Microwave Films of the Marshall Islands

Current Project Updates:


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A Marshallese feature film was released in 2016


Completed Projects:

shell

 

Climate Change Summit 2014 commericial (the segments with Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner)


 

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Microwave Films covered the Marshall Islands Castaway story from start to finish in early February of 2014 for CNN. Microwave Films captured the only film footage of the Castaway, Jose Alvarenga, as he stepped off the patrol boat onto Majuro Atoll. Microwave Films also managed to get an exclusive interview with the unshaven Alvarenga just a day after his arrival from the outer islands of Ebon Atoll.cnn

zori

Completed in the Summer of 2013:

Zori

On an island a flip flop is a terrible thing to lose

A short film in the Marshallese language
Directed and Produced by Jack Niedenthal and Suzanne Chutaro
Original screenplay by Jack Niedenthal
Filmed entirely in the Marshall Islands on Majuro Atoll
9 minutes

Starring:
Maxter Tarkwon, Netha Gideon & Momo Melson



WE ARE NOT DROWNING, WE ARE FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE:

The Dance of the Unbeatable Warrior
A traditional stick dance from Utrok Atoll performed by the Jebo Stickdancers.
This stick dance is based on a legend from Utrôk Atoll and
was choreographed by Jackson Attari. Filmed for 350.org's
PACIFIC ISLAND WARRIOR DAY OF ACTION on March 2, 2013,
this project was funded by the Pacific Voyagers Foundation and is a JO-JIKUM project.

The Dance of the Unbeatable Warrior showed at the Pacific Islanders in the Arts festival on April 18-19-20, 2013
at the University of Hawaii

poster




onedayonearth

Participated in the One Day on Earth film project from the Marshall Islands:
On October 10, 2010 (10.10.10) and then again on December 12, 2012 (12.12.12), across the planet, documentary filmmakers, students, and inspired citizens recorded the human experience
over a 24-hour period and contributed their voice to the largest participatory media event in history.


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A series of 6 commercials ranging from 30 seconds to 6 minutes for the
Marshall Islands Epidemiology & Prevention Initiative explaining the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
signed by the government of the Marshall Islands in 2005.

September 2012

 

 


banjo

Released in September of 2012:

Ainikien Jidjid ilo Boñ
(The Sound of Crickets at Night)

An elderly nuclear survivor from Bikini Atoll summons a mysterious ancient deity to help reunite his family.

A full-length feature film in the Marshallese language
Directed and produced by Jack Niedenthal and Suzanne Chutaro
Original screenplay by Jack Niedenthal
Filmed entirely in the Marshall Islands on Majuro Atoll and Bikini Atoll
1 hour 20 minutes

Starring:
Salome Fakatou, Banjo Joel, Alson Kelen, Jack Niedenthal & Karen Earnshaw

World Premiere:
September 7, 2012, Marshall Islands Resort, Majuro, Marshall Islands

Guam International Film Festival, WINNER, GRAND JURY AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN ACTING, September 2012
Big Island Film Festival,
WINNER, GRAND HONU AWARD for BEST FAMILY FEATURE FILM, May 2013
Moondance International Film Festival, WINNER, ATLANTIS AWARD FOR FOREIGN FILMS, September 2012
Hawaii International Film Festival, OFFICIAL SELECTION, October 2012

Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, OFFICIAL SELECTION, May 2013
Northern California International Film Festival, OFFICIAL SELECTION, February 2013
Asia Pacific Screen Awards, IN COMPETITION, November 2012

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Interview with Jack Niedenthal and Suzanne Chutaro about Ainikien Jidjid ilo Boñ (The Sound of Crickets at Night)
September 22, 2012.


DVD

ORDER NOW!
THE SOUND OF CRICKETS AT NIGHT DVD or BLU-RAY DVD





laninbwil

An enraged Mejenkwar demon plunges an island town into darkness

Film Website:
Lañinbwil's Gift

A Full-length Feature Film
1 hour, 39 minutes, DVD NTSC
in Marshallese with English Subtitles

Directed and Produced by Jack Niedenthal and Suzanne Chutaro
Original Screenplay by Jack Niedenthal

World Premiere at the Marshall Islands Resort in Majuro, the Marshall Islands on May 21, 2011
Release Date, DVD: October of 2011

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GIFF

Awards:
Guam International Film Festival, WINNER, BEST OF FESTIVAL, September 2011
Hawaii Ocean Film Festival, WINNER, BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM, July 2011
Columbia Gorge International Film Festival,WINNER, INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR FEATURE FILMS, August 2011
Moondance International Film Festival, FINALIST, September 2011

Asia Pacific Screen Awards, IN COMPETITION, December 2011

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Interview with Directors/Producers Jack Niedenthal and Suzanne Chutaro
Guam International Film Festival Website, September 17, 2011

laninbwil

Order Lañinbwil's Gift on DVD


The Marshall Islands Census Commercial by Microwave Films (2011, Director's Cut)


logobartowe

Film Website:
Yokwe Bartowe

A Full-length Feature Film
90 minutes, DVD NTSC
in Marshallese with English subtitles

Directed and Produced by Jack Niedenthal and Suzanne Chutaro.
Original screenplay by Jack Niedenthal.

World Premiere, Theatrical, January 29, 2010

Release Date, DVD: March 25, 2010

Awards:
Big Island Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION, May 2010
Asia Pacific Screen Awards IN COMPETITION, December 2010

kailabartowe

dvd

Buy the DVD


 

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Film Website:
Ña Noniep (I am the Good Fairy)

pic of noniep

Full-Length Feature Film for Children (1 hour 48 minutes)
in Marshallese with English Subtitles

Directed and Produced by Jack Niedenthal
Asst. Director and Producer Suzane Chutaro

Original screenplay by Jack Niedenthal.

Release Date, Theatrical: March 5, 2009

Release Date, DVD: April 16, 2009

Awards:
International Youth Film Festival (United Kingdom),Official Selection, August 2009

Listen to a Marshallese song about the movie, Ña Noniep:
"Won Kwe Ijene" by a group from Ebeye, Marshall Islands, "Enno Ta." Sung by Josenia Judah.


noniepcover