Haus Piksa: The Informal Economy of Film Distribution in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

An informal system of media distribution and screening has been established in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea via the haus piksa (village cinema). This article investigates how media distribution and screening are connected to the growing informal economy, the economic and social motivations of local entrepreneurs who have created spaces for viewing media, and the conflicting opinions about the social change they have brought to village communities. We draw conclusions about how this informal media infrastructure might be leveraged for development initiatives.