NATIONAL FILM INSTITUTE The present day National Film Institute has evolved through a successful amalgamation of the former Skul Bilong Wokim Piksa (created in 1983) with the Film Department of the Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies (created in 1976). The original; objective of the Skul Bilong Wokim Piksa was to work in collaboration with the Goroka-based Raun Raun Theatre was to produce stage plays, films and video tapes for Papua New Guinea audiences. And so doing, involve Papua New Guinea video makers and actors in developing a home-based theatre and film industry. The Port Moresby-based Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies meanwhile was tasked with documenting on film aspects of traditional culture in a society expriencing rapid social changes. Over the years, both film institutions succeeded in producing a variety of progammes to a high international standard, including winning several overseas awards. These two collections of moving images provided the initial resource for the establishment of a National Ethnographic Film Archive under the supervision of Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies' Film Unit. Following a fire in 1998 which destroyed the Goroka Studio Complex, the National Film Institute is currently operating out of temporary premises in North Goroka. A project is now underway, seeking donor funding to commence construction of a purpose built studio in 2001. The new building, when completed will feature environmentally controlled secure storage facilities and a permanent home for the Film, Television and Sound Archives of Papua New Guinea. Film available.. The National Film Institute has these objectives to pursue: (a) Developing of film as a medium of communication with a wide Papua New Guinea audience; and (b) Creating awareness of the richness of Papua New Guinea cultures through films; and (c) Encouraging the making of Papua New Guinea documentary films; and (d) Producing films with Papua New Guinea perspective; and (e) Developing films as an educational took; and (f) Promoting Papua New Guinea abroad through film; and (e) Developing film as an educational tool; and (f) Promoting Papua New Guinea abroad through film; and (g) Developing towards establishing a commercial film industry; and (h) Monitoring and facilitating the activities of foreign film crews in Papua New Guinea; and (i) Drawing up policies to regulate foreign film crews in Papua New Guinea. The National Film Institute is one of the three (3) cultural institutions of the National Cultural Commission located in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province. One of the main functions of this institution through the National Cultural Commission is the development, promotion and production of Papua New Guinea Films in this country. The major set-back for this important institution of the Commission was that in June 1998, fire completely burnt down its main Film Studio and Office Complex, with the total loss of all film-making and video editing equipment together with archival materials representing fifteen (15) years work by Papua New Guinea's first generation of film-makers. National Film Institute is currently renting an office space with NBC in Goroka, until a permanent Film Studio is constructed. Having faced with this problem, National Film Institute has managed to accomplish some of its planned activities last year. Under its annual plan for 2004, National Film Institute plans to carryout the following programmes: National Film Studio and Office Complex This project is a new programme National Cultural Commission has initiated to come under the Public Investment Program cycle (PIP) of the National Government. The National Film Institute (N.F.I.), a semi autonomous institution funded by the state and governed by the National Cultural Commission of Papua New Guinea, came into existence by an Act of Parliament in 1994 when it effectively replaced the former Skul Bilong Wokim Piksa (SBWP). Frame Works Pty Ltd, a Goroka based architectural company was engaged by National Film Institute to design a simple low cost building that is tailored to the specific needs of film-making, and with adequate studio/office accommodation for eleven processional staff members. This design documentation for a new National Film Studio Complex has been completed and is with the National Film Institute awaiting Papua New Guinea Government's funding. Therefore, the National Film Institute and the Commission have put together a submission last year through the Department of National Planning and Monitoring for possible funding this year under the Japanese Cultural Grant Aid. The Commission will know by June this year of this submission. Rehabilitation/Relocation of Film Archive The Film Unit of the Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies an autonomous Institution within the National Cultural Commission does collections of Film and Television materials, made up of moving images produced by the film unit itself and copies of films made by visiting overseas film-makers deposited with the Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies. National Ethnographic Film Archive, since its inception in 1976 the collection steadily grew resulting in the purchase and modification of a standard shipping container to meet the need for a secure environmentally controlled archival storage facility that was totally a dequate for many years. This means of storage was totally adequate for many years, however, a series of policy directives aimed at rationalizing national research institutions saw the Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies amalgamated within the National Research Institute to become the Cultural Studies Division. Following budgetary restraints maintenance of funding was limited and despite vigorous and continued complaints from the Cultural Services Development Staff including the Film Unit and the archival facilities and contents at the Boroko compound began to deteriorate. Following a disastrous fire which destroyed the Goroka based former Skul Bilong Wokim Piksa (N.F.I.) studios the Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies Film Unit in a further process of rationalisation was transferred together with equipment to Goroka and amalgamated within the National Film Institute. At this juncture and acting on a recommendation from the National Cultural Commission Board the remaining Film Archives were transferred by National Film Institute staff to a temporary albeit secure and partially environmentally controlled storage room at the National Cultural Commission Headquarters. This temporary arrangement has not been totally effective, as the continuous power outages in Port Moresby interrupt the air-conditioning and dehumidification, the result has been the further deterioration of the contents of the vault. The current status of the collection remains unstable until such time resources are made available to rehabilitate the archive and relocate it to a permanent home within the National Institute in Goroka. Before it is too late, National Film Institute would want the relocation of Film Archives be this year (2004). Mask Script Writing One of the most important aspects of Papua New Guinea's material culture is the Spirit Mask, or Tumbuan in Melanesian Tok Pisin. Following the introduction of Christianity during the last century, and the effects of rapid social and economic development since Independence the ritual and traditional skills associated with mask construction has steadily eroded. Today there remain four main regions still practising mask culture; the Gulf of Papua, East West Sepik, Madang/Morobe Province and East & West New Britain. Originally conceived by the National Cultural Commission, and first staged in 1995, the National Mask Festival aims to encourage the making, performing, and display of both traditional and contemporary Papua New Guinea masks. The 7th National Mask Festival held in Kokopo, East New Britain Province 2001 was an outstanding success with 29 groups from the four main mask culture regions within Papua New Guinea participating. The National Film Institution has taken a footage of that festival in 2001 and is hopeful of writing the script of the Mask Festival this year. Production of Documentary Films One of the functions of the National Film Institute is to developing and producing films with a wide Papua New Guinea perspective and encouraging the making of Papua New Guinea documentary films and creating the awareness of the richness of Papua New Guinea cultures through film. National Film Institute develop and produce two (2 documentary films for public viewing this year (2004). These two documentary films are: . The Mask Festivals . Coffee and Cultural Exchange