'Mussau: The First Song' Wraps 40-Day Shoot in Papua New Guinea

Principal photography on “Mussau: The First Song” has finished after a 40-day shoot across two provinces of Papua New Guinea, NAFA Productions said. The production marked the wrap with a Thanksgiving event in Port Moresby on Saturday.

The film is described as Papua New Guinea's most expensive to date, at $4.5 million. Filming took place on Mussau Island in New Ireland Province and in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province. The 120-person crew, including 20 technicians from India, spent 30 hours at sea to reach Mussau Island.

Bijukumar Damodaran directs, Parul Agrawal produces and Noelene Taula Wunum is executive producer. The story is by Hilda Tanimia, with a screenplay by Jennifer Litau, Joses Imona and Damodaran. The cast includes Freddy Sutchiff, Candy Ali, Daniel Lee Hird, Kevin Jackson, Jamie Napo, Calvin, Alan Balalua, Frank Eke and Dolvin Aite.

Set in the 1930s, the film follows Taula Livovoa, a young islander who leaves tribal violence and adopts a new faith. Dialogue is in six languages: Mussau, Emirau, Agarabi, Gadsup, Tok Pisin and English.

NAFA Productions aims for a premiere at a top-tier international festival in 2027 and hopes the film will be Papua New Guinea's official entry for best international feature at the 100th Academy Awards. Damodaran's earlier PNG-India co-production “Papa Buka” was the first film Papua New Guinea ever submitted to the Oscars' international feature race, Variety reported.