THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN - A documentary produced by ARTE Reportage and Noon Productions
ATU BUKA MEHI - IN SEARCH OF A DREAM - A 26 minutes documentary distributed by Noon Productions
To Australia’s North lies East Timor, one of the world’s newest nations. In terms of the role it plays in popular media, it is also one of the most politically and culturally obscured. To the outside world, the East Timorese and their land are still shadows of their recent past; their society, culture and nation are hastily shown in images associated with politics, trauma and poverty.
Atu Buka Mehi - In Search of a Dream attempts to look at the more positive aspects of East Timor, by focusing on a game that transcends the culture, politics and race of people from all over the world… soccer. The film was produced completely independently, on a modest but reasonable budget for a first film. It was always our aim to give a representation of Timorese culture and provide some insight into other aspects of Timorese life to the outside world, who seem to gaze as the tiny island’s misadventures make big news.
The film consists of three main characters: Ano; a talented young striker, Ari, a player for the National team and Fransisco Kalbuadi the president of the Football Federation of Timor Leste. The main conceptual thread is East Timor itself and its own inner strength for self-determination as it pursues its passion and culture. In late 2005 we followed two football heroes and we filmed short “glimpses” of their lives. We were also in East Timor when its football leaders attended an “extraordinary FIFA conference” in Morocco to determine whether or not the nation would become a full member of FIFA, alongside the football nations of the world.
Through the lives of the main characters a greater understanding of contemporary East Timorese society is achieved and a more human understanding of East Timor is pursued. The whole purpose behind selecting football as the main focus is the allegoric role it plays in East Timor’s journey to freedom. Atu Buka Mehi - In Search of a Dream is different as the Timorese themselves and their way of life offer a greater presence than in other films I have seen shot on location in East Timor. One of the most important factors was capturing moments that represent as candid an image of Timor as possible. Working within the aesthetics of a documentary about sport, we thought we could push the boundaries and encourage a more human element rather than relying on sporting action. It is a largely character driven and political, social and historical material is found, shaping the general feel of the film.
NAURU, ISLAND OF DISASTERS produced by ARTE and Beta Productions, Production support in Australia, Ponto Combo / Noon Productions
Arte and Beta Productions have produced a 52-documentary about Nauru and the Pacific solution called "Nauru, Island of Disasters", as well as a 12-minute film about the "Grey Nomads" in Queensland. Ponto Combo organised the complete production coordination of both these documentaries in Australia and Nauru. We helped the Journalist/Director, Laurent Cibien and his Director of Photography, Pascal Carcanade, with the final research of each topic and the logistics in Australia and Nauru. We also helped with the organisation of contacts in Nauru, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra.
"Nous avons travaillé avec Bruno, de Ponto Combo, sur la préparation de deux films pour la magazine d'information ARTE-REPORTAGE. Son professionnalisme, sa disponibilité, son carnet d'adresses et sa connaissance approfondie du terrain ont été pour nous des atouts incontestables. Nous ne pouvons que conseiller aux équipes françaises (et autres) qui souhaitent organiser des tournages en Australie et dans la région de faire appel à Ponto Combo".
Laurent Cibien, Realisateur - Arte-Reportage
"We have worked with Bruno of Ponto Combo, on the production of two films for the Current Affairs TV program ARTE-REPORTAGE. His professionalism, availability, contacts and deep knowledge of Australia and the Pacific region were for us exceptional assets for the projects. We are highly advising French (and other) TV crews who need to organise film shoots in Australia and the Pacific Zone to trust Ponto Combo".
Laurent Cibien, Director - Arte-Reportage
