The Road to Home explained

The Road to Home
Director:Dominic Brown
Producer:Dancing Turtle Films
Runtime:53 minutes
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English

The Road to Home is a 2015 feature-length documentary[1] about Benny Wenda, the West Papuan independence leader and Nobel Peace Prize nominee.[2] Since his escape from an Indonesian prison in 2002,[3] where he was held in isolation and tortured as a political prisoner,[4] Benny has been an unceasing crusader on the international scene, campaigning to bring about an end to the suffering of his people at the hands of Indonesia's colonial regime.[5]

Background

Granted political asylum in the UK in 2004, Wenda's freedom of movement was restricted in 2011 when, at the behest of the Indonesian government, Interpol issued a ‘red notice’ putting him at extreme risk of extradition should he travel.[6] The following year the ‘red notice’ was lifted after being deemed "predominantly political in nature".[7] Wenda then embarked on a worldwide "Freedom Tour"[8] to build support and awareness for the West Papuan Independence movement. To date Benny has performed and spoken in such diverse places as New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Poland, the United Kingdom, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, the United States of America, and many others.

Production

The film was produced and directed by British filmmaker Dominic Brown, and shot over a two-year period,[9] with the filmmaker joining Benny Wenda on his overseas trips including his appearance at the Oslo Freedom Forum,[10] and his first official overseas tour to the US, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.

Awards

Best Documentary Feature - Amsterdam Film Festival, 2016[11]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Road To Home - Benny Wenda documentary - Dancing Turtle Films. Dancing Turtle Films . 20 November 2018.
  2. Web site: Benny Wenda nominated for Peace Prize again. The Oslo Times . 20 November 2018.
  3. Web site: As Indonesia Threatens West Papuan Freedom Flotilla, Benny Wenda on Struggle for Independence. . 20 November 2018.
  4. Web site: Free West Papua - Benny Wenda's Story. freewestpapua.org. 20 November 2018.
  5. Web site: Benny Wenda: 'West Papuans are living in a prison'. 5 August 2014. 20 November 2018.
  6. Web site: Benny Wenda: 'There's a silent genocide going on in West Papua'. Leah. Hyslop. 28 November 2011. 20 November 2018. www.telegraph.co.uk.
  7. News: Man given asylum off wanted list. Danny. Shaw. 6 August 2012. 20 November 2018. BBC News.
  8. Web site: Freedom Tour announcement - The Office of Benny Wenda. bennywenda.org. 22 January 2013. 20 November 2018.
  9. Web site: About . The Road to Home . November 21, 2018.
  10. Web site: Speakers: Benny Wenda . Oslo Freedom Forum . November 21, 2018.
  11. Web site: Amsterdam Film Festival - Amsterdam Screenplay Contest - 2016 Winners. Amsterdam Film Festival . 20 November 2018.