British Council Back UK Team to Film Raro Paradise Challenge
There was a time when the British coming to the pacific conjured images of tall ships, seafarers, missionaries and
colonialism.
Well the times have changed but the adventurous spirit of British pioneers taking up a new world challenge lives on as
today Film Raro announces a crew of likely British lads from the industrial city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
have won a place in the inaugural Film Raro pacific paradise film challenge.
The challenge brings teams of filmmakers from all over the globe to take part in a social and economic development
project set in the tropical south pacific destination of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. Its aims are to build the
capacity of local filmmakers by proving an opportunity to work along side professional filmmakers such as Tajinder Hayer
and his colleagues.
Benefits include global tourism exposure, the creation of new industry, the preservation of language and culture and the
branding of the Cook Islands as the film friendliest tropical paradise in the world – Cookiwood.
Team leader Tajinder Hayer says ‘We’re all very excited. My mind is a pleasant tumble of ideas at the moment. Film Raro
was pretty unique amongst all the worlds filmmaking competitions – a real adventure.’
Film Raro are also happy to announce the backing of its project and Tajinder’s team by the British Council who support
international opportunities for people of the UK with other countries. British Council NZ director Ingrid Leary says,
“Tajinder is an exciting British filmmaker that will bring a unique perspective to the Film Raro challenge. The
opportunity for he and his colleagues Mark Bull, Scott Dulson and Darryl Peat to work in a place like the Cook Islands,
with its rich heritage and stunning vistas, is sure to add to their depth as filmmakers. It will be equally exciting for
other local and global filmmakers to interact with the UK team. Everyone involved with Film Raro is bound to emerge
enriched and inspired.”
Tajinder sees Film Raro as a unique and unorthodox opportunity to share and sees his film ISLANDS as the crux to that,
“ISLANDS is a story for all, it’s about self assertion. That might sound a bit wishy-washy, but, as I've gone for a
fairytale esque approach the audience is free to bring their own interpretations to it; it could be about escaping an
abusive relationship, a child's need to outgrow parents, the liberating power of love and creativity etc. However, I
believe all these interpretations are linked by a need for self-determination.”
All Film Raro short films begin shooting from May 13th, to be finished 12 days later for a public screening, under
tropical stars, with the entire island invited, at the Film Raro International Film
Festival Saturday 25th May. Organisers invite you to join them in the Cook Islands for an experience of a lifetime.
Travel enquires through - www.filmraro.com
All members of the Film Raro paradise film challenge stay at the Edgewater Resort Rarotonga
ENDS