Slice of Life Opena Gosalo

„A Slice of Life - Opena Gosalo“ is the pilot film of a telenovela from the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. It is a highly collaborative project, grounded in the long-term and close relationship between a local community and a visual anthropologist. It is based on (slightly modified) true stories and combines fiction/drama with ethnographic footage of thirty years. The script has been developed on site by the filmmakers/anthropologist and the community members, who also became the actors of the film. The whole community was involved in the production process – as advisors, actors, script-developers, evaluators, securities, caterers, camera/sound assistants, helping hands and much more. Set not far from Goroka town, the provincial capital, the adventures of our main characters give insights into a wide range of topics that are relevant throughout Papua New Guinea today, referring to local economy and economic empowerment, urban and rural life, gender relations, health and nutrition, violence and peace building as well as traditional belief systems and religion. Most importantly, the series reveals strategies how to deal with the challenges of social and cultural change in Papua New Guinea today. The pilot-film „A Slice of Life - Open Gosalo“has been released in 2022. It was screened with great success at the University of Goroka, the German Ethnographic International FilmFestival (GIEFF), the Humboldt Forum Berlin and selected cinemas in Germany. The community and the team are eager to continue their collaboration in this exceptional project. Scripts for 9 more episodes (Season 1) have been drafted. We are still looking for funding and partners to support the production of the first season of SLICE OF LIFE