AFTER more than twenty years showcasing Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American films, not-for-profit volunteer film group Melbourne Filmoteca will soon hold their first-ever regional screening in Ballarat.<\/p>\n
Highlighting a local creative, the featured film Nuestras Voces (Our Voices) explores the history and culture of Spanish-speaking migrants in Victoria from the 1960s to 1980s, and was directed by Ballarat-based filmmaker Diana Paez.<\/p>\n
A volunteer with Melbourne Filmoteca for about seven years, she said she\u2019s excited to see her work included in the group\u2019s first regional screening.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really special especially now that I\u2019ve been living in Ballarat for the past few years,\u201d she said. \u201cAlthough the stories are Latin American, Spanish, they\u2019re very relatable emotionally.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany things have been filmed or documented about Greek or Italian communities for example, in Victoria, but nothing about the Spanish-speaking migrants.\u201d<\/p>\n
The film was created as part of the State Government-supported Nuestras Voces project aimed at raising awareness about the migrant and refugee experiences of Spanish-speaking migrants arriving in Australia.<\/p>\n
Shot at various Melbourne suburbs during COVID lockdowns, the film took about a year to produce.<\/p>\n
Having moved to Ballarat in mid-2020, Paez edited the film locally and shot additional footage in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes I found I could go to very specific places in Ballarat that would portray the feeling I was looking to capture during parts of the testimonies,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople who know Ballarat will see some places and moments from the film they might recognise.\u201d<\/p>\n
The event will also feature live music and a salsa performance by Spanish artists Leticia, and Elemento One respectively.<\/p>\n
Following the screening, a Q&A session will take place with Paez and others involved with the project.<\/p>\n
She said she hopes the message of the film will resonate with a regional audience.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve seen how the city is growing with cultural and diversity events, but there\u2019s a lot of benefit the city can have from this,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will greatly continue to open the conversation of multiculturalism here, and not just surface-level. Many important things in Victoria have been built by people that come from different countries.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nuestras Voces (Our Voices) premiered in major Australian cities last year as part of Palace Cinemas\u2019 Spanish Film Festival\u2019s sold-out sessions.<\/p>\n
The screening will take place from 2.30pm at Showbiz Cinemas Ballarat this Sunday 19 November. Tickets are $35 and can be booked at bit.ly\/3QyOLOu.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AFTER more than twenty years showcasing Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American films, not-for-profit volunteer film group Melbourne Filmoteca will soon hold their first-ever regional screening in Ballarat. Highlighting a local creative, the featured film Nuestras Voces (Our Voices) explores the history and culture of Spanish-speaking migrants in Victoria from the 1960s to 1980s, and was […]<\/p>\n