Hosted by Ballina's Northern Rivers Community Gallery, in this conversation author Mark Isaacs and filmmaker Benjamin Gilmour will discuss their personal experiences of peacebuilding and conflict in Afghanistan, reflecting upon the situation in the country since the collapse of the Western occupation and the Taliban's return to power and what this means for the Afghan people.

Mark Isaacs is a writer, photographer, researcher, and community worker. His work focuses on stories of conflict, displacement and forced migration, taking him to locations such as Afghanistan, Mexico, Myanmar and Nauru. He is the author of three books, and his journalistic work has been published in a range of Australian and international academic, literary and news publications.

Benjamin Gilmour is a writer and filmmaker, director of Jirga (2019) - Australia’s entry to the 91st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, Paramedico (2012), Son of a Lion (2019), and author of Warrior Poets, and Paramedico – Around the World by Ambulance. Based in Northern NSW he is a public health consultant, certified Psychedelic Assisted Therapy practitioner, and ambulance paramedic with 26-years frontline experience in Australia and internationally.

Mark’s exhibition Imagining Peace: A portrait of modern Afghanistan is on display at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery from 28 June to 20 August 2023.

This event is a fundraiser for the Ballina Region 4 Refugees organisation, with entry by donation encouraged, and available via this Humanitix link, or on the night.

Reservations are not required and seating will be available subject to capacity.

For further questions or information about the event, please visit www.nrcgballina.com.au or phone the Gallery on 02 6681 0530