Festival full of Indigenous stories

THE annual Central Victorian Indigenous Film Festival gets under way on Monday.

Now in its eighth year, the festival will feature a range of events at venues in Bendigo, Castlemaine, Glenlyon, Yandoit, and Heathcote.

It is part of National Reconciliation Week and showcases activities, discussions and First Nations films, documentaries and videos starring and telling stories about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from Central Victoria and across Australia.

The festival officially kicks off at 4pm on Monday at the Bendigo Library with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony.

There will be an official opening, the announcement of winners and screening of entries in this year’s Koorie Youth Flick Fest, followed by a screening of the film The Sapphires.

Screenings during the festival will include The Australian Dream starring Adam Goodes, Sweet Country, Sweet As, the first showing of The Earth Above – a deep time view of Australia’s history at the Bendigo Planetarium – Warwick Thornton’s The New Boy, and documentaries Luku Ngara – the Law of the Land, and The Last Daughter.

In addition, First Nations curator Jenna Rain Warwick will be discussing contemporary First Nations video art at the La Trobe Art Institute.

City of Greater Bendigo mayo, Cr Andrea Metcalf said that over the past 23 years, National Reconciliation Week had helped shape Australia’s journey towards a more just, equitable and reconciled nation.

“The city is committed to reconciliation and we are delighted that people can come together to celebrate at this year’s Central Victorian Indigenous Film Festival,” Cr Metcalf said.

“National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.”

The theme for this year’s week is ‘Now More Than Ever,’ a reminder that the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must continue.

A program with details of all films ad activities is available online at bendigo.vic.gov.au/events/central-victorian-indigenous-film-festival