by FilmInk Staff
Directed by Matthew Holmes (Fear Below), this long short film starring Melbourne actor Jamie Coffa and Nauru’s most famous actor Cramer Cain, is being distributed freely online following its premiere in Naura.
Nauru’s government issued the following statement to celebrate the launch of the film.
Nauru’s first short feature film Far End of the Sea that premiered on Friday May 15, has been officially released online, with the producers appealing to the world to join with them to celebrate this historic moment.
The film, created by Pleasant Island Productions and featuring 58 Nauruan cast and crew, was filmed entirely in the country across seven locations, and tells the fictional story of Scottish sailor Hamish MacKay’s shipwreck and captivity on the island in the 1800s.
Melbourne based actor Jamie Coffa, whose previous credits include The Legend of Ben Hall and the TV miniseries Gallipoli, starred alongside Nauru’s most famous actor Cramer Cain, with supporting roles played by Australia’s Sophie McAsey and local acting debutants Redrose Tamakin and Brav Dowabobo.
Coffa, who produced the film alongside Cain and Nauruan Yannick Detsiogo, said he wrote the script after spending his formative years growing up in Nauru.
“Nauru is a very special place to me and it’s been a long-time dream of mine to create a project that celebrates Nauruan language, culture and history. I wanted to do something for a place that gave me so much growing up.”
Nauru’s President David Ageang said the production was a proud moment for the nation and shows that anything is possible with determination and resilience.
“Many people in the world don’t know much about our country’s culture or history, and while this is a fictional story, the brotherhood, compassion and national pride at the core of the story is an accurate portrayal of our people,” he said.
The President said he hoped the film would inspire other smaller nations, as “few would expect a film of this quality and depth to be made here.”
“Our size and status will not stop us from achieving our goals, and all involved with the production and all Nauruans can rightly feel proud of this significant achievement.”
He said the response from Nauruans was overwhelming, and he’s looking forward to now showcasing the country’s ingenuity and creativity to the Pacific family and to the wider international community.
