Far South Film Festival to screen 15 regional voices in online event

The film festival is going ahead despite all of NSW being in lockdown as it will be entirely online, with viewers able to enjoy the festival from the comfort of their homes.

From the 15 short films being presented during the festival, which runs from August 21-31, four were created by Bega Valley film makers.

Three of them are documentaries created in Merimbula, Wallaga Lake and Tathra, and the fourth a three-part film created in South Pambula and Tilba Tilba.

You can rent the films individually at $5 each, nine for $40 or two other bundle offers priced at $60 or $75.

If you are interested in supporting local filmmakers visit the Far South Film ticket website at: https://online.farsouthfilmfestival.com/

Bagan, Barra Barra, Mirriwarr - Land Sea Sky - South Pambula and Tilba Tilba

Bagan, Barra Barra, Mirriwarr - translated as Land Sea Sky - is a three-part film brought together by creative director Cheryl Davison and film director Andrew Robinson.

The seven minute film comprises three music videos in the Dhurga language, composed and sung by members of Djinima Yilaga indigenous women's choir based at Four Winds, Bermagui.

Each of the three films incorporate a mixture of symbolism, themes and deep underlying messages to pass on messages of the Yuin culture.

"These films are basically heritage films to pass onto future Yuin kids and communities, to remind them of their language and their culture," film and photography director, Andrew Robinson said.

Mr Robinson said the Djinima Yilaga choir had regained Indigenous culture and language that had been broken down by taking ownership in their songs.

"They're taking ownership of it by bringing it back to life through song as well and it's just this profound cultural responsibility that we need to maintain."

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this film may contain images and voices of people who have died.

The first film 'Walawaani' acts as a Welcome to Country, introducing viewers to the different landscapes on the Far South Coast, featuring an Indigenous woman singing out to her surrounds, drawing out Indigenous members from different landscapes to one meeting point.

The second film 'Ganbi' adopts a Dreamtime story theme, looking into the healing aspects of fire, starting with a white cockatoo flying into the smoke and ending with a black cockatoo flying out into the re-growth in the forests since the fires.

The final film 'Our Way' finishes with a celebration of the local Yuin culture, bringing many aspects of their traditions forward as well as the spirit of coming together to be united as one mob.

Wild Legacies - Tathra

Wild Legacies is a 11 minute documentary created by David Gallan.

Wild Legacies follows the stories of two contrasting environmental campaigners and their work in defending Tasmania's natural heritage in the face of industrial logging.

The first campaigner is a senator, who donated his house and land to establish two wildlife reserves.

The other, a young teacher, spent 449 days living 60 metres up a giant 400 year old tree, vowing not to come down until the promised protections were passed.

"Right now, from Kosciuszko to the coastal forests, our natural heritage is under threat," Mr Gallan said.

"Wild Legacies shows what courageous and generous leadership looks like, people shaping the future, not for themselves but for all."

Invisible - Merimbula

Invisible is a short seven minute documentary created by Merimbula's John Martin and follows the experience of feeling invisible as you grow older.

The documentary features six seniors from the Bega Valley who share their thoughts on ageing on how freeing it can feel to not be recognised.

Mr Martin explains that for some, there comes an age where you aren't the focal point anymore and that this can be a good thing, as it grants you the freedom to blend in.

"They've got more choices in life, so they find it liberating, sort of an independence, I guess," Mr Martin said.

He said the film is broken into three categories of people - those who barely noticed the difference, those who do and embrace it, and then those who want to do something about it.

"Invisibility can be something that elderly people can embrace, because they don't need to prove themselves anymore. They can just do what they like, be who they want to be and do what they want to do."

Yuwinj Dhari-Bulwal - Yuin Stand Strong - Wallaga Lake

Yuwinj Dhari-Bulwal - translated as Yuin Stand Strong - is a 34 minute documentary co-directed by Uncle Warren Ngarrae Foster, produced by renowned local filmmaker Hiromi Matsuoka and brought together by an all South Coast crew.

The documentary explores the stories and perspectives of the Far South Coast's First Nations people when they first sighted Captain James Cook sailing up the east coast of Australia.

"We filmed it in response to the 250 years since Captain Cook sailed up the coast, we asked Elders and youth what the impacts were on us as Yuin people since when he sailed past," Uncle Warren Foster said.

"I think that we need something like this, to tell our side of the story about Captain Cook and how we feel about it all," he added.

In the film Yuin elders and youth tell some of the stories that have been handed down to them about those fateful days.

The film also looks at the local resurgence of Yuin culture through the revival of dance, music and language.

"I think it is important to get the stories across from our perspective, because people don't really hear our side of it and how we perceived the experience," Uncle Warren said.

"There should be more films like that, filmed on Yuin country with Yuin people, telling our stories about our experiences."

Producer Hiromi Matsuoka said the film's title symbolises the film perfectly and film itself conveys the strength and vibrancy of the local Yuin culture.

"The title says at all, you know, the people of the Yuin nation are really standing strong and the film is an indication of the strength of their culture and moving forward," Ms Matsuoka said.

The Far South Film Festival is the only festival in Australia to exclusively feature films from regional filmmakers.

This year the awards ceremony will be hosted by popular entertainers Frankie J Holden OAM and Michelle Pettigrove.

The festival overall will present 15 short films each being under 40 minutes long as well as two Q&A panels with filmmakers from August 21 to 31.

Existing cinema ticket-holders will have their tickets transferred to online tickets.

To find out more about the Far South Film festival visit their website at: https://farsouthfilm.org.au/