Held on October 17 at the Catholic Bishops Conference in Port Moresby, the festival concluded a year-long series of Media Education Seminars under the theme “Voices and Faces in an AI Age,” inspired by Pope Leo XIV’s message for World Day of Social Communications 2026.

 

Marianville Secondary School won first place with its film AI and Me. La Salle Technical Secondary School secured second place with A Voice Not Mine. At the same time, St. Joseph’s International Catholic College took third place with Strangers in the End—a panel of judges screened and evaluated ten student-produced short films.

 

Archbishop Maurizio Bravi, Apostolic Nuncio to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, attended as chief guest. Other dignitaries included Fr Joseph Sewiss, Secretary to the Apostolic Nunciature; Dr Veera Mendonca, UNICEF Representative in Papua New Guinea; Fabian Chow, Honorary Consul-General of Singapore; Dame Jean Kekedo; Renata Mari, MDI Project Manager; Barbara Thomas Elias, TVI Executive Director; and Annette Ingirin, principal of De La Salle Secondary School, Bomana. Representatives of media organisations, parents, teachers and students also attended.

 

Addressing the gathering, Archbishop Bravi drew on Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, stressing that technology must serve humanity, uphold human dignity and promote the common good.

 

He cautioned students against allowing artificial intelligence to control their lives and urged them to recognise the real people behind digital screens. “These faces are not artificial. They are real,” he said.

 

He also reminded students that, although AI offers instant answers and assistance, it should not replace their relationship with God or meaningful human relationships. He encouraged them to remain grounded in reality and nurture their bonds with family and friends.

 

The festival gave students a platform to examine their engagement with technology and social media and share their insights through films and other digital formats. Through their productions, they explored the challenges young people face in an increasingly AI-driven world while highlighting the importance of responsible media use.

 

Throughout the year, the Media Education Seminars helped participants develop communication skills, understand media practices and reflect on the ethical use of digital technologies. In doing so, they also encouraged students to consider Magnifica Humanitas' message and the need to place human dignity at the centre of technological development.

 

Festival presentations and discussions examined AI’s influence on human relationships, faith and communication. Building on these exchanges, sessions led by Lucy Napitalai and Fr Ambrose Pereira SDB explored the challenges artificial intelligence poses and the nature of personal communication in a virtual world.

 

The nine participating institutions were Don Bosco Technological Institute, Don Bosco Technical School, Mary Help of Christians Technical and Vocational Institute, La Salle Technical Secondary School, Jubilee Catholic Secondary School, St. Joseph’s International Catholic College, Caritas Business College, Marianville Secondary School and De La Salle Secondary School.

 

The event concluded with the presentation of certificates and prizes, followed by expressions of gratitude to the students, participating schools, organisers, sponsors and partners who supported the Media Education Seminars throughout the year.