provinces.
Directed by Indian filmmaker Bijukumar Damodaran, the film is inspired by a true story set in the 1930s.
Its dialogue is in six languages, including indigenous languages with small numbers of speakers that are at risk of dying out.
NAFA Productions hopes to screen the film at a top-tier international festival in 2027.
- Who
- NAFA Productions made the film, directed by Bijukumar Damodaran.
- What
- Mussau: The First Song” has wrapped principal photography.
- When
- After a 40-day shoot; the wrap was announced on November 7, 2026.
- Where
- Mussau Island in New Ireland Province and Goroka in Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea.
- Why
- The film tells a true-story-inspired account of social change and is presented by its producers as a way to protect Papua New Guinea’s linguistic and cultural heritage.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Principal photography took place on Mussau Island and in Goroka across two provinces.
NAFA Productions celebrated the film’s wrap at a Thanksgiving event in Port Moresby.
NAFA Productions hopes the film will premiere at a top-tier international festival.
- Film budget
- $4.5 million
- Shoot duration
- 40 days
- Filming locations
- Mussau Island and Goroka
- Languages
- Mussau, Emirau, Agarabi, Gadsup, Tok Pisin and English
- Crew
- 120 people, including 20 technicians from India
What people are saying
This has been one of the most challenging and rewarding journeys of my filmmaking career
The people of Mussau welcomed us into their lives, their culture and their history, and their contribution has been invaluable.