Saving Tuvalu

The issue our film is addressing is climate change.

The key messages our film will convey are:
● Tuvaluans are living at the frontline of the climate crisis and their quality of life is being impacted in the form of rising sea levels, coastal erosion, drought, deteriorating marine resources and salinisation of groundwater.
● Tuvalu is at risk of being submerged by the end of the century.
● Tuvaluans have a right to a resilient future on their own land.
● Advanced economies have a responsibility to protect smaller countries from the impacts of climate change.
● Tuvalu should not have to pay the price for the emissions of other countries.

To ensure that, in the event of sea level rise, the sovereignty of Tuvalu is protected and the human rights of the community is upheld.

Impact Goals
– Heighten awareness of climate change in Australia and the broader Western world by sharing the stories of people living the effects of it.
– Amplify the message of Tuvaluan youth leaders and the organisations they lead, and draw new audiences to their activism.
– Support campaigns that demand more transparency around the activities of ‘big tech’ companies who claim that innovations like the metaverse are a “solution” to climate devastation.
– Support campaigns that advocate for the global commitment to phase out fossil fuels by 2030, and demand more clarity on the operations of the ‘Loss and Damage’ fund for vulnerable countries that was established after COP27.
– Support campaigns that demand transparency and accountability of the Australian Government who pledged to safely relocate displaced Tuvaluans and help others “stay in their homes with safety and dignity”.
– Promote the work of human rights organisations including Climate Refugees.

Kate and Amelia have been developing this project with collaborating director, Kato, since 2022.

Guided by Tuvaluan values – kaitasi (shared responsibility) and falepili (being a good neighbour) – our approach prioritises meaningful engagement with participants, their families and the Kaupule (Island Council). Their guidance shapes our processes of gaining consent, models of shared authorship and community remuneration, and narrative framing throughout development, production, and post-production – ensuring the film is created with the community, not about them. We will reflect on the potential consequences of our storytelling choices through ongoing dialogue and structured feedback processes.

Our approach draws on the principles of First Nations-led filmmaking, adapting Screen Australia’s Guide to Working with Indigenous People, Culture and Concepts, for a Tuvaluan context.

To support campaigns that advocate for the global commitment to phase out fossil fuels by 2030