Documentary films tend to tell stories that have a potential for social dialogue. The medium has the power to bring to the limelight unknown facts and, often, ignored subjects. Over the years, documentary cinema has acquired a special place in visual media and is crossing over to the field of journalism. Recently, The Walkley Foundation of Journalism in Australia added ‘Documentary Awards’ as a section in their annual award ceremony, in order to encourage journalists working within the long-form visual storytelling space.Eight such award-winning documentaries from the past two years are being screened at the India International Centre in Delhi, between July 23-25, 2015,under the title of “Stories from Australia”. Directors Martin Butler and Pat Fiske will be holding a post-screening discussion of their respective documentaries “First Footprints” and “Scarlet Road”.Here is a list of documentaries to be screened:Mary Meets Mohammad (2013)July 23, 6:30pmDirected by Heather Kirkpatrick and Kristy Dowsing, this 80-min film gives an insight into and shows the living conditions at Tasmania’s first detention centre. It also sheds light on the locals’ view of the Muslim community. Mary is an old Christian woman who is also part of a knitting club; a club which is assigned to knit beanies for the detainees. Mohammad is an Afghan asylum seeker. The film beautifully captures their evolving friendship and reflects on their mindset and socio-cultural set-up.Kirkpatrick followed Mary and Mohammad for 16 months in Tasmania, to produce and direct her debutfilm that was a finalist for The Walkley Awards and also a finalist for the ‘Outstanding Documentary Talent Award 2013’.Code of Silence (2014)July 23, 8pmThis 56-min observational documentary has been directed by Dan Goldberg and Danny Ben Moshe. It depicts the dark side to the orthodox Jewish community, through Manny Waks’ personal account of sexual abuse as a student at Melbourne’s Chabad-Lubavitch community. His father Zephaniah was excommunicated after the son broke the “code of silence” and the story got reported and published on the front page of The Age newspaper in 2011. It’s a harrowing story of a courage and perseverance, and the Waks’ struggle for justice and respect within an ultra orthodox Jewish sect. The documentary won the 2014 Walkley Documentary award.Love Marriage in Kabul (2014)July 24, 6pm“Love Marriage in Kabul” is a gripping love story of an orphan boy and the girl next door whose father demands dowry to give his daughter’s hand in marriage. Abdul, the orphan, cannot afford it. They both decide to stick together despite the odds in a relatively intolerant society. But Mahbooba Rawi, a strong willed Australian-Afghan woman who has dedicated her life to help orphans in Afghanistan, comes to Abdul’s rescue when he seeks her help. It is a moving story of tradition, freedom and love. This 84-mindocumentary has been directed by Pat Fiske, a prominent member of Australia’s independent filmmaking community with over 40 years of experience.Scarlet Road (2011)July 24, 7:45pmThis Pat Fiske and Cathrine Scott-directed documentary transports one into the interesting life of Rachel Wotton, an Australian sex worker who is passionate about the freedom of sexual expression and the rights of sex workers. But what’s most interesting is learning that Rachel’s clientele are people that are differently abled. Rachel’s work is based on her belief that sexual intimacy can be therapeutic beyond being simply pleasurable. Its runtime is 1 hour 46mins.JABBED- Love, Fear and Vaccines July 25, 10amThe documentary travels the world talking to vaccine-makers, alternative healers, psychologists, anthropologists, and parents, to answer the most important question: how to protect your loved ones in a world where people are dying because of and despite vaccination? The situation is worsening, worried parents are skipping their children’s shots; often the vaccination reacts and the results are frightening, some of them even leading to death. Director Sonya Pemberton investigates the real science behind vaccinations, tracks real epidemics, and the real cost of opting out, in her documentary. Sonya is a 2012 Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker, and a three-time winner of Eureka Award for Science Journalism.Sons and Mothers (2014)July 25, 12pmThis 80 -min film by Louise Pascale and Christopher Houghton is about seven differently-abled men who come together as a part of a men’s ensemble theatre troupe and get onto a yearlong journey to produce a theatrical love letter for their mothers. However, not all of them make it to the opening night because as they get to know each other, their relationships get complicated. “Putting into words how you feel about some of your closest relationships is hard. Do that for a theatre show and you are really putting yourself out there. That is exactly what these seven men do. They are brave, they are honest and they are disabled. Our biggest challenge as a society is to see past the disability and embrace people just as they are. This is what “Sons & Mothers” does. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry, but most of all it reminds us what it is to be human,” says Pascale.First Footprints (2013)July 25, 2pmA four-part documentary released in 2013, with 56-min sections each, “First Footprints” is a 2013 Walkley Documentary Award-winner and a nominee for AACTA Award for Best Documentary Series. It delves into the history of the 50,000-yearAboriginal presence in Australia, before European settlement. Aboriginal elders and archaeologists share their knowledge and narrate stories in a chronological manner. It took Bentley Dean and Martin Butler three years to complete the series. The first two episodes of the documentary are scheduled to be screened during the event. The Sunnyboy (2013)July 25, 6:30pmThis is a story of 50-year old Oxley, front man of the much-lauded 1980s band The Sunnyboys, during his recovery period from schizophrenia with which he battled for 30 years. In the film, he talks about his difficult journey of trying to regain confidence and pick up and pull together the pieces of his life. Kaye Harrison, known for working on stories about compassion that engage with the viewer’s heart and mind, directs this 90-min film.Follow @ARTINFOIndia
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