First Nations flick fest returns

THE Central Victorian Indigenous Film Festival is set for big screens in Bendigo and surrounds as part of National Reconciliation Week.

City of Greater Bendigo’s inclusive communities officer Fiona Machin said from Saturday, 27 May to Sunday 4 June several different viewings will be run across the region.

“Screenings are mostly in Bendigo, but over the last few years, it’s expanded to Castlemaine and for the first time Heathcote this year,” she said.

“We’ve been working with some of our key First Nations members that really want to spread education and awareness around reconciliation to broader regional areas.”

For its first foray into the event, Heathcote will be hosting a screening of The Drover’s Wife at Community Bank Arena in Barrack Reserve on Friday, 2 June.

Ms Machin said the festival is run in partnership with organisations who host the screenings and there will be more than just films to watch this year.

“There are several partner organisations this year, I think 16, and they’re all host organisations,” she said.

“Some are offering panel discussions, some are doing some yarning circles and catering others will be screening short films and documentaries.

“This year it’s a real mix of mainstream films and short films. We’ve got a new documentary that’s not long been released called The Last Daughter which will be screened at The Engine Room.”

There will also be a public discussion about the upcoming referendum on an Indigenous voice to Federal Parliament.

“Wednesday, 31 May, the Bendigo Reconciliation Group will join us for the first time,” she said.

“They’re holding a community forum on the voice, so that’s more of a panel and community discussion.”

The film festival will get underway with a launch at the Bendigo Library on 27 May and there’s an addition this year.

“We will also show submissions for this year’s Koorie Youth Flick Fest running alongside the festival to get young Aboriginal voices and stories out there,” Ms Machin said.

For more information on the festival visit bit.ly/45aAYE8.