Doco Screening and Talanoa - Yam: When Yam Tells Men

Food plays an important role in culture. Watch the New Caledonian documentary, 'Yam, quand l'igname raconte les Hommes' and learn about the history, the cultural & social importance of yams in New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and Melanesia.

Screening will be followed by a talanoa/panel discussion with:
- Christine Della-Maggiora and Dominique Roberjot of Latitude 21 Pacific Studio, directors of the movie. (Via Zoom)

- Tracy Berno, Associate Dean Postgraduate and Associate Professor at AUT University in Auckland: Tracy's interests include the relationship between agriculture, tourism and cuisine, sustainable food systems and food politics. She has researched and published widely on agriculture, culture, cuisine and tourism development in the South Pacific and Asia, and has co-authored three international award-winning books in this area. Tracy is the founder and Project Manager of Pacific Food Lab-Aotearoa (PFL-A), which is a partner organisation to Pacific Food Lab -New Caledonia.

- Gabriel Levionnois, French-Tahitian chef, restaurant owner and social entrepreneur in Noumea, New Caledonia: Along with managing his restaurant, Au P’tit Café, "Gaby" is the founder and Project Manager of Pacific Food Lab – New Caledonia, an NGO which focuses on developing sustainable and resilient culinary cultures in the South Pacific region. PFL-NC works with a broad range of food industry stakeholders (including tourism) to create and support the idea that resilient food is at the heart of addressing economic, societal and environmental challenges. (via Zoom)

- Fourth speaker to be confirmed!

Sponsored by the Official Delegation of New Caledonia to New Zealand.

About the movie:
Through "Yam: When Yam Tells Men", Christinne Della-Maggiora and Dominique Roberjot take a look at the men and women of Melanesia and the link that unites them to the yam and to the objects made around this sacred tuber. 4 countries, 6 tribes and as many links between Men and Yam ... Links that echo across the Pacific Ocean: in New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

Yam is an immersion in the heart of a singular Melanesia, strong of a common identity but also strong of its differences. Yam is a movie produced with the greatest respect for this tuber, which is one of the “master plants” of this world and whose existence is intrinsically linked to the values and “Being” of the cultures of Melanesia.