By Post-Courier,Prime Minister James
Copyright postcourier
Papua New Guinea will walk the red carpet into cinema history next week when Papa Buka; the country’s first-ever Oscar entry, has its grand premiere at Paradise Cinemas, Vision City, on Thursday, 18 September 2025.
The film, directed by internationally acclaimed Indian filmmaker Dr. Biju (Bijukumar Damodaran), is not only PNG’s debut submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards, it also marks a cultural milestone for the nation as it celebrates its 50th Independence Anniversary.
The premiere, set for 6:00 PM in Cinema Hall 3, is expected to be a glittering affair attended by Prime Minister James Marape, foreign dignitaries, cultural leaders, business executives, and members of the cast and crew.
“Papa Buka represents a milestone moment in Papua New Guinea’s cinematic history,” reported Variety, which broke the news of the Oscar submission.
The PNG Oscar Selection Committee, working under the National Cultural Commission, described the film’s recognition as the outcome of a “rigorous evaluation process” one that has placed PNG’s storytelling firmly on the world stage.
At the heart of the film is an extraordinary collaboration between Papua New Guinea and India.
Co-produced by Noelene Taula Wunum (PNG), Akshay Kumar Parija, Pa Ranjith, and Prakash Bare, the movie features a cross-cultural cast led by India’s Ritabhari Chakraborty and Prakash Bare, alongside PNG’s own Sine Boboro, an 85-year-old tribal leader whose performance has drawn international acclaim.
Set against the backdrop of World War II, Papa Buka weaves together untold historical connections between PNG and India, told through a blend of Tok Pisin, Hindi, and English.
The emotional depth of the story is further heightened by a soaring score from Grammy Award-winning composer Ricky Kej.
For PNG audiences, the premiere is more than a cinematic debut. It is a symbolic moment of cultural resurgence, linking the nation’s oral storytelling traditions to a global screen.
“This is a film that puts Papua New Guinea on the international cinema map,” said National Cultural Commission Executive Director Steven Kilanda. “It is not just our story; it is our identity shared with the world.”
Alongside Kilanda, distinguished guests expected at the event include Ambassador Rajeev Kumar (India), Ambassador Ann Marie Yastishock (United States), West New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel, Chief Secretary Ivan Pomaleu, NBC’s Kora Nou, Toyota Motors CEO Masaru Mikami, and UPNG Vice Chancellor Prof. Ian Findlay, among others.
For director Dr. Biju and the cast and crew, the grand premiere is both a culmination and a beginning: the moment PNG takes its first step toward Oscar night.
As the nation gathers to watch Papa Buka flicker across the big screen for the very first time, the message is clear: Papua New Guinea’s stories belong to the world.
