Papua New Guinea’s first locally produced action crime drama film, Black Python, was officially launched and premiered at Vision City’s Paradise Cinema in Port Moresby last night.
The film focuses on urban crime, youth unemployment, corruption, drug and gun smuggling, and other challenges faced by young people in the city.
The premiere was attended by National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop, senior officers from the National Capital District Commission, the film’s director Spencer Peter William Wangare, cast and crew members, and members of the public.
Speaking at the event, director Spencer Peter William Wangare thanked NCDC for being the major sponsor of the film. He also acknowledged IBS University and the National Cultural Commission for supporting the film industry.
Wangare thanked NCDC employees and the various divisions for encouraging young people to follow their dreams and use their skills and talents.
He also thanked the audience for showing up and supporting the local film industry.
Wangare is a pharmacist who moved into filmmaking because of his passion for the industry.
Black Python is his first film as a director and cinematographer.
The film tells a story based on corruption, betrayal, love and justice, while also highlighting the illegal movement of guns and drugs.
Martial arts pioneer and Black Python star Master Jamuga Stone explained the meaning behind the film’s name.
Stone said his father was a snake hunter in the 1960s and 1970s and travelled from Kairuku towards the Kerema area to hunt snakes.
He said black pythons could grow to about 20 feet long and were not poisonous but could be dangerous because of their strength.
Stone said the snake represents his character’s fight to stop the illegal gun and drug trade in the film.
“The significance of this snake here in the movie is me trying to squeeze out the business of gun smuggling and drug smuggling. I want to squeeze the business out,” he said.
In his keynote address, Governor Parkop congratulated the cast and crew for completing the project.
He described the film as an ambitious project led by Wangare’s passion, commitment and determination to develop the country’s movie industry.
Governor Parkop said young people should be given more opportunities to use their skills, talents and abilities in new areas such as filmmaking.
“The creative industry could become an important part of the country’s future economy and provide new opportunities for young people,” he said.
The event ended with the official screening of the full Black Python action film before the invited guests and wider audience.