Nine Islands Media

20/03/2026

Connecting with broadcasters from across the Pacific.

30 CEOs from 15 countries. Journalists. Young leaders.

Some big challenges and opportunities tackled: AI, digital landscape, story sovereignty, leadership.

As part of the PCBL Pasifika TV conference we screened our latest film The War Below: Restoring Hope in the Solomon Islands.

Director Tuki Laumea spoke about the making of the film (a co-production with the Solomon Islands), and the responsibility we hold to people who trusted us with their stories.

17/03/2026

Pasifika Festival bringing much needed light and joy.

11 Pacific nations celebrating culture with 20,000 visitors.

Kai, dancing, singing at Western Springs, Tāmaki Makaurau.

10/03/2026

Our Co-Founder Tuki Laumea received this beautiful carving for winning the Prix Demain/‘Ananahi category at the International Oceanian documentary Film Festival (FIFO Tahiti) 2026.

A huge honour to be presented with this stunning taonga made with aroha and hard work by Centre des Métiers d'Art de la Polynésie française. Truely the most beautiful trophy.

Tuki is director of The War Below: Restoring Hope in the Solomon Islands - exposing the urgent issue of WWII bombs still killing and injuring in the Solomon Islands.

The War Below is a Solomon Islands-Aotearoa New Zealand co-production by Nine Islands Media and Solomon Islands Local Media Agency funded by NZ On Air in collaboration with Pasifika TV.

Aotearoa, Pacific and global screenings announced soon.

06/03/2026

Last night the AIDC - Australian International Documentary Conference awards were announced in Naarm/Melbourne.

We did not take home the award. But being named a finalist for Best Documentary / Factual Single still means something significant for us.

The War Below: Restoring Hope in the Solomon Islands is a Pacific-led and Pacific-owned production.

From the original reporting and idea, to the director, producers, camera team, production manager, commissioner, and most importantly the people who trusted us with their stories. Almost everyone involved in bringing this film to life comes from the Pacific.

That is rare in international documentary.

This nomination recognised a film built by Solomon Islands and Pacific storytellers, telling a story that communities in the Solomon Islands continue to live with today.

We are incredibly proud of that.

Director: Tuki Laumea (Sāmoa)
Producers: Tuki Laumea, Elizabeth Osifelo (Solomon Islands). Cleo Fraser(Māori-Australian)
Assistant Director & Cultural Advisor: Dorothy Wickham (Melanesian News Network)
Funded by: NZ On Air in collaboration with Pasifika TV

Most of all, this recognition belongs to the survivors and advocates working towards a bomb-free Solomon Islands.

23/02/2026

“When our stories are shared across the Pacific, it tells us that our suffering was not invisible and our voices matter."

Beautiful words from Bomb Free Solomon Islands founder and UXO survivor Maeverlyn Pitanoe on learning 'The War Below: Restoring Hope in the Solomon Islands' won a major award at FIFO Tahiti.

A Solomon Islands-Aotearoa co-production exposing the urgent issue of WWII bombs still killing and injuring in the Solomon Islands, more than 80 years after the war ended.

Directed by Tuki Laumea.
Produced by Nine Islands Media and Solomon Islands Local Media Agency.
Funded by NZ On Air in collaboration with Pasifika TV.

A documentary exposing the urgent issue of unexploded World War II bombs still killing and injuring people in the Solomon Islands has won a major award at the International Oceanian Documentary Film Festival in Tahiti. The War Below: Restoring Hope...

19/02/2026

Awarded the Prix Demain / ‘Ananahi (Special Prize for Tomorrow) at FIFO Tahiti.

‘The War Below: Restoring Hope in the Solomon Islands’, directed by Sāmoan Bafta-nominated filmmaker Tuki Laumea, exposes the ongoing brutality of unexploded WWII bombs in the Solomon Islands.

“This film is about listening to those who are living with the consequences, and supporting the call for a bomb free Solomon Islands,” director Tuki Laumea says.

The War Below is a Solomon Islands-Aotearoa New Zealand co-production made by Nine Islands Media and Solomon Islands Local Media Agency, funded by NZ On Air in collaboration with Pasifika TV.

Produced by Cleo Fraser, Tuki Laumea and Elizabeth Osifelo, with strong support from Dorothy Wickham.

13/02/2026

Pacific storytelling excellence.

Discussion at .officiel film festival in Tahiti on the Pacifc nation of Niue 🇳🇺

has two incredible films about Niue featured at the festival.

One directed by , the other by our co-founder

12/02/2026

Nominated for best documentary in Australia.

‘The War Below: Restoring Hope in the Solomon Islands’ has been selected as a finalist for Best Documentary / Factual Single at the 2026 AIDC - Australian International Documentary Conference.

A Solomon Islands–Aotearoa New Zealand co-production, the film exposes the ongoing impact of unexploded World War II ordnance more than 80 years after the war ended.

Directed by Nine Islands Media co-founder Tuki Laumea. Produced by Tuki Laumea, Cleo Fraser and Elizabeth Osifelo - Nine Islands Media/Solomon Islands Local Media Agency.

Funded by NZ On Air in collaboration with Pasifika TV (Pacific Connections - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Auckland).

Made in collaboration with Solomon Islands survivor-led registered charity Bomb Free Solomon Islands.

Winners announced 5 March at ACMI, Melbourne / Naarm. Ngā mihi nui AIDC, and congratulations to the other nominees.

12/02/2026

More than 80 years after WWII ended, bombs still kill and injure in the Solomon Islands.

Final screening of The War Below: Restoring Hope in the Solomon Islands at FIFO Tahiti tomorrow at 8.25pm (Thursday).

Director Tuki Laumea will be there.

12/02/2026

Director Tuki Laumea and Producer Cleo Fraser speaking on a panel about conflict and colonial legacy in the Pacific.

We are here at FIFO Tahiti representing our Solomon Islands-Aotearoa co-production, ‘The War Below: Restoring Hope in the Solomon Islands’.

More than 80 years after WWII ended, bombs still kill and injure in the Solomon Islands.

Thank you to the audience, to the other filmmakers and to the FIFO team.

09/02/2026

An Inside the Doc conversation with Nine Islands Media co-founder and director Tuki Laumea on The War Below: Restoring Hope in the Solomon Islands.

The interview reflects on the questions that shaped the film and the realities still faced by communities living with unexploded World War II bombs in the Solomon Islands.

Watch here:
https://youtu.be/ERJ27Ac-XrI?feature=shared

04/02/2026

We’re honoured that The War Below: Restoring Hope in the Solomon Islands has been selected in competition at the 23rd International Oceanian Documentary Film Festival (FIFO).

Thank you to the FIFO selection committee for recognising this work, and to our Solomon Islands collaborators and communities whose knowledge and trust shaped the film.

See you in Tahiti next week.

Schedule and info for screenings: https://www.fifotahiti.com/en/homepage-2026/

Bienvenue sur le site officiel du Festival International du Film documentaire Océanien ! La 22ème édition du FIFO aura lieu du 31 janvier au 09 Février 2025.