The 2nd Winda Film Festival launched it’s film festival Thursday night to a packed audience to with the screening of Warwick Thorton’s latest award winning film, Sweet Country.
The night began with a red carpet event which included the Muggera Dancers performing traditional songs and dance as they lead guests into the cinema.
The film was introduced by star Anni Finsterer, who played by Nel in the film. She spoke profoundly about Sweet Country compelling the audience to, ‘use this film to look into the rear view mirror to see where we are at culturally and the way we treat and accept Australia’s first peoples, we can do so much better’.
Muggera Dancers lead movie goers into the cinema during the red carpet event at Winda 2017. Source: Medika Thorpe
The Opening Night screening kicks off a jam-packed program over the weekend, highlighting the success of Indigenous film and filmmakers from Australia and around the world.
Artistic Director Pauline Clague said “What an amazing night to start off Winda Film Festival. We hope people from all walks of life come along and help us celebrate Indigenous cinema. Our stories are so important in that they can educate and inform audiences both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.”
Executive Director Medika Thorpe said, ‘It is such a privilege to return for a second year shining a spotlight on Indigenous storytelling and creating a platform for our many Indigenous filmmakers from home and abroad.’
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER : Winda Film Festival on November, 2017. Source: Joseph Mayers
The festival will feature two feature films, 7 documentaries and 31 short films from over six countries including 9 Australian premieres and two international premieres.
The Winda Film festival has had a change of venue this year being held at the Event Cinema George Street Sydney and runs until this Sunday, 26 November. The Closing Night film will be a community pop up cinema held at the UTS Alumni Green, showcasing Larrissa Behrendt’s new film “After the Apology” which tells the heart wrenching story of four Aboriginal grandmothers taking on government policies to curb the skyrocketing rates of child removal in Australia.
The Festival also features free workshops including a 360 / Virtual Reality Workshop facilitated by Indigilab at the UTS Data Arena and a masterclass with Alanis Obomsawin, a trailblazing documentary filmmaker from Canada.
This article was written with Executive Director of Winda Film Festival Medika Thorpe.
