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Up close and personal with ASSI films...

By JOL Admin | 5 August 2013

Guest blogger - Amie Batalibasi, Film maker, Australian South Sea Islander Secretariat

As part of the Australian South Sea Islanders 150 Commemoration Festival in Brisbane, the Australian South Sea Islanders Secretariat will present a two day program of Community Films Screenings & Discussions open to the public. The purpose of these screenings is to showcase Australian South Sea Islander (ASSI) people and communities through film, and create awareness and discussion about ASSI history, identity and story.

Group dancing scene from ‘Behind the Cane’ musical production
Behind the Cane Musical Production was shot in Bowen in 2011. It will be shown at the Queensland Museum Saturday 11 August 2013.

Behind the Cane Musical Production was shot in Bowen in 2011. It will be shown at the Queensland Museum Saturday 11 August 2013.

Sunday August 11th, DAY ONE, at the Queensland Museum will showcase a video of the 2011 musical production ‘Behind the Cane’ that took place in Bowen in collaboration with the ASSI community (initiated by the Queensland Music Festival & directed by Sean Mee). This music theatre production was created from the actual words of the ASSI community in Bowen - the descendants of those who were brought here, often by force, to work in the sugar plantations.  It is also the story of the vibrant generations that followed  – their great pride in their ancestors and in their heritage.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A DISCUSSION with Georgia Corowa (ASSI Cast), Vera Bezgovsek (ASSI Cast) & co-writers Margery and Michael Forde.

Head shot of Vera Bezgovsek
Vera Bezgovsek was part of the cast in Behind the Cane. She will be part of the Q & A session after the film on Saturday 11 August 2013.

Vera Bezgovsek was part of the cast in Behind the Cane. She will be part of the Q & A session after the film on Saturday 11 August 2013.

Session Two, from 2pm, will include screenings of two documentary films that explore Australian South Sea Islander histories – 'Buderim – an Indigenous & South Sea Islander History' (Directed by James Muller, Earthbase Productions) & 'Dark Cargoes - a History of the South Sea Island Labour System'(written & directed by Tony Matthews). These films will be followed by an open discussion about the topics and themes of discussed in the films. DAY ONE Facebook event page.

DAY TWO of the screenings will take place on Friday 23 August at the Brisbane Square Library Theatrette and will include a series of short films exploring ASSI identity, place and culture - to be screened from 11am to be followed by a 'Storytelling through Photography and Film' workshop with Melbourne based documentary filmmaker Amie Batalibasi.  DAY TWO Facebook Event Page.

All events are free and for more information go to the Facebook Page.

The Australian South Sea Islanders Secretariat is committed to advocacy and consultancy for Australian South Sea Islanders(ASSI). Through art/culture/heritage we are striving to protect and raise the profile of ASSIs and develop resources for ASSI History education and the 150 year commemoration in 2013 and beyond.

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