Documentary Film

How we interpolate our understanding of ourselves and our reality to that of what is considered an ‘objective’ read on such will always be one of most important areas of art creation, as it is one which can only ever be answered as we partake in it, rather than something which can be ‘taught’ in the more conventional sense. In this respect, no medium of film represents this desire quite like that of the documentary, as it is as much about the creators undergoing this process of attaining understanding as much as it is the viewer who does so.

Join our panelists who will be sharing some samples of their work and talking about how they have used film to build movements, change perceptions and create completely new realities for our communities.

Panellists:

Jonathan Sriranganthan, Councillor for the Gabba

Councillor Jonathan Sriranganthan is a writer, musician and community worker who was elected in March 2016 as Brisbane's first ever Greens city councillor, representing the Gabba Ward. His use of digital media and film in particular has decentralised media and story telling around local current affairs and is responsible for the engagement of previously politically disengaged communities.

Nurdewi Djamal aka Dewi Wilson

Nurdewi is a creative content producer/director/editor. With a BA in Film and Screen production she has had short documentaries and works screened on SBS NITV, ICTV and Australian film festivals. On review of one of her short films, she was invited to attend renowned documentary maker Werner Herzog’s Rogue film school in New Jersey 2010. Dewi currently works at Triple A Vision, her roles include director, producer, camera operator, writer and editor. Dewi joins us as the recent recipient of the WEFF 2022 best First Nations Film Award, a documentary made with his partner Callan Murray, a Yuggera/Turrbal man, about his Aunty Dawn Daylight.

Astrid Jorgensen

Astrid Jorgensen is the Founding Director of Pub Choir™and it's Covid adaptation, Couch Choir. Also a Co-Creator of Australia's Biggest Singalong! (in collaboration with Artemis Media). Since it's inception, Pub Choir has seen Astrid collaborate with thousands of individuals around the world as well as household names such as The Rolling Stones, Neil Finn, Paul Kelly and have featured on the line up of festivals such as Splendour In The Grass, and SxSW. Pub Choir's work has been shared online by the likes of Mariah Carey, The Killers, The Carpenters, The Cranberries, The New York Times, and Vogue Magazine.

Astrid has also worked in radio and TV production. On June 5th 2021, 'Australia's Biggest Singalong!' was aired live on SBS for which Astrid was co-host, consultant executive producer, and for which she is 50% concept owner. She has also worked as a producer for ABC Radio Brisbane.

Mivon Prince-Leyva

Mivon Prince-Leyva is an actor and short Documentary director, who is also training to be a Native American Medicine man since he was 8 under the tutoring of his father. The focus of his creative career has been to spread awareness of the culture of all first nations peoples.

Mohammadreza Shams (Works shown only)

Mohammadreza Shams is a film Lecturer at SAE Institute Australia’s Brisbane campus, in addition to being the director of International Film production house, Shams Pictures, notable both for spearheading the Iranian film Festival in Malaysia, and for the diverse array of both documentaries and drama films produced under the label.

Hosted by:

Dr Sean Foran is an award-winning pianist, composer, researcher and academic manager. Currently SAE's course lead and creator of the Bachelor of Creative Industries degree, Sean is an ARIA nominated composer, and recipient of the BCC Lord Mayors Fellowship, APRA Professional Development Award for Jazz & 8 time QLD Music Award Winner. His performance experience in the highly acclaimed trio Trichotomy has seen Sean tour the world performing in clubs, festivals and concert halls.