Making a film exploring the impact of global warming on Indigenous island communities was a story close to Aaron Fa'aoso's heart.
As a Torres Strait Islander man, Fa'aoso has seen first-hand the chaos rising king tides have wrought on local Torres Strait Islander communities. It's a pitch he readily made to producer Greer Simpkin when he came scouting for ideas.
The result is a new SBS virtual reality short documentary Every King Tide, co-directed by Fa'aoso and recently chosen to screen in the Next VR section of the Cannes film festival.
Aaron Fa'Aoso. Source: Supplied
Fa'aoso said the documentary, aimed to give mainland Australians a first-hand experiences of the plight of the people of Poruma Island, who face becoming climate refugees.
“It's devastated the south-east side of the island. Literally backyards are crumbling away and the sea is crashing on the back doorstep of houses,” Fa'aoso says.
The documentary uses 3D mapping and animated artwork to explore Poruma Island, a small coral island in the Torres Strait, facing extinction as locals battle rising tides to keep their homes and their culture alive.
Poruma Pier Source: Phillemon Mosby and Kevin Levi
“Islands like Poruma will be under the water so to speak and it’s pretty scary. So in terms of cultural maintenance – preservation of their language practice, connection to land – what is the future for all of that?” he asks.
The documentary uses graphic virtual reality footage to explore the faith, passion and spirit of Poruma locals valiantly battling to keep their communities and culture viable.
Fa'aoso said he was motivated to make the film to provide evidence of the devastating reality of climate change on small Islander communities fighting to survive.
“We know that there is a notion that global warming does not exist and there's that ongoing debate. When you see that coming from the Torres Straits and seeing first hand the effects the rising sea levels ...it's a reality for people."
