The Saturday Paper’s Best of the Festival: Ideas & Conversations
Taking big questions and turning them into conversation is part of creating meaningful social change. And since no one can craft an impactful conversation quite like The Saturday Paper, we’ve asked them to present their picks for HRAFF 2021.
Featuring conversations, ideas and questions, this thought-provoking lineup will challenge and inspire. If you’re partial to a post-film debrief and tackling big questions, this selection of events is for you.
COWBOYS (2020)
SATURDAY 24 APRIL | 2:00PM | ACMI CINEMA 1
Conversation Topic: ‘Creating Safe Spaces for Young People’
Winner of Best Screenplay and Best Actor at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, writer/director Anna Kerrigan captures a portrait of a pivotal childhood experience with a compassionate and sturdy lens. Guided with care and vision, this modern-day western has emotional veracity that simply must be seen. The film concludes with a standout panel exploring the theme of how community can create safe spaces for young trans and LGTBQIA+ people.
Panellists include:
STREAT co-founder, CEO and activist Rebecca Scott
Actor and activist Harvey Zielinski
Writer, researcher and editor Quinn Eades
Moderated by researcher and writer Son Vivienne.
MLK/FBI (2020)
SATURDAY | 6:30PM | ACMI CINEMA 1
Conversation Topic: ‘Suppression, Surveillance and Moral Rights’
Take a look into the dark history of J. Edgar Hoover’s relentless harassment and state surveillance of Martin Luther King, Jr before settling in to unpack the themes.
This panel will be exploring themes of systemic racism, the suppression of social movements and state surveillance discussed with the backdrop of the recent Black Lives Matter movements abroad and in an Australian context.
Panellists include:
Advocate, campaigner and co-founder of Warriors of Aboriginal Resistance (WAR) Meriki Onus
Journalist, filmmaker and author Santilla Chingaipe; and
Senior lawyer Human Rights Law Centre and President of Road to Refuge Yusur Al-Azzawi.
Moderated by Co-Founder and outgoing Chair of HRAFF Evelyn Tadros.
OPHIR (2020)
TUESDAY 27 APRIL | 6:15PM | ACMI CINEMA 1
Conversation Topic: ‘Connection to our Nearest Neighbours’
Ophir questions what role we play in the future of our nearest neighbour in a confronting expose of the impact that Australia’s mining industry has on the residents of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.
Our post-screening panellists will explore the impact of international companies on Bougainville, and the toll this has taken on the community.
Panellists include:
Treasurer of the PNG Association of Victoria, Albertha Sukaliana
Legal Director of Human Rights Law Centre - Keren Adams
Clarence Sukaliana - worked with Gasfield oil and gas in Bougainville
Director, writer and filmmaker Wayne Coles-Janess
Moderated by Stephanie McLennan - the Asia Initiatives Manager at Human Rights Watch.
THE FORUM (2019)
WEDNESDAY 28 APRIL | 6:15PM | ACMI CINEMA 2
Conversation topic: ‘Corridors of Power in the Climate Crisis’
The Forum takes a behind-the-scenes look at the World Economic Forum in Davos, noting the lack of action on climate change and culminating in the now-famous Greta Thunberg speech.
The panel explores the frustrations, roadblocks and potential for large scale change that is presented when involving international institutions to solve the Climate Crisis. It looks to the various avenues that are open for those looking to solve the climate crisis, especially focusing on the power of the youth of today.
Panellists include:
Writer, activist and former Vice editor Wendy Syfret
Professor of International relations - Andrew Walter
Nelli Stevenson - Head of Communications at Greenpeace
Managing Director of Foundations for Tomorrow - Taylor Dee-Hawkins
Moderated by lawyer and producer Sophie Parr
BODY OF TRUTH (2019)
FRIDAY 30 APRIL | 6:30PM | ACMI CINEMA 1
Conversation Topic: ‘Using the Body as a Canvas for Political Activism’
An immersive experience featuring a live performance by artist provocateur Georgia Banks, and screening of the Australian Premiere Body of Truth, featuring Marina Abromovic.
Discussing the impact of using the body as a canvas for political action, the incredible power of women and how art is able to inform social action, this panel will keep you hooked until the end.
Panel includes:
CEO of the Wheeler Centre - Caro Llewellyn
Creative director of RED Gallery Elle Rusch Drakos
Artistic Director of Rising - Hannah Fox
Artist - Georgia Banks
Moderated by artist, writer and curator Jessie Alice.
AUSTRALIAN SHORTS
MONDAY 26 APRIL | 6:30PM ACMI CINEMA 2
Conversation Topic: Behind the Lens
An exquisite line up of Australian short films will be followed by an insightful chat with some of the evening’s featured filmmakers, producers and industry professionals. Find out what drives them and learn more about the story behind the films.
Panel includes:
Filmmaker of A Rare Breed - Thomas Field
CEO of the South Sudanese Wrestling Association - Peter Gak
CEO of Bus Stop Films - Tracey Corbin-Matchett
Actress, filmmaker, writer and Down Syndrome advocate - Audrey O’Connor
Moderated by Melbourne Women in Film Festival board member Vyshnavee Wijekumar.
