By Gabriel Katuho
AN Icelandic team from Little Things Productions is set to visit Papua New Guinea to create a documentary highlighting the intricacies of the country’s coffee industry.
The team is scheduled to arrive on July 28 and will embark on a seven-day scoping trip in Chimbu before commencing filming for the documentary titled Made in PNG.
Joseph Goiye Kanene, founder and chief technical officer of Inezie Data Analytics Ltd, initiated the idea and has spent the last six months collaborating with the Icelandic film crew.
Their objective is to showcase the journey of a single coffee bean from the fields of PNG to consumers’ mugs across the world.
The documentary will offer insights into the nation’s largest coffee factories and the experiences of coffee workers.
Little Things Productions Limited is an internationally-acclaimed production company focused on telling meaningful stories through sketch shows, TV programs, and advertisements.
Spearheaded by Fred Trenholm and Oli Gunner Gunnarson, the team has gained recognition for their award-winning short films, podcasts, and sketch comedy series.
The documentary will be filmed in three separate trips to PNG, with the first taking place on July 28, and the subsequent two sessions scheduled for 2024.
The aim is to release the final product by the beginning of 2025.
During the initial trip, a small crew will establish contact with subjects, conduct interviews, explore shooting locations, and develop a preliminary script.
In the following year, a larger crew will be based in Chimbu to film interviews, tour locations, and capture the coffee production process in the Highlands.
The team plans to highlight the challenges faced by local farmers, including difficulties in transporting bags to the nearest market.
Kanene envisions selling the completed film to a global streaming service such as Netflix or Amazon Prime to promote PNG’s products to a wider audience.
Collaboration with the Tourism Promotion Authority and approval from the National Gaming Board Control have been secured, reflecting the support and cooperation for the project.
The team also intends to promote adventure tourism in the Highlands by featuring expeditions to sites such as Mt William and Mt Elembari.
The goal is to showcase the natural beauty of PNG and provide a glimpse into the country’s history in an engaging and entertaining manner.
Kanene’s interactions with people in the UK have revealed a lack of awareness about PNG as a Commonwealth country.
He believes that marketing efforts for local products, particularly coffee, need improvement.
He notes the demand for something different and unique in the UK coffee market, inspiring him to promote PNG’s local coffee.
The project has garnered interest from the UK High Commissioner to Fiji, who has expressed willingness to support and connect with counterparts. Acknowledging the need for marketing expertise, Kanene highlights the support received from the Tourism Promotion Authority.
In return, the team will create a television advertisement.
By showcasing PNG products on a global platform, Kanene aims to attract potential investors and increase demand for PNG coffee, even in places such as London where a single cup can cost eight pounds.
