02/06/2010

If you have trouble viewing, watch it on Youtube here 21/05/2010

What a night… We’d first like to thank the Koori Centre at the University of Sydney, who generously made this event possible. Thank you Sarina.

Close to 500 people came. National Indigenous Television (NITV) came to film the whole event, and featured it on their TV news bulletin the following evening. And our guests Rev. Dr. Djiniyini Gondarra, Les Malezer and Jeff McMullen provided the opportunity for deep and inspiring discussion following the film. The atmosphere was electric and intense, with minds and hearts opened.

We’d like to thank all who came, who made the event so special, and full of the spirit of change and hope that this country needs. We can’t wait to show the film again!

To read the article online, clickhere

To read article online (without photo), clickhere.27/03/10

27/03/10: A great event at the prestigious Malthouse Theatre, in association with the world-renowned Chookie Dancers of Elcho Island, whose groundbreaking theatrical performance Ngurrumilmarrmiriyu (Wrong Skin) took place on either side of the film screening.

Blue King Brown came to support the film by giving a stirring acoustic performance before the film.

There was great reception by the crowd, who came out of the theatre signing petitions to re-instate the Racial Discrimination Act and buying “This Is What We Said”, a truthful account of the government’s NT Intervention consultations.

16/03/10: A fantastic night, with the Uniting Church packed to the rafters (apparently the most people it’s ever had in the space). Over 300 people came, including government officials, with many sitting in the aisles and even watching from outside through the windows. In the front row sat Mick Gooda, the new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner.

The wonderful Shellie Morris played some acoustic music before the film started. The film was followed by a long and lively open discussion between indigenous and non-indigenous audience members, including some cast-members of the film, and provided an intimate platform for indigenous voices to be heard by the mainstream.

Read the review and interview in the National Indigenous Timeshere.

02/02/10: A very successful and inspiring night, held at the Schonell Theatre at the University of Queensland.

The film was followed by acoustic music by Shellie Morris (Best Female Artist, NT Indigenous Music Awards), and Q&A with Les Malezer, Chairman of the Global Indigenous Caucus to the United Nations, former Democrats Senator Andrew Bartlett, Michael Williams, Shellie and the filmmakers.

The evening was full of emotion, from both the full-house audience and the panel, and stirred alot of people to action (and tears).

The evening was generously made possible by Michael Williams, director of UQ’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit. Thank you Michael.

30/12/09: Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, accompanied by his wife Blanche, sat in the front row of our preview screening at Woodford Folk Festival. After the film ended, he came straight up to us to pledge his support. Clearly moved by the film, he wanted us to share with him our plans for the film’s outreach, and said that he would try to get us some financial support. We’re still waiting! Nevertheless, a fantastic ally for us. Thank you Bob.

John Butler, had announced the film to his audience of about 10,000 people at one of his big gigs at the festival, so the turn out was huge! In fact, we were sorry the venue was not any larger, as many people had to be turned away.

Once inside, the rough-cut of the film was shown, followed by an intimate acoustic performance by John on stage.

We then had a very moving and inspired discussion between the audience and the panel, which included Yolngu woman Rosealee Pearson, Michael Williams (Head of Aboriginal Studies at the University of Queensland), Andrew Wilford and ourselves the filmmakers. Emotions were high, and the audience were incredibly generous in passing a hat around and collecting an astounding amount of money to help us with the film. Thank you!