Throughout the history of cinema, Western cinema has created a certain exotic image of the Pacific and its people. Since the 1970s Australia has manifested itself as a country that produces its own films, also seen on the screens around the world. Looking at the annual awards of the OCIC/SIGNIS member in Australia for the last 40 years one finds outstanding films. One of its presidents, Peter Malone, has had a great impact with his film criticism, lectures and publications, in SIGNIS, the Catholic world but also in the world of cinema. Catholic schools in this region such as in New Caledonia, Tahiti and Papua New Guinea give great importance to film education but also to local student and professional film productions. This young cinema of the Pacific, called Pasifika films is gaining its place in the world, especially in 2020 when Taiki Waititi, a Maori from New Zealand won an Oscar, and the SIGNIS North America award.
