By Ryan Iroga
The first screening of two short films which are a part of the 4th Pacific Human Rights Film Festival, was held at the Fiji National University’s Nasinu campus yesterday.
The short films titled In Exile and My Fish Is Your Fish were showcased before more than 200 high school students from across Suva, and tertiary students from FNU and USP as well as secondary schools students from the Republic of Marshall Islands and Kiribati, who joined virtually.
The two short films focused on the topic of nuclear legacy, particularly in the Marshall Islands and the aftermath of the nuclear testing that took place there between 1946 and 1958.
Tara Chetty, Deputy Director, Human Rights and Social Development Division at the Pacific Community (SPC) described the films as very powerful and impactful, greatly moving the audience.
She further emphasised the importance of films in addressing issues affecting our Pacific community and the importance of the Pacific Human Rights Film Festival.
“Film is one of the most powerful mediums for connecting people with issues that may not directly affect them but transports them there, whether it is to the past or to another place geographically.
“That’s what the Pacific Human Rights Film Festival is all about; really making these issues real for us and allowing us to have a conversation and a dialogue.”
The films not only shed light on the historical trauma endured by the Marshallese people but also provided an opportunity for deeper engagement with the present-day consequences of these nuclear tests.
In his keynote address, Marshall Islands Ambassador to Fiji, Junior Aini, reflected on the devastating and long-lasting effects of nuclear testing on his nation.
“For 78 years we have lived with the lasting impacts of the US nuclear testing program in our islands; environmentally the scars of nuclear detonation marked our landscapes and wiped out entire nations from the face of the planet. Our ecosystems once full of life have been compromised creating a profound effect on our food security,” he said.
My Fish is Your Fish was produced in 2019 by MISA4thePacific, a group of student activists in Fiji campaigning to raise awareness for the Marshallese nuclear legacy among their peers.
In Exile debuted in 2023 and was produced by filmmaker Nathan Fitch as part of a larger film project called Essential Islanders, showcasing the experiences of Marshallese people with COVID-19.
The 4th Pacific Human Rights Film Festival will take place in Suva, with a selection of screenings across the Pacific, from 30 September to 27 October 2024.
All screenings are free.
The full program can be seen here. The 4th Pacific Human Rights Film Festival | The Pacific Community (spc.int)
