First Contact poster

First Contact

7.1(7)198258m2

"First Contact" is a 1983 documentary by Bob Connolly and Robin Anderson which recounts the discovery of a flourishing native population in the interior highlands of New Guinea in 1930 in what had been thought to be an uninhabited area. It is based on the book of the same name by the same authors. Inhabitants of the region and surviving members of the Leahy brothers' gold prospecting party recount their astonishment at this unforeseen meeting. The film includes still photographs taken by a member of the expedition and contemporary footage of the island's terrain. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

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Status
Released
Budget
—
Box office
—
Language
English
Part of The Highlands Trilogy · 3 films
  • woman director

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Produced in

Australia, Canada, United States of America

Gallery

Still from First Contact

Videos

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Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • PremiereChicago Film Festival1 Oct 1982

Frequently asked questions

First Contact was released on 1 October 1982.

Audience reviews

1
  • C

    CinemaSerf

    6/21/2025

    The opening few quotes of this documentary suggested to me just how the Inca might have felt when Pizarro arrived on their doorstep in the 16th century and made his presence felt amongst natives who had never seen a white man. Those that these people did see were Australian prospectors who had moved inland from their increasingly impoverished local coastal locations on the island of New Guinea in search of gold. What…

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