A film made in just 48 hours has won a place in a filmmaking masterclass in Hawai‘i for Solomon Islands team BigEye.

They won the inaugural Pacific of Pasifika 48-hour Film Challenge (POP48) with short film Our Culture Matters.

The win was announced on 5 October, 2026, securing the team a place in a four-day filmmaking masterclass from 21 to 24 October.

The filmmaking initiative brings Pacific storytellers together with industry leaders, including International Cultural Arts Network founders Brian Keaulana and Angie Laprete, who produce Apple TV+ series Chief of War. Photo/pasifikatv.co.nz

The masterclass will be led by the International Cultural Arts Network (ICAN) founders Brian Keaulana and Angie Laprete, who also produce Apple TV+ series Chief of War.

Nicole Rex Taofinu’u, Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL) acting chief of content, says BigEye stood out for its strong storytelling and use of culture.

She described it as a “thought‑provoking and engaging film,” with the team weaving the challenge’s creative ingredients into their story.

Aburu Poetic Mao dancers feature in Our Culture Matters, Team BigEye’s winning short film celebrating Solomon Islands culture and storytelling. Photo/BigEye Production Team

“One of the standout elements is the beautiful soundscape, incorporating a chant from their ancestors in a way that feels both culturally grounded and creatively innovative,” she says.

Taofinu’u says Our Culture Matters also received the highest number of online votes from viewers across the Pacific and beyond.

“It is a wonderful celebration of the creativity and talent coming out of the Solomon Islands, and a very deserving win for Team Big Eye,” she says.

Wilfred Akwai, producer, editor and cameraman for Team BigEye, films a scene for Our Culture Matters, made in just 48 hours during the inaugural Pacific of Pasifika 48-hour Film Challenge. Photo/BigEye Production Team

From a 48-hour film to Hawai‘i

For the team, the next step is to build the technical skills needed to take their work further.

Wilfred Akwai, BigEye producer, editor, and cameraman, says the team wants to learn more about camera work, directing, lighting, storytelling, editing, colour grading, and post‑production.

“Because I think these are the most challenging things a Solomon Islander would like to learn about,” he says.

Ben Teoga portrays the heathen chief in Our Culture Matters, the Solomon Islands team’s winning entry in the inaugural Pacific of Pasifika 48-hour Film Challenge. Photo/Supplied

Akwai says the opportunity will be a valuable learning experience for the team and other emerging filmmakers in the Solomon Islands.

Team BigEye includes Akwai, Danzo Kakadi, Rodney Kwaita, Nigel Seseli, Martin Iro, Don Lebata, Kens Misilifoa, and Ben Teoga.

They wrote, filmed and edited their six‑minute entry in just 48 hours from 4 to 6 September during the regional challenge hosted in Honiara by Tavuli News.

Akwai also acknowledged Pasifika TV, Tavuli News, and the teams that took part from Solomon Islands, Fiji, Sāmoa, and the Cook Islands.

Team BigEye is already confirmed to represent Solomon Islands again next year, becoming the first team from the country to re-enter the competition.

Team Big Eye’s cast and crew celebrate Our Culture Matters, which won the inaugural Pacific of Pasifika 48-hour Film Challenge and secured the eight-member team a place in a filmmaking masterclass in Hawai‘i.

Pacific stories on screen

POP48 was created by PCBL through Pasifika on Air to give emerging Pacific filmmakers a platform to tell their own stories, develop their skills, and share Pasifika creativity with regional audiences.

The inaugural challenge brought together 20 teams from Fiji, Sāmoa, Solomon Islands, and the Cook Islands, supported by local broadcasters FBC TV (Fiji), TV1 Sāmoa, Tavuli News (Solomon Islands), and Pacific Standard Time (Cook Islands).

For Team BigEye, the Hawai‘i masterclass offers a chance to build on a story rooted in Solomon Islands culture and bring new filmmaking skills home, Akwai says.

Watch highlights of Team BigEye's production of Our Culture Matters.