The pacific island nation of Kiribati has become the poster child for climate change, with scientists predicting the country could be submerged under water in as little as 25 years. Katei: Life Between the Tides is a ten-part anthology series that follows the lives of ten Kiribati people as they navigate their individual triumphs and struggles. It is a collection of intimate accounts of life inside a country which has been reduced to headlines and talking points by most of the world.
Aurora Brachman
Aurora Brachman was first introduced to Kiribati while a student at Pomona College. There she received funding from the Pacific Basin Institute to direct and produce a documentary short on the interpersonal effects of climate change on I-Kiribati youth. Aurora was deeply affected by this first trip to Kiribati and developed an admiration and respect for the country and its people. During her time there she became aware of the gross misrepresentation of Kiribati in international media. She formed numerous close friendships with I-Kiribati people and sought their counsel on how her work could best serve their needs. Aurora dedicated the next several years to studying the best practices on how to ethically and respectfully conduct research and produce media on the Pacific Islander experience and the conclusion of this research lead her to develop Katei: Life Between the Tides, made possible in part by a Fulbright Scholarship in filmmaking. The intention of Life Between the Tides is to be a platform of empowerment and self- representation for Kiribati and to build respect, empathy, and understanding of Kiribati people to ease their transition when they are forced to migrate from their country in the near future
