First Nations celebration heads to the big screen

INDIGENOUS films will be playing all week as the Central Victorian Indigenous Film Festival launches tomorrow afternoon.

The festival will feature free or low-cost screenings of films including Firestarter: The story of Bangarra, High Ground, Wawi and The Sapphires, commencing tonight with a Welcome to Country and smoke ceremony at the Bendigo Library.

City of Greater Bendigo director of health and wellbeing Vicky Mason said the festival, in its fifth year, will run during National Reconciliation Week.

“The city is committed to reconciliation and after taking last year’s festival online we are absolutely delighted that people can once again attend the festival in person so everyone can come together to celebrate,” she 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 CVIFF takes place in Bendigo, Castlemaine, Chewton and Glenlyon and screenings of films and documentaries will be at Bendigo Library, Star Cinema and the Capital Theatre.

Tomorrow, the Wartatjarrang Bendigo Local Aboriginal Network is holding its Short and Sweet event, a series of First Nations short music videos, animations and documentaries.

The network will hold a workshop the following day for First Nations and people of colour to develop short films on smartphones.

Festivalgoers are encouraged to dress up in their 60s style for the free screening of The Sapphires at the Capital on Saturday night.

For a complete program of the festival, and to book specific screenings, head to bendigo.vic.gov.au/cviff.