THE Academy Award nomination of ‘Tanna’, an Australian-produced movie filmed entirely in Vanuatu using local people speaking their own language is a boon for Vanuatu and Pacific tourism says the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.
This Sunday actors from the film, who hail from Tanna’s Yakel community, will grace the Oscars red carpet in Los Angeles in their traditional dress: feathered head-dresses with grass skirts for women and penis sheaths for men.
‘Tanna’ depicts the true story of a couple who decided to marry for love, rather than fulfil their parents’ wishes to marry other people. It won the Audience Award at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival in 2015.
The film beautifully captures the island’s lush beauty and dramatic landscapes including Tanna’s famous looming volcano, as well as the nuances of tribal island life.
Vanuatu Tourism is looking to capitalize on the film’s nomination and the ongoing media coverage it is attracting by running a campaign to the profile of Tanna and Vanuatu, and has introduced travel packages that follow in the footsteps of the film.
“As we all know, film is a powerful medium and has the ability to really put a destination on travellers’ radars. Just look at what the Lord of the Rings franchise has done for New Zealand,” said SPTO CEO Chris Cocker.
“Tanna’s nomination for Oscars would certainly raise Vanuatu Tourism’s profile globally, and by default that of the entire South Pacific region as a whole. Whether Tanna scoops the Oscar on Sunday or not, this is already a huge win for Pacific tourism,” he added.
The film was selected as the Australian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards.
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