Film Society partners with ABC Open to create local stories

Over the past few months, Colleen Hughson, ABC Open Producer and Port Fairy Film Society member, delivered a number of filmmaking workshops to interested punters in the community. The workshops were supported by the film society and run at the Port Fairy Community House.

The aim of the workshops was to create a number of photo stories on the theme of change. So workshop participants found subjects and stories that interested them and created short films (2-3 min duration) through audio and photographs.

You watch the stories by going to the abc southwestvic local website:

www.abc.net.au/southwestvic/open

You can find out more about ABC Open and ABC Projects by visiting the ABC Open website http://open.abc.net.au/

You would be amazed with the diversity of the stories and the quality of the projects created locally by the community. If you are impressed with the stories then let the filmmakers know by making a comment on the ABC Open South West Vic page: http://open.abc.net.au/posts/4072

The ABC Open website was launched on September 15th. You can read all about the ABC Open project, how to get involved, who is doing what around Australia and how you can create your own local story to contribute to ABC Open by checking out the website or by contacting Colleen Hughson at the local ABC Radio Station.

We hope you enjoy the stories

“Welcome” to come to Port Fairy

A Kurdish boy from Iraq trying to reach the UK strikes up an unusual friendship with a middle-aged Frenchman.

This month the Port Fairy Film Society has the pleasure of screening “Welcome” a provocative and topical French film by writer director Philippe Lioret. The film is described as an emotionally affecting drama about intersecting lives, unlikely friendships and the hope of new beginnings. It depicts a modern day migration dilemma where Bilal, a modern 17 year old Kurdish refugee, has spent the last three months of his life traveling across Europe to reunite with his girl friend who has emigrated to England.

Without the required documentation he decides to swim across the channel and goes to the local swimming pool hoping to train. There he develops a friendship with Simon the swimming instructor who is initially uninvolved and indifferent to Bilal, but over time they form a strong bond which establishes the human connection across race, age, culture and political divides. This deeply personal story shines a light on the impact of decisions and laws made by modern governments which affect the lives of asylum seekers and refugees and those who become part of their struggle. This particular film was widely received and debated in France due to a controversial French law which penalizes those citizens who help refugees. It is indeed food for thought as a deeply personal reflection on the issues of illegal immigrants given the current conversation in the Australian landscape.

Welcome was screened to the French and European Parliaments.

Welcome is rated M and screens this Friday at the Reardon Theatre Bank St Port Fairy at 7:30pm.