FIFO 2025. The 22nd edition of the festival at the Maison de la Culture has just concluded. The FIFO will continue “Outside the Walls” before getting a fresh makeover in 2026. From January 31 to February 9, 2025, 10 films were presented in competition, and 18 out of competition. Let’s take a closer look at the role, place, and importance of documentaries, particularly Oceanian documentaries, in our lives.
Presenting a reality or a true story in the form of a film is the essence of a documentary. This role is considered essential by both professionals and the audience. During FIFO, over 5,000 students attended screenings. John, a high school student, was deeply moved by some of the stories. After watching the film FIÈR.E.S, la voix du Pacifique, he said, visibly touched: “Thank you for making documentaries that carry our voices. Let’s keep our heads high and be proud. Today, I learned so much and I recognized myself. It’s not easy being young and sometimes not knowing who to talk to about my feelings. FIFO documentaries help some people be less critical of us, for example, the raerae, the trans, whatever you want to call it. We exist and we have to deal with it, and I think it’s good and important that we make documentaries on the subject so that people might be more understanding. We didn’t choose to be this way.”
The documentary is a powerful tool that stirs emotion and allows for reflection. Virginie Tetoofa, director and producer, explains: “The role of the documentary is to highlight the realities of a country, a people, a community of people, to convey their daily lives. I think that’s the purpose of a documentary, as opposed to fiction. Fiction is a space where you create, invent, and imagine. The documentary is reality, it anchors you, and it forces you to face the truth. That’s why we need documentaries, especially in Oceania, because there are issues in our region that we need to talk about.”
This analysis is shared by Wallès Kotra, co-founder of FIFO: “Documentary serves to make things change, to evolve mentalities, to discover, and to provoke personal reflection.”
Raising awareness, informing, and educating are just a few of the roles that a documentary plays. “I believe that the documentary deals with an important subject, a problem, and it serves to plant seeds of thought in people’s minds. Documentaries awaken consciousness. They allow us to shed light on truths, difficulties, or not. Documentaries make us reflect, to provoke our own thinking,” emphasizes Virginie Tetoofa.
The Importance of Indigenous Documentaries
Whatever the subject or theme of a film, the documentary is a tool for transmitting knowledge. It allows for exploring various topics, whether historical, scientific, environmental, or societal. For Wallès Kotra, the place of documentary is vital in Oceania and plays a key role in preserving the memory of peoples, cultures, and significant events. They help ensure that certain dark periods are not forgotten. “Our countries cannot just settle for consumption; they must also enrich themselves. For Oceania, for example, it is important that we know our region—it is our roots and must be our future. All of this cannot disappear along the way, and it is possible that it will if we are not vigilant enough,” warns the father of the FIFO. He continues: “Oceanian documentaries contribute to the cohesion of our countries. Island societies are very fragile, so it is important to have content that speaks about the islands, but it is also important how we address these topics. So yes, we need documentaries, but they must be made by Oceanians, and the indigenous people must invest in it.”
Audiovisual professionals agree on the importance of a documentary made by indigenous people. “As a child, I was greatly impacted by the television images shown to me. I did not see myself reflected in them. When we talk about land of sharing, land of respect and humility, and what was shown on TV, it was not at all what we lived every day; it was not my reality,” says Nunë Luepak, a Kanak author, director, producer, and screenwriter. This highlights the importance of documentaries made by Oceanians, insists Wallès Kotra: “Before, we saw the images of others, but we didn’t see our own images. Often, our images were made by foreigners, and so it was their perspective of us. We wanted there to be an offering where we could see ourselves as in a mirror, so that our children and society could have an image of themselves, not just that of others.”
A form of resistance
The documentary, a noble art that conveys emotions, messages, and gives a voice to those who don’t have one. Harmonie Huang, a teacher at the Faa’a vocational high school, accompanied two of her classes to the FIFO. She highlights the importance of the festival and documentaries:
“We brought our students to the FIFO so they could broaden their minds to the different cultures of the Pacific. To make them aware of some struggles, like those in Mo’orea trying to preserve the Tema’e beach, or those dealing with disabilities, or even those who are fighting to preserve sacred places and their land. Documentaries are important because they teach us what’s happening elsewhere in the Pacific, but also here at home. It changes the habits of our students, who are often only on social media. It helps to raise awareness and shows similarities with our Pacific cousins in struggles like colonialism and land preservation.”
For one morning, the students were able to appreciate various films without being glued to social media. This is a good thing, according to Wallès Kotra, who says: “When social media appeared, we realized that it deconstructs many things. They are short formats, where we jump from one thing to another without truly engaging with the content. A documentary allows us to pause and explain the complexity of things.”
Deconstructing, building, the documentary is also a form of resistance. “Many challenges still lie ahead, and it’s up to us to stay attentive. The Oceanian documentary helped us emerge, to exist, but today we must also resist. We often talk about serious issues, but not only. The documentary should accompany this resistance. We need to show those who stand strong despite the storm, whether they are farmers, dancers, religious figures, or others, defending their story. The subjects of a documentary are endless, so let’s continue to reveal our countries and make our societies understood. The documentary is the response of an era,” says Wallès Kotra. He emphasizes the approach of Oceanian documentaries: “Very often, it’s respect and resilience that characterize them. In Oceania, we’ve absorbed this. In our region, in general, it’s not those who shout who are right. Often, those who hold the knowledge don’t speak, so the job of a documentary filmmaker is to seek it out. Often, in other mediums, when we want to go quickly, we give the floor to someone else who doesn’t have the legitimacy to speak. The approach of humility and respect is an Oceanian hallmark.”
The documentary, much more than just an informational film, reflects the world around us. It can be a driver of change. While it contributes to a better understanding of the issues we face, it sometimes leads to action in response to the realities of the world. The great documentaries in the history of cinema have left a lasting impact and influenced society.
Jenny Hunter & Vaikehu Shan
French